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Acacia gerrardii

Scientific Name: Acacia gerrardii

Family: Fabaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Acacia gerrardii: The Grey-Haired Acacia

Acacia gerrardii, also known as Grey-haired acacia or Red thorn, is a species of legume belonging to the genus Acacia. It is a tree native to arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and West Asia.

Considerations for Pets

  • Acacia gerrardii is described as a thorny tree.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Acacia gerrardii Benth.
  • Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae) - Mimosoideae
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Synonyms:
    • Acacia hebecladoides Harms
    • Vachellia gerrardii (Benth.) P.J.H. Hurter
  • Subspecies:
    • Acacia gerrardii var. gerrardii
    • Acacia gerrardii subsp. negevensis Zohary
    • Vachellia gerrardii negevensis (Zohary) Ragupathy, Seigler, Ebinger &amp
    • Acacia gerrardii var. calvescens
    • Acacia gerrardii gerrardiivariety
    • Acacia gerrardii najdensisvariety

Common Names

  • Grey-haired acacia (English)
  • Red thorn (English)
  • Ikope (Ndebele)
  • Isanqawe (Ndebele)
  • Rooidoring (Afrikaans)
  • Sebeldit (Kenya)
  • Ol debbe (Kenya)
  • Lusenene (Bemba, Bisa)
  • Kafifi (Nyanja)
  • Tiluure (J&ampD) (Nigeria, Fula-Fulfulde)
  • Bkr kya = black thorn (MM ZOG)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Acacia gerrardii is distributed from Benin eastwards to Ethiopia and southwards to South Africa.
  • A subspecies is also found in Israel and Iraq.
  • It is native to arid and semi-arid Africa and West Asia.
  • It's found in central Saudi Arabia (wadi Huraimla).

Morphological Characteristics

  • Acacia gerrardii is a thorny tree, typically reaching a height of 3 to 15 meters (approximately 10 to 50 feet), although it can reach up to 14 meters (approximately 46 feet) in some instances, and even 30-35 feet in mature height..
  • It often grows on a single trunk but can split into 2-4 thick trunks near its base.
  • Leaves are borne on small woody cushions clustered along the branches.
  • The bipinnate leaves have leaflets.

Ecological Role

  • Acacia gerrardii is a melliferous species, meaning it is a good source of nectar for honey production.

Further Information

  • Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service
  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K) Herbarium
  • Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa
  • World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi