| DESCRIPTION: It is a large, flat-topped, deciduous tree reaching up to 20 m in height. The bark is dark, rough and brown. Thorns very variable, short or long, sometimes none. Leaves are feathery, leaflets very small, sometimes glands at leaf base. Flowers are numerous heads of round cream flowers, buds pink. Fruits are up to 12 cm, straight or curved pods, splitting open. USE: Fuelwood, charcoal, poles, posts, medicine, fodder, bee-forage, shade, ornamental, nitrogen-fixing. Good for degraded land and along gullies. Not recommended around homesteads since branches tend to fall off. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial. COMMON NAMES: Umbrella thorn. FURTHER INF: It is well distributed, particularly in western Kenya and can be found in wooded grassland and highland edges at elevations between 1200-2300 m. It is drought tolerant. |
