Senegalia bonariensis
Senegalia bonariensis, also known as ñapindá or uña de gato, is a prickly South American shrub or woody climber in the pea family, Fabaceae. It was formerly classified as Acacia bonariensis. The modern combination in Senegalia was published in 2006.[1]
Description
The Montevideo botanical garden's flora manual describes a shrub usually reaching about three metres, but capable of climbing or leaning into surrounding vegetation to attain seven or eight metres. Prickles occur on the stems and along parts of the leaves. The leaves divide twice, with five to eight pairs of primary divisions carrying numerous small, narrow leaflets.[2]
Pale yellow flowers are arranged in cylindrical spikes, which form larger branching clusters. The flattened, oblong pods turn light brown as they mature and contain hard, elliptical seeds.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Kew records a native range extending from Bolivia to southern Brazil and northern Argentina.[3] The Uruguayan flora recognises it as native to Uruguay and records it in riverside forest, algarrobo woodland and scrub on moderately moist sites.[1]
The Montevideo manual records it throughout Uruguay, often near the edges of riverside woods, and also forming thickets in open country. Its Uruguayan flowering period runs from November to March, with fruiting in autumn. The same manual records propagation from seed and cultivation as a dense living hedge.[2]
Classification
Plants of the World Online accepts Senegalia bonariensis (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Seigler & Ebinger.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Marchesi, E.; Mailhos, A.; Bonifacino, J. M. (eds) (2026). “Senegalia bonariensis”. Flora Uruguaya: Flora Vascular del Uruguay, version 1.3. Accessed 9 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Brussa, Carlos A. (ed.) and colleagues (2014). Curso de conocimiento y reconocimiento de flora indígena. Jardín Botánico de Montevideo, pp. 211–212. Accessed 9 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. “Senegalia bonariensis”. Plants of the World Online. Accessed 9 October 2026.