Vachellia tortilis subsp. spirocarpa
Vachellia tortilis subsp. spirocarpa is a subspecies of umbrella thorn in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is native to Africa, with a range extending from northeastern tropical Africa southwards to Namibia. The current combination dates from 2013; older floras use Acacia tortilis subsp. spirocarpa.[1]
Recognition
The tree typically has a spreading, flattened crown. Young branches are hairy. Its curved or loosely coiled pods carry a covering of soft hairs with small reddish glands between them. These fruit characters help distinguish it from the related subspecies heteracantha, whose pods are usually hairless and lack glands.[2][3]
FAO's taxonomic manual distinguishes forms with short pod hairs from the longer-haired variety crinita. It also records unusual specimens and intermediates, showing why a single character should not replace examination of the whole plant.[3]
Habitat
In Zimbabwe it grows in open savannah woodland. Heavy browsing can keep young trees smaller than their potential mature form. The regional flora records flowering from November to January.[2] The Flora of Somalia records this subspecies at approximately 150–1,350 metres elevation; this is a regional range, not a limit for all African populations.[1]
Historical names
Kew treats Acacia gummifera (Forssk.) Delile as a synonym of this subspecies and an illegitimate later homonym. That name must be distinguished from Acacia gummifera Willd., the Moroccan species now called Vachellia gummifera.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. “Vachellia tortilis subsp. spirocarpa”, including Flora of Somalia. Accessed 9 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Flora of Zimbabwe. “Acacia tortilis subsp. spirocarpa”. Accessed 9 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Food and Agriculture Organization. Manual on taxonomy of Acacia species, chapter V, Acacia tortilis. Accessed 9 October 2026.
- ↑ Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. “Acacia gummifera (Forssk.) Delile”. Plants of the World Online. Accessed 9 October 2026.