Candle-pod Acacia
Acacia hebeclada ssp. hebeclada
Candle-pod acacia is easily identified most months of the year by its woody seed pods, held upright.
Family:
Fabaceae, Pea Family
Form:
Shrub, small tree; deciduous
Range:
Southern Africa
Habitat:
Hot, dry areas in calcium rich soils
Living Desert Location:
Cheetah Exhibit, Aloe Garden
This shrubby tree rarely reaches 20 feet in height but may form a tangled thicket of thorny branches over 100 feet in width, often times only three to six feet high. In southern Africa it is also known as the “house of the lion”. The low spreading habit provides shelter and shade for lion and Bushmen alike.
The name hebeclada refers to the pubescent (hairy) branches. The bi-pinnately compound leaves are comprised of hundreds of tiny leaflets. Spines on this acacia are variable from short and curved to straight and over an inch long.
The ball-shaped, creamy-white flowers, thick pods, and delicate foliage are utilized by all browsers. The roots of this acacia are also ground into powder and mixed with fat to be used as a dressing for the hair of the Ovahimba tribe in Namibia. The Candle-pod acacia is one of the hosts to the delicious and much sought-after fungus, the truffle. This tree has been used as a leprosy remedy and the root can be used as a cure for intestinal complaints. The spreading habit, coupled with the thorny branches, make this plant an effective barrier or screen.
