Vachellia edgeworthii
Vachellia edgeworthii is a low, spreading thorny shrub in the pea family, Fabaceae. It occurs in northeastern tropical Africa and across the Gulf of Aden in Yemen. Formerly called Acacia edgeworthii, it received its current combination in Vachellia in 2013.[1]
Appearance
The Flora of Tropical East Africa describes plants usually branching near ground level, with a broad, nearly level crown. The shrub may spread several metres while remaining about two metres tall. Its straight thorns arise at the leaf bases. Each leaf divides into paired branches, which in turn carry rows of tiny leaflets.[1]
White flowers are grouped into rounded heads. The thick seed pods can be curved or nearly straight; they become woody and eventually open. Their surfaces bear fine hairs, and the large seeds are dark.[1]
Range and habitat
The Flora of Somalia records the plant from Somalia and Somaliland, Ethiopia, northeastern Kenya, Socotra and southwestern Arabia. It describes acacia–Commiphora bushland, semi-desert scrub and sand dunes, from sea level to about 1,130 metres. Its regional description allows shrubs up to three metres tall and includes reddish-white flowers.[2]
Kew also places Acacia turnbulliana within this species. The older East African flora described that name separately, with longer pods and spines. Those older descriptions reflect a narrower classification than the current species treatment.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. “Vachellia edgeworthii”, including Gillett, Polhill and Verdcourt (1971), Flora of Tropical East Africa. Accessed 9 October 2026.
- ↑ Open Herbarium. “Vachellia edgeworthii”, treatment from Thulin, Hassan and Styles (1993), Flora of Somalia. Accessed 9 October 2026.