Acacia erubescens

Acacia erubescens Oliv.

Common names

Blue thorn (English); lungwizi (Kunda); mukwelambulu (Bisa); ngowe (Nyanja)

The Latin specific name means ‘becoming red’ or ‘blushing’ and possibly refers to the reddish colour of the young pods (Timberlake et al., 1999)). The English name refers to the bluish leaves.

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A multi stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree 2-10 m high. Bark distinctive grey, white or yellowish peeling and peeling. Thorns strongly hooked and in pairs, brown or grey and up to 6 mm long. Leaves compound, 1.5-3 cm long with 3-7 pairs of pinnae bearing 10-30 pairs of leaflets. Leaflets 3-7.5 x 1-2 mm, grey-green to blue green. Petiole 1.2-2.5cm long. Flowers yellowish-white and borne in short spikes, usually appearing in September before the new leaves. Fruit are pods up to 8 x 1.5 cm, light brown, papery and produced from May to September.

Acacia erubescens can be confused with Acacia fleckii which has been recorded in the Mfuwe area (Astle et al., 1997) but with no scientific specimen for confirmation. Acacia fleckii has 8-16 pairs of pinnae making the leaf longer than wide, and the leaf stalk (petiole) is shorter than 1 cm long.

Range and habitat

Occurs from the DR Congo down to South Africa. In the Luangwa valley it is found in thickets, and occasionally in mopane woodland; it is also scattered throughout the alluvial areas.