Mimosaceae - Thorn-Tree family
SA Tree no 168.1
This tree prefers brackish soils near rivers and drainage lines and are also found on clay soils. Occurs in low altitude dry thornveld and mopane woodland.
Normally a small Acacia tree or shrub, 5 to 10 m, with moderate density. It has a wide, V-shaped, irregular canopy. The huge white spiny thorns are conspicuous. It has white flower-balls. The pods are sickle-shaped and flat. The bark is black, becoming deeply vertically fissured with age; young branches grey to yellowish-brown and smooth. Stipules spinescent, the spines up to 90 mm long; straight, stout to very stout, white or grey and fused across their bases.
Links with animals - The leaves and pods are browsed by giraffe and impala. The seeds are eaten by baboon and monkey.
Human uses - The wood is used for cooking fires.
Gardening - This tree can be used to form a hedge. It will grow fast from seed in fertile soils and when it is well watered. It is fairly drought-resistant but not frost resistant.
Leaves - Twice compound leaves borne in bunches of 3 - 5 at the origin of the thorns. Leaves consist of 3 - 10 feathers, each with 8 - 16 pairs of leaflets. Leaflets elliptic with a smooth margin; smooth or velvety. (Leaf: 70 mm; leaflet: 3 x 9 mm)
Flowers - White, sweet-scented flower-balls are borne if tufts of 4 - 12 at the leaf origin on new branchlets, from October to March. (10 mm)
Pods - Sickle-shaped, flat. brown pods are borne in bunches on the end of the twigs. Seeds split open on the tree when ripe, from April to July. (70 x 130 mm)
Best places to see the Horned Thorn in Southern Africa:
The Horned Thorn is found in the Kruger National Park in the Sabie Crocodile Thorn Thickets & Tree Mopane Savannah ecozones.
 Tree species of Southern Africa >> Printable Tree List <<
South African Trees >> Printable Tree List <<
The Plant Kingdom (Plantae)
Wildlife - Fauna & Flora of Southern Africa
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