Common Hook Thorn
Acacia caffra
Family:
Fabaceae, Pea Family
Form:
Tree; deciduous to 40 feet tall, often 15 to 20 feet
Range:
Southeastern Africa
Habitat:
Coastal scrub, montane slopes, woodland, wooded grassland and along drainage courses
Living Desert Location:
Bat-eared Fox Exhibit, Cheetah Exhibit
This very decorative acacia, with its open and somewhat irregular crown of feathery-textured foliage, is an excellent garden subject. Each bi-pinnately compound leaf is comprised of hundreds to thousands of tiny leaflets. The African acacias are notorious for their wickedly treacherous thorns. The common hook thorn is probably the most benign with its short, widely scattered prickles that may disappear entirely as the tree ages. This tree is frost and drought resistant and is purported to have an aggressive root system.
The leaves, especially the young ones, are a favorite of the black rhino, giraffe, kudu, impala, reedbuck and grey duiker. The leaves and seed pods are eaten by livestock, especially during drought when the farmers cut the lower branches for browse.
The wood is hard and durable. It is used for fence posts, furniture and, in the Eastern Cape, is sought after for making tobacco pipes. The wood is termite and borer-proof. Long and thin branches are pliable and used for basket making.
The bark is used for tanning leather. Also, an infusion made from the bark is used for blood cleansing and abdominal disorders. Infants are treated with an enema made from leaves and milk.
Spikes of sweetly-scented, cream-colored flowers occur in the spring.
