Acacia senegal (L.) Willd.
var. leiorhachis Brenan

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Photo: Rob Burrett
Beitbridge

Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambezi National Park.

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Synonyms:	Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton var. leiorhachis (Brenan) Kyal. & Boatwr.
Common names:	Slender three-thorned acacia (English) Three-thorned acacia (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Slender tree with long erect, straggly branches. Hooked prickles in threes at the nodes; lateral prickles pointing down, the middle one pointing upwards. Leaves up 6 × 6 cm with 3-5 pairs of pinnae, bearing grey-green leaflets. Flowers in axillary spikes, white, appearing before the leaves. Pod linear-oblong, up to 9 × 2 cm, mostly straight, flat, papery to somewhat leathery, rounded or pointed at the apex but not distinctly beaked, pale brown, dehiscent.
Notes:	See var. rostrata for comparison. Although presently only distinguished at varietal level, the differences between var. leiorhachis and var. rostrata, in flowers and fruits as well as in general habit and habitat preference, render these taxa as distinct as most full species.
Derivation of specific name:	senegal: of Senegal, where the type was collected; leiorhachis: with a smooth rhachis, probably referring to the axis of the inflorescence.
Habitat:	On gravelly soils in deciduous scrub.
Flowering time:	Jun - Sep
Worldwide distribution:	Ethiopia to Botswana and northern South Africa.
Botswana distribution:
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 1 February 2017
Literature:	Brenan, J.P.M. (1970). Mimosoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(1) Page 80. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 199. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2. 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. 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 60. Timberlake, J., Fagg, C. & Barnes, R. (1999). Field Guide to the Acacias of Zimbabwe CBC Publishing, Harare Pages 116 - 118. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Mozambique: Acacia senegal var. leiorhachis
Flora of Zambia: Acacia senegal var. leiorhachis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Acacia senegal var. leiorhachis

External websites:

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