Acacia nilotica

Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile subsp. kraussiana (Benth.) Brenan

Common names

Sweet thorn (English); kafifi (Bemba, Kunda); chiseyo, lichongwe, mchezime, mtete, namalonga (Nyanja)

The Latin name refers to the river Nile where the first scientific specimen of this species was collected. The sub-specific name follows C.L. Krauss, a German naturalist who collected this tree in South Africa in the 1830s. The English name refers to the sweet smelling pods.

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A small, semi-deciduous tree up to 10 m in height which is often flat topped but may be rounded. Bark reddish brown with vertical fissures. Thorns up to 3 cm long, paired, slightly curved. Leaves compound, with 2-11 pairs of pinnae, each bearing 7-25 pairs of leaflets. Leaflets typically 1.5-7 x 0.5-1.5 mm. Flowers bright yellow spherical heads, 6-15 mm in diameter (Sept-April). Fruit pods (9 x 2 cm) are very distinctive; they have a bead-like appearance, being constricted between the seeds, and are strongly sweetly scented when mature (Mar-Sept).

Range and habitat

Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana occurs in Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. In the Luangwa valley it is found in flood channels on heavy, cracking clay. Also on levees and sand deposits of major rivers and in mopane woodland on sand and alluvial clay.