Edible : Seeds - coffee, Gum, Bark, Roots, Seeds, Leaves - coffee,
An evergreen shrub or small tree. It grows to 5 m tall and 3 m wide. It can be 15 m tall. The stem is erect. It has spines. The spines are silvery white with a black tip. The spines or thorns can be 7 cm long. The bark is rough and grey-black. The bark peals off to show a rust red colour underneath. The branches are spreading. The leaves (phyllodes) are grey and divided twice. They are 10 cm long. There are 8-20 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are pale yellow. They have a sweet smell. They flowers occur in dense clusters. The pods are 12.5 cm long and narrow. The pods curve to a sickle shape. When ripe they are dark brown.
This is a native of Southern Africa. It prefers light to medium soils They need to be well drained. It requires a sunny protected position. It can resist drought and frost. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 50-1,500 mm. It grows between 3-2,400 m above sea level. It grows in coastal scrub and woodland and along streams. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.
Common names : Karroo Thorn, Cape gum, Cape gum, Doorn Boom, Isinga, Mfungu, Mimosa, Mkwangwa, Moangala, Mooka, Mpampa, Mubayamhondoro, Muhunga, Munenje, Mupfamutshena, Muunga, Muye-nyewe, Muzunga, Soetdoring, Sweet thorn, Umnga, Umunga, Witdoring,
Synonyms:
Acacia dekindtiana A. Chev.;
Acacia eburnea sensu auct.;
Acacia inconflagrabilis Gerstner;
Acacia horrida sensu auct. mult. non (L.) Willd.;
Acacia karroo Hayne;
Acacia natalitia E. Meyer;
Confusion about these:
Acacia pseudowightii Thoth.;
Acacia roxburghii Wight & Arn.;
Acacia campbellii Arn.;
Mimosa eburnea L. f.;
Acacia minutifolia Ragnup.;
Acacia hirtella E. Mey.;