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Project Noah Nature School
A vast and plain vegetation with some spotted trees here and there sometimes.
Spotted on Jan 14, 2010
Submitted on Mar 14, 2014
6 Comments
Nice photograph, and thank you Gilma for the wonderful information on Whistling Thorn Acacia tree. :))
This is a gorgeous tree that just shouts out "Africa" to me (conditioned by film as I am). Please try and fill in the data fields if you can, especially habitat. In PN, "Habitat" is for the spotting, not a general description for a species across its range, but rather a description of the place where you took this photograph. You can read this advice as well as other tips in the FAQs (a link at the bottom of every page). Thank you!
You are welcome! I LOVE trees... : )
It is always nice to comment on things you notice about the spottings to get closer to get an ID. You can still edit it..... : )
Wow! Great information, Gilma! Thanks for sharing it! It was amazing knowing about the whistle of this tree.
I just notice you are in Kenya so perhaps is a:
Whistling Thorn Acacia tree, Vachellia drepanolobium.
The whistling thorn grows up to 6 meters tall. It produces a pair of straight thorns at each node, some of which have large bulbous bases. These swollen thorns are naturally hollow and occupied by any one of several symbiotic ant species. The common name of the plant is derived from the observation that when wind blows over bulbous thorns in which ants have made entry/exit holes, they create a whistling noise.
Flat Topped Acacia, Acacia tortilis.
It is a medium size tree with a height of about 15 m and has small white aromatic smelling flowers in dense clusters. The Flat Topped Acacia is an important source for shade for resting mammals and the leaves and buds are eaten by many animals.