Vachellia erioloba 8668
Author: (Ernst Heinrich Friedrich Meyer (1791-1858)) P.J.H. Hurter (fl. 1995)Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae Tribe: Acacieae
Genus: Vachellia
Synonym(s): Acacia erioloba,Acacia giraffae
English name: Camel thorn
Zone: South Africa
Description
The beautiful, slow-growing camel thorn grows well in poor soils and in harsh environmental conditions. This is a protected tree in South Africa. This species is widely distributed inland in the western half of the country, from the Northern Cape through to Limpopo Province. It also extends to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and to central Africa. This tree was previously called Acacia erioloba. It has been assessed as potentially very highly invasive in Australia: climate predictions indicate that it could occupy large inland areas of northern Australia if allowed to spread. This is a relic of the parental stock of African Acacia species and is one of the major trees, and frequently the only sizeable tree of the deserts of southern Africa. It is a long-lived plant that grows on sand in areas with an annual rainfall of less than 40 mm to 900 mm and tolerates hot summer temperatures and severe frosts. In very dry areas Vachellia erioloba occurs along watercourses or where underground water is present. The taproot can descend to 60m, providing access to deep ground water.
Vachellia erioloba Observed in South Africa by Christiaan Viljoen (license)
Botanical Description
The camel thorn ranges from a spiny shrub to a robust tree. The stem is shiny reddish brown when young. The bark of a mature tree is grey to blackish brown and is deeply furrowed; bearing pairs of almost straight, whitish or brown spines. Spines often have swollen bases and appear at the bases of the leaves. The fully developed spines may be up to 60mm long. The leaves are twice divided. There are normally 2 to 5 pairs of pinnae per leaf and 8 to 18 pairs of leaflets (pinnules) per pinna. They are hairless and have a prominent underside vein on the undersurface.
The tree bears bright yellow ball-like flowers that are sweetly scented. They are borne in late winter and last through to summer.
The fruit is variable and ranges from small and almost cylindrical to typically large, flat, thick, semicircular or half-moon-shaped pods. They are up to 130mm long and 50mm wide and are covered by velvety grey hairs. They are semi-woody, but spongy inside; the pods do not open even when ripe but fall to the ground in winter. Seeds are thick, robust and lens shaped.
The tree bears bright yellow ball-like flowers that are sweetly scented. They are borne in late winter and last through to summer.
The fruit is variable and ranges from small and almost cylindrical to typically large, flat, thick, semicircular or half-moon-shaped pods. They are up to 130mm long and 50mm wide and are covered by velvety grey hairs. They are semi-woody, but spongy inside; the pods do not open even when ripe but fall to the ground in winter. Seeds are thick, robust and lens shaped.
Useful plant
The pods are useful fodder for cattle and are favored by wild animals in Africa, especially elephants who chew the pods and disperse the seed in their dung. The timber is strong and is highly prized for firewood. The root bark is used by the Bushmen to make quivers. Many wild animals love to eat the pods and will rest in the dense shade, in the heat of the African sun. It is an ideal shrub/tree for a small or large garden.
Edible plant
The seeds can be roasted and used as a substitute for coffee; the gum is also eaten by humans as well as animals.
Medicinal plant
Dry powdered pods can be used to treat ear infections. The gum can be used for the treatment of gonorrhea and the pulverized, burned bark can be used to treat headaches. The root can be used to treat toothache. To treat tuberculosis, the root is boiled for a few minutes and the infusion is swirled around in the mouth and spat out.
References
- Arid Zone Trees : Vachellia erioloba. Address
- Field Guide of the Acacias of South Africa, Nico Smit. 2012 pag. 22-23. ISBN
- Flora of Southern Africa, L.E. Codd, B. De Winter And H.B. Rycroft. Vol. 16(1) pag. 78-80. Address
- Guide to the Acacias of South Africa, Nico Smit. 1999 pag. 86-89. ISBN
- Indigenous Plants A South Africa Guide, Pitta Joffe & Tinus Oberholzer. 2012 pag. 85. ISBN
- PlantZafrica, Mhlonishwa D Dlamini. Walter Sisulu NBG 2005. Vachellia erioloba
- Trees of Southern Africa, Meg Coates Palgrave. 2002 pag. 278-279. ISBN
Edible plant
The seeds can be roasted and used as a substitute for coffee; the gum is also eaten by humans as well as animals.
Medicinal plant
Dry powdered pods can be used to treat ear infections. The gum can be used for the treatment of gonorrhea and the pulverized, burned bark can be used to treat headaches. The root can be used to treat toothache. To treat tuberculosis, the root is boiled for a few minutes and the infusion is swirled around in the mouth and spat out.
References
- Arid Zone Trees : Vachellia erioloba. Address
- Field Guide of the Acacias of South Africa, Nico Smit. 2012 pag. 22-23. ISBN
- Flora of Southern Africa, L.E. Codd, B. De Winter And H.B. Rycroft. Vol. 16(1) pag. 78-80. Address
- Guide to the Acacias of South Africa, Nico Smit. 1999 pag. 86-89. ISBN
- Indigenous Plants A South Africa Guide, Pitta Joffe & Tinus Oberholzer. 2012 pag. 85. ISBN
- PlantZafrica, Mhlonishwa D Dlamini. Walter Sisulu NBG 2005. Vachellia erioloba
- Trees of Southern Africa, Meg Coates Palgrave. 2002 pag. 278-279. ISBN
References for the genus
- Acacia (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae): A contribution to the flora of Central Australia, Maslin, BR. Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden 1980 pag. 301-321. JStor
- Conservation status revision and communities' perceptions of 22 Aloe species in Tanzania, Abihudi, Siri and de Boer, Hugo and Treydte, A.C. Plant Ecology and Evolution 2021 Vol. 154 pag. 391-404. DOI
- Flora of Southern Africa, L.E. Codd, B. De Winter And H.B. Rycroft. Vol. 16(1) pag. 1-155. Address
- New combinations in the genus Vachellia (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) from Australia, Wilson, Peter. Telopea 2006 Vol. 11(2) pag. 233-244. DOI
- Phylogenetic position and revised classification of Acacia sl (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) in Africa, including new combinations in Vachellia and Senegalia, Kyalangalilwa, Bruce and Boatwright, James S and Daru, Barnabas H and Maurin, Olivier and van der Bank, Michelle. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 2013 Vol. 172(4) pag. 500-523. Address
- Synoptic overview of exotic Acacia, Senegalia and Vachellia (Caesalpinioideae, mimosoid clade, Fabaceae) in Egypt, Hassan, Rania A and Hamdy, Rim S. Plants 2021 Vol. 10(7) pag. 1344. Address
- Taxonomic revision of South American Species of the Genus Acacia Subgenus Acacia (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae), Ebinger, John & Seigler, David & Clarke, H.. . Systemiiatic Botany 2009 Vol. 25(4) pag. 588-617. DOI
- Taxonomic studies on Sudan Acacias, Hamza Mohamed Elamiin. 1972. Address
- Trees of Southern Africa, Meg Coates Palgrave. 2002 pag. 264-272. ISBN
- World Wide Wattle, Boyce Thompson. 2020.
- A selection of Ethiopia’s indigenous trees: Biology, uses and propagation techniques, Negash, Legesse. 2022 pag. 22-42. ISBN
- Hommes et Plantes. Vol. 17 pag. 7-13. Address
- Conservation status revision and communities' perceptions of 22 Aloe species in Tanzania, Abihudi, Siri and de Boer, Hugo and Treydte, A.C. Plant Ecology and Evolution 2021 Vol. 154 pag. 391-404. DOI
- Flora of Southern Africa, L.E. Codd, B. De Winter And H.B. Rycroft. Vol. 16(1) pag. 1-155. Address
- New combinations in the genus Vachellia (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) from Australia, Wilson, Peter. Telopea 2006 Vol. 11(2) pag. 233-244. DOI
- Phylogenetic position and revised classification of Acacia sl (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) in Africa, including new combinations in Vachellia and Senegalia, Kyalangalilwa, Bruce and Boatwright, James S and Daru, Barnabas H and Maurin, Olivier and van der Bank, Michelle. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 2013 Vol. 172(4) pag. 500-523. Address
- Synoptic overview of exotic Acacia, Senegalia and Vachellia (Caesalpinioideae, mimosoid clade, Fabaceae) in Egypt, Hassan, Rania A and Hamdy, Rim S. Plants 2021 Vol. 10(7) pag. 1344. Address
- Taxonomic revision of South American Species of the Genus Acacia Subgenus Acacia (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae), Ebinger, John & Seigler, David & Clarke, H.. . Systemiiatic Botany 2009 Vol. 25(4) pag. 588-617. DOI
- Taxonomic studies on Sudan Acacias, Hamza Mohamed Elamiin. 1972. Address
- Trees of Southern Africa, Meg Coates Palgrave. 2002 pag. 264-272. ISBN
- World Wide Wattle, Boyce Thompson. 2020.
- A selection of Ethiopia’s indigenous trees: Biology, uses and propagation techniques, Negash, Legesse. 2022 pag. 22-42. ISBN
- Hommes et Plantes. Vol. 17 pag. 7-13. Address
General specifications
Biological type: tree
Frost resistance: 19ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Flower color: yellow
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 32,8ft x 32,8ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: slow
Flowering time from January until March
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 30%Compost+30%Coco+40%Sand
Plant watering: 1x a month pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Eucalyptus; forestry plate, forestry pot 3L, Airpot 12L, Airpot 50L, Airpot 800L
Propagation is done by cuttings
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 25-800mm
Sandy soil: much
Street alignment tree: suitable
Ornemental: a little
Frost resistance: 19ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Flower color: yellow
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 32,8ft x 32,8ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: slow
Flowering time from January until March
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 30%Compost+30%Coco+40%Sand
Plant watering: 1x a month pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Eucalyptus; forestry plate, forestry pot 3L, Airpot 12L, Airpot 50L, Airpot 800L
Propagation is done by cuttings
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 25-800mm
Sandy soil: much
Street alignment tree: suitable
Ornemental: a little
Sowing instructions
SPRING Keep in refrigerator at 39°F in dry condition. Soak the seeds in warm water of 210,2°F for 2min. Change by ambiant water for 48h (Change the water every 12 hours) until the seeds swell. Sow the seeds at 5mm depth in the Well Drained Seed Sowing Mix between 68-77°F. During germination keep the substrate moist and in daylight. The seeds germinate in 1-3 weeks.
The viability of the seeds, kept under good conditions, is 2 years.
Germination references
- PlantZafrica, Mhlonishwa D Dlamini. Walter Sisulu NBG 2005. Vachellia erioloba
- Seed fate and practical germination methods for 46 perennial species that colonize gold mine tailings and acid mine drainage-polluted soils in the grassland biome, Weiersbye, Isabel & Witkowski, E. 2002. Link
- Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and, Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin, Carol and Baskin, J.M. 2014 pag. 1-1586. DOI
Germination references for the genus
- A selection of Ethiopia’s indigenous trees: Biology, uses and propagation techniques, Negash, Legesse. 2022 pag. 22-42. ISBN
- USDA Forest Service's Woody Plant Seed Manual, John K. Francis and Craig D.Whitesell. 2008. Address
The viability of the seeds, kept under good conditions, is 2 years.
Germination references
- PlantZafrica, Mhlonishwa D Dlamini. Walter Sisulu NBG 2005. Vachellia erioloba
- Seed fate and practical germination methods for 46 perennial species that colonize gold mine tailings and acid mine drainage-polluted soils in the grassland biome, Weiersbye, Isabel & Witkowski, E. 2002. Link
- Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and, Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin, Carol and Baskin, J.M. 2014 pag. 1-1586. DOI
Germination references for the genus
- A selection of Ethiopia’s indigenous trees: Biology, uses and propagation techniques, Negash, Legesse. 2022 pag. 22-42. ISBN
- USDA Forest Service's Woody Plant Seed Manual, John K. Francis and Craig D.Whitesell. 2008. Address
Experiences in the garden
06-03-17A Obtaining seeds from seed provider SilverHill.
28-08-17 Send a batch to nursery Issa.
10-04-18B Obtaining 2 plants from nursery Issa, they are in our nursery Ombr11g 1x A45
21-02-19 1x Plant not found in nursery.
26-07-18A Obtaining 1 plants from nursery Issa
21-06-19 1x Dead plant due to potting too young: Ombr12d A3.
04-03-19C Obtaining seeds from seed provider SilverHill.
24-05-19 Sown 2 seeds in a tray and germinated at 03-06-19.
Protocol: Spring Soak 210,2°F 12h 5mm Sowing mix+Sand 68-77°F Damp substrate+Light 2-3w
. . . 2019C Production of 41 plants in our nursery: Ombr16d 9x A12 Serre7 2x F2
21-07-20 6x Dead plant: No information: Serre7 A3.
28-10-21 1x Dead plant: No information: Ombr7d A12.
28-04-22 1x Dead plant because of watering problem: Ombr7d A12.
21-01-25 18x Plant not found in nursery: Ombr16d A12.
03-07-24 2x Plant not found in nursery: Serre9 C6.