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Acacia arenaria
Scientific Name: Acacia arenaria
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Acacia arenaria
Acacia arenaria Schinz is an accepted scientific name for a species within the genus Acacia.
Common Names
- Sand Acacia
- Sand Thorn
- Sanddoring
- Mophuratshukudu
- Omuliamenje
- Omulyamenye
- Mufuti (Cuamato)
- Vikani (Nd.)
- Spidery Wattle
Considerations for Pets
- The common name "Sand Thorn" suggests the presence of thorns, which could pose a risk of injury.
- It grows as a shrub or tree, potentially making it accessible to pets in a garden setting.
Considerations for Children
- The common name "Sand Thorn" suggests the presence of thorns, which could pose a risk of injury.
- It grows as a shrub or tree, potentially making it accessible to children in a garden setting.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Kingdom: Life / Eukaryotes
- Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
- Subfamily: Mimosoideae
- Genus: Acacia
- Synonym: Acacia hermannii Baker f.
- Alternative Scientific Name: Vachellia arenaria (Schinz) Kyal. & Boatwr.
- Taxonomic Serial No.: 820276 (ITIS)
Distribution and Habitat
- Found in Africa, including Namibia, Angola (Hula, Chibia, Luundge), Zimbabwe (near Khami Ruins), Botswana, and South Africa.
- Commonly referred to as "acacia de arena" or "acacia arenera" in Spanish, meaning "sand acacia," suggesting a preference for sandy habitats.
Morphological Characteristics
- Grows as an obconical shrub up to 2 meters tall or a small tree up to 9 meters tall.
- Has a short bole (trunk) that branches near the base.
- Bark is dark and rough (or smooth), sometimes peeling off.
- Leaves are pale and velvety.
- Flowers are cream-colored, sometimes scented and turning pink.
- Grey bark.
Ecological Role
- Can dominate vegetation in certain areas, potentially leading to bush encroachment.
Quirky Facts
- Resprouts biomass ranged from two times (in A. arenaria) to four times that removed in A. karroo, highlighting different resprouting capabilities between Acacia species.
Further Information
- Namibia Biodiversity Database
- South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), National Herbarium, Pretoria (PRE)
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
- Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service
- ICRAF Databases
- Tropicos
- Encyclopedia of Life
- NCBI Taxonomy