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Acacia karroo
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Greystone Park NR
Photo: Bart Wursten
Cecil Kop, Mutare
Photo: Paul Hubbard
Tshabalala Game Park, near Bulawayo
Photo: Paul Hubbard
Tshabalala Game Park, near Bulawayo
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Acacia horrida auct. Acacia natalitia E. Mey. Vachellia karroo (Hayne) Banfi & Galasso |
| Common names: | Sweet thorn (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Small to medium-sized tree. The bark of young branches is distinctly orange-red. Thorns are opposite, straight, up to 5 cm long, whitish with dark tips, often inflated along the length. Inflorescences at the ends of new branches, showy. Flowers golden yellow, sweetly scented. Pods slender, sickle-shaped, slightly constricted between the seeds. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | karroo: from the Karroo region of South Africa |
| Habitat: | |
| Flowering time: | Nov - Jan |
| Worldwide distribution: | Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and South Africa. |
| Botswana distribution: | N,SE |
| Growth form(s): | Tree. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | Azanus jesous (Food plant) Anthene amarah amarah (Food plant) Thyretes caffra (Larval foodplant) Heniocha apollonia (Larval foodplant) Gynanisa maja (Larval foodplant) Zamarada metallicata (Larval foodplant) Anthene definita definita (Larval foodplant) |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Biegel, H.M. (1977). Check-list of ornamental plants used in Rhodesian parks and gardens. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal. Research Report No. 3. Page 17. Brenan, J.P.M. (1970). Mimosoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(1) Pages 87 - 88. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 190. (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. Coates Palgrave, K. et al. (1956). Trees of Central Africa National Publications Trust, Salisbury. Pages 242 - 245. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, M. (1989). Guide to the trees and shrubs of the Mukuvisi Woodlands ?publisher. Page 48. Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Pages 154 - 155. (Includes a picture). Davies, H.F. (Undated). Alphabetical Catalogue of Plants growing in the gardens of Ewanrigg National Park, Arcturus. [Possibly not published (typed only)] Page 4. 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 241. Drummond, R.B. (1981). Common Trees of the Central Watershed Woodlands of Zimbabwe. Natural Resources Board, Harare. Pages 46 - 47. (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 102 - 103. (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. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 25. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 13. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 92. Timberlake, J., Fagg, C. & Barnes, R. (1999). Field Guide to the Acacias of Zimbabwe CBC Publishing, Harare Pages 76 - 79. (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Acacia karroo:
Our websites:
Flora of Caprivi: Acacia karrooFlora of Malawi: Acacia karroo
Flora of Mozambique: Acacia karroo
Flora of Zambia: Acacia karroo
Flora of Zimbabwe: Acacia karroo
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Acacia karroo
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Acacia karrooAfrican Plant Database: Acacia karroo
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Acacia karroo
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Acacia karroo
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Acacia karroo
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Acacia karroo
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Acacia karroo
JSTOR Plant Science: Acacia karroo
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Acacia karroo
Plants of the World Online: Acacia karroo
Tropicos: Acacia karroo
Wikipedia: Acacia karroo
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