Acacia erubescens Welw. ex Oliv.

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (10)

Photo: Bart Wursten
Tonorai primary School, rd to Birchough Bridge, Save Valley

Photo: Mark Hyde
Gumani Hill, Humani Ranch

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Acacia dulcis Marloth & Engl. Senegalia erubescens (Welw. ex Oliv.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
Common names:	Blue thorn (English)
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Small to medium-sized, often multi-stemmed tree. Stem pale, fissured with a distinctly flaking bark, even on the smaller branches. Thorns hooked, c. 6 cm, in pairs at the nodes. Leaves not large, up to 6 × 4 cm, with 4-7 pairs of pinnae; leaflets in 10-25 pairs per pinna, often slightly curved; petiole fairly long, c. 1.3 cm to the first pinnae, with a raised gland near the base. Flowers in axillary spikes, white, before or with the new leaves. Pods straight, more or less oblong with conspicuous venation, leathery, pointed at the apex, dehiscent.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	erubescens: reddening, rose. possibly referring to the young pods.
Habitat:
Flowering time:	Sep - Oct
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Botswana, DRC, Namibia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and northern South Africa.
Botswana distribution:	N,SE
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Brenan, J.P.M. (1970). Mimosoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(1) Pages 73 - 74. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 200. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2. Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Pages 140 - 141. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 214. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 240. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 377. (Includes a picture). Mannheimer, C. & Curtis B. (2009). Le Roux and Müller's Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Namibia Macmillan Education, Windhoek, Namibia. Pages 94 - 95. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 44. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 59. Timberlake, J., Fagg, C. & Barnes, R. (1999). Field Guide to the Acacias of Zimbabwe CBC Publishing, Harare Pages 52 - 53. (Includes a picture). Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 209.

Other sources of information about Acacia erubescens:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: Acacia erubescens
Flora of Malawi: Acacia erubescens
Flora of Mozambique: Acacia erubescens
Flora of Zambia: Acacia erubescens
Flora of Zimbabwe: Acacia erubescens

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Acacia erubescens
African Plant Database: Acacia erubescens
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Acacia erubescens
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Acacia erubescens
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Acacia erubescens
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Acacia erubescens
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Acacia erubescens
JSTOR Plant Science: Acacia erubescens
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Acacia erubescens
Plants of the World Online: Acacia erubescens
Tropicos: Acacia erubescens
Wikipedia: Acacia erubescens