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Acacia tortilis

Authority	(Forsskal) Hayne
Family	Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Fabales:Leguminosae
Synonyms
Common names	Abak, Akab, Akiba (Tigrigna), Aqba (Tigrigna), basterkameeldoring, Behbey (Afargna), Dadach (Borenagna), Deweni grar (Amargna), haak-en-steek, haak-en-steekdoring, haakdoring, isiThwethwe, Lotoba (Oromiffaa), moku, musu, nsasane, Qura, sambreeldoring, Schirmakazie, Shera (Gamogna), tafelboom, Tedecha (Oromiffaa), Timad, Tsi (Sahogna), umbrella thorn, umSasane, withaak
Editor
Ecocrop code	2712

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A shrub of about 1 m to a small to medium-sized spiny deciduous or nearly evergreen tree usually 4-15 m tall but may reach 20 m in height. Tall trees have a withspreading flat-topped crown. USES The wood can be used for fenceposts, small implements and as fuel and charcoal. The protein-rich pods, and leaves are eaten by livestock. Plants survive heavy grazing. The trees provide shade, sand dune stabilization and it can be used as ornamentals. It produces a gum that is said to be edible. KILLING T Frost tender espesially when young. GROWING PERIOD Perennial. Can be grown on a 10 years fuelwood rotation. COMMON NAMES Umbrella thorn, Karamoja, Seyal, Sayal, Samor, Seing, Babool, Haaken-steekdoring, Djelcki, Djilouki, Guanaki, Tili, Afadar, Afadjadj, Afaggag, Samr, Saganeib, Ullaf, Kura, Eluwo, Etir, Ewoi, Entepesi, Ol-Gorete, Mgunga, Mosu, Mosunyana, Kandili, Sambreeldoring, Israeli babool, Tortillis, Bisaw. FURTHER INF Scientific synonyms: A. raddiana, A. spirocarpa, A. fasciculata, A. heteracantha. Four distinct subspecies of umbrella thorn are known in different ecological zones: "tortilis" (Sahel and Middle East), "raddiana" (Sudan, Middel East, and Sahel), "spirocarpa" (Eastern Africa and Sudan), "heteracantha" (southern Africa). The tree can be found at elevations between sea level and 1000 m. It occur naturally within the latitudinal range of 15-30°N. Mentioned as a possible agroforestry species. A 12-year-old plantation, 3x3 m spacing, can yield 54 t/ha of fuelwood. Best adapted to hot, dry lowland conditions, the tree is drought hardy, but often found by temporary or permanent waterholes and around wells. It often indicates the tree limit towards the desert. The tree should not be introduced to new areas, with more humid climates, where grazing and firewood are in adequate supply, as it is likely that the species will grow out of control and become a nuisance. It seems that at times the leaves may be toxic.
Sources
Grassland Index Webb D 1984 pp 97 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, LIG, KTMP, USE] AGLS A 1991 pp 40 National RC 1980 pp 106 National RC 1983c pp 72 [TEMP, RAIN, DRA, PH] Puri S 1992 pp 46-2 National RC 1979 pp 136 INSPIRE species 14 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, LIG, KTMP, USE] IBPGR 1984 pp 21 FAO For. Paper 77 pp 36 Maydell H 1986 pp 145-147 [TEXT, FER, DRA, RAIN, TEMP, KTMP, USE] Little E 1983 pp 35-38 [RAIN, TEMP, KTMP, TEXT, DRA, DEP, USE, LIMITS] Hensleight T 1988 pp 369 [TEMP, RAIN, PH, USE]