Vachellia reficiens (Wawra & Peyr.) Kyal. & Boatwr.

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Bush 1–5(–6) m. high, obconical, branching from base.

Morphology Branches

Young branchlets shortly puberulous to pulverulent, as are the leaf-rhachides and peduncles; older branchlets glabrescent, grey to brown, often rather slender and almost straight.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules spinescent, all short, hooked, 2–6 mm. long, coloured like the twigs; “ant-galls” and other prickles absent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves:rhachis short, 0.3–1.2 cm. long; pinnae 1–3 pairs (at least in our area); leaflets 5–11 pairs per pinna, 2–4.5 mm. long, 0.5–1.25 mm. wide, glabrous or slightly puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers whitish, in small axillary heads; involucre on peduncle basal or in lower third.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods straight, linear-oblong, dehiscent, 3–6.5 cm. long, attenuate at base, acuminate to obtuse at apex, brown or deep purplish, marked with fine mostly longitudinal veins and ± pulverulent to glabrous or nearly so.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds longitudinal in the pod, pale olive-brown, smooth, mostly elliptic, compressed, 5–7.5 mm. long, 4–5 mm. wide; areole 4–4.5 mm. long, 2.5–3 mm. wide.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Karroo-Namib shrubland, Kalahari-Highveld regional transition zone; wooded grassland., Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub/Tree

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Shrub 1–6 m high, obconical, branching from base, or sometimes a tree with a distinct trunk; young branchlets grey to brown, shortly puberulous

Morphology General Spines

Stipular spines (in Somalia) all short, hooked, up to 6 mm long

Morphology Leaves

Pinnae 1–3 pairs; leaflets 5–11 pairs, 2–4.5 x 0.5–1.25 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers whitish, in heads; involucel basal or in lower third of peduncle

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods straight, dehiscent, 3–6.5(–8.8) x 0.6–1.2 cm, brown or deep purplish, finely longitudinally veined, ± puberulous to glabrous or nearly so

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds mostly elliptic, compressed, 5–7.5 x 4–5 mm; areole 4–4.5 x 2.5–3 mm.