Plant database entry for Sweet Thorn (Vachellia karroo) with 7 images and 3 data details. Semi-deciduous Full sun Frost tolerant Low water requirements Medium water requirements Fast grower Fragrant flowers The thorns are paired, greyish to white and are long and straight. Sweet thorns are highly ornamental plants that can be grown as a multi-stemmed shrub or pruned to a single-stemmed tree. The bark is red on young branches then becomes dark and rough as the tree matures. D.P. An icon of the South African veld, Vachellia karroo is a popular choice among local gardeners as a pavement tree or as a shade tree in larger gardens. Acacia hirtella E. Mey. Medicinal properties, bark used to tan leather red, firewood, gum eaten by bush babies, seeds are a coffee substitute. Vachellia karroo has a rounded crown, branching fairly low down on the trunk. Tropical Forestry Papers 32. The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand & Transkei Natal Flora Publications Trust. Medicinal uses are wound poultices to eye treatments and cold remedies. On mature trees, the thorns may be quite short. It is very widespread throughout southern Africa and there are different forms in some places, which can be confusing. It is a very spectacular tree when in full flower. In cool dry areas it becomes deciduous. Vachellia karroo (Acacia karroo) Vachellia karroo (Acacia karroo) Quantity . Thorns on African  vachellias and sengalias are important for identification, they are divided into 5 main groups according the size, shape and position of the thorns. It bears quantities of sweetly scented, golden-yellow mimosa-like balls of flowers several times during summer. A well-known thorn tree of the veld, this fast growing, drought resistant tree has rather sparse foliage in a rounded crown. The leaves are dark green and finely textured. Oxford Forestry Institute. This is one of South Africa's most beautiful and useful trees. If an area is overgrazed the sweet thorn becomes invasive. Sweet thorn (Acacia karroo Hayne or Vachellia karroo (Hayne) Banfi & Galasso) is a very variable and very thorny tree species that is widespread in Africa and grows to a height of 5-12 m.It is a multipurpose tree providing food, feed, commercial products, and environmental services. The tree can live up to 40 years, is a very adaptable pioneer and re-sprouter (grows up to 1m per year). Alice Aubrey with additions by Yvonne ReynoldsWitwatersrand National Botanical GardenJanuary 2002Â, SA Distribution: Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Flowering season: Early Summer, Late Summer. Sign in Sign up for FREE Prices and download plans Vachellia karroo may be found from the Western Cape through to Zambia and Angola.  In tropical Africa it is replaced by Acacia seyal, which has probably also been renamed. It is a very spectacular tree when in full flower. The latter often with scattered, persistent spines (Ross, 1979). Plant Type: Tree. The thorns were even used by early naturalists to pin the insects they collected! Trees of Southern Africa: Volume 2. Yellow pompom flowers appear in early summer and are pollinated by insects. Description. Soetdoring (A) Suurdoring (A) Karoodoring (A) Mookana (N.S) Umunga (Z) mooka (T) Description. Common names: sweet thorn (English); soetdoring (Afrikaans); mookana (North Sotho); mooka (Tswana); umuNga (Zulu) (Xhosa). It is a deciduous thorn tree which grows at an average rate. This pleasant tasting gum is eaten by people and animals, including the Lesser Bushbaby which feeds exclusively on insects and gum from trees, particularly vachellia and sengalia trees. Edible gum. 1990. Technically the thorns are called "spines" and are developed from modified stipules (small, leaf-like scales, seen at the base of the leaf-stalk). Sweet thorns are highly ornamental plants that can be grown as a multi-stemmed shrub or pruned to a single-stemmed tree. It was a very welcome sight to early travelers and nomads. Known as the most common thorn tree of the veld this fast growing, drought resistant Acacia has rather sparse foliage, with dark green leaves. Abundant, fragrant, yellow puffball flowers light up the landscape, and adorn the tree intermittently (in response to rain) throughout summer. Planted A. karroo tree: Sweet thorn planted in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe after 12 years (6 m high; d.b.h. Germination usually takes 3 - 12 days. Palmer, E and Pitman, N. 1972. General Info. A.A.Balkema. common names Sweet Thorn (photographer) Check the Plants Database (USDA website) View Encyclopedia of Life record for Vachellia karroo; View all photos in CalPhotos of Vachellia karroo; Check Google Images for Vachellia karroo Pretoria. Prices and download plans . Vachellia karroo is a useful and widespread tree in Africa. It has a variable shape and size, reaching a maximum of about 12m. Jacana Education. The sweet thorn gets its common name from the gum which is exuded from wounds in the bark. non (L.) Willd. Tree has a spreading, rounded crown up to 20m high. Acacia karroo has a rounded crown, branching fairly low down on the trunk and can reach a maximum height of 12 m where water is plentiful. Plant with plenty of compost, bonemeal or superphosphates (commercial tree tablets also work well). Acacia karroo, Vachellia karroo.. The leaves are nutritious. Bisexual Flowers are small and actinomorphic.Fruit – dehiscent pod, constricted between the flat Seeds.. A beautiful and useful tree that occurs from the Western Cape (RSA) to Zambia and Angola. In some other thorny acacia species, the thorns are not stipular in origin and are called "prickles". Sappi Tree Spotting, Highveld and the Drakensberg. It establishes quite quickly in a stripped area and offers a micro-climate for … It is a particularly good fodder tree, stock and game feed on the leaves, flowers and pods. The Act requires that all sightings to be reported to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours. It may be grown from seed which should be soaked in hot water and left overnight. Vachellia karroo, Acacia karroo Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Mimosoideae Sweet Thorn Origin: South Africa. Gwaze Bark: A. karroo bark: longitudinally fissured, can be either reddish brown to dark brown/black and rough, or pale greyish-white to greyish-brown and smooth. Vachellia karroo ( Acacia karroo ) Sweet Thorn. This is one of South Africa's most beautiful and useful trees. It belongs to the family Fabaceae, which is the third largest woody plant family in southern Africa. TREE OF THE DAY : Vachellia karroo . A new aspect in the species-differentiation is the separate discussion of distal and proximal leaves. Everything you need to know about Sweet Thorn Acacia (Vachellia karroo), including propagation, ideal conditions and common pests and problems. This tree has a long taproot which enables it to use water and nutrients from deep underground, this and its ability to fix nitrogen, lead to grasses and other plants thriving in its shade. This is an ecologically and economically important species as almost all of its parts, including bark, pods, seeds, leaves and thorns, are extremely useful to both humans and animals. Acacia eburnea sensu auct. Medicinal properties, bark used to tan leather red, firewood, gum eaten by bush babies, seeds are a coffee substitute. While many farmers consider the common sweet thorn (Vachellia karroo, formerly Acacia karroo) an unwelcome indigenous invader, researchers point out that it is one of the best sources of feed and shelter in dry regions.