Edible: Gum, Seeds, Spice
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.
It is a tropical plant. It occurs in wooded grassland and in soil from rivers in river valleys. It grows in the Sahel. It can grow in arid places.
Common Names: African cachechu tree, Chikwiku, Chiugadzi, Falcon's claw acacia, Guvwa, Kalakhanga, Kobakova, M'rroca, Mekaja, Mgunga, Msukanzi, Mtopotopo, Mugone, Mukwakwa, Munanga, Musewa, White thorn-tree
Synonyms:
Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd. var. campylacantha (A. Rich.) Aubrev.;
Acacia campylacantha Hochst. ex A. Rich.;
Acacia catechu (L. f.) Willd. subsp. suma (Roxb.) Roberty;