Camel Thorn
Acacia erioloba
Family:
Fabaceae, Pea family
Form:
Tree; evergreen to semi-deciduous to 60 feet tall
Range:
Southwestern Africa from Angola and Zambia south to the Northern Cape
Habitat:
Dry woodland, deep Kalahari sands and along water courses in arid areas
Living Desert Location:
Village Watutu, East Africa
Camel thorn is a medium to large tree with a rounded to umbrella-shaped crown. This tree is widely found in southern Africa, and the dense shade produced by its canopy is invaluable in the desert regions. It is distinguished from other acacias by the blue-green color of the foliage and almost black bark. The ball-shaped, sweetly-scented, golden- yellow flowers bloom in the winter or spring.
Livestock and game browse on the leaves and the thick, sweet pods are favored by elephant, giraffe, eland, kudu, gemsbok and grey duiker. The distinctive half-moon shaped pods are highly nutritious and used as fodder during drought. Cows feeding on pods have shown an increase in milk production.
The wood is dark, heavy and very strong. It is popular as firewood, having a cinnamon-like smell when burned. The termite resistant wood is one of Africa’s hardest timbers, making it popular for use as a building material.
The gum is eaten by man and animal and is also used medicinally as a treatment for gonorrhea. Powdered bark is used for headaches and powdered pods for ear infections. The inner bark makes good rope.
The bulbous bases of the formidable spines may be inhabited by ants.
