Thorn-tree

Description:

Commonly called 'Acacias', this thorn-tree belongs in fact to genus Vachellia (see Notes for some details, and Wikipedia references for more). I suspect this one to be the Camel thorn, or Vachellia erioloba, but don't feel equipped enough to be certain, so prefer to leave it at genus level. This is a an attractive tree from far away, about 6 to 7 meters tall with multiple stems. The inflorescences are golden yellow, a bit over 1 cm in diameter, and equipped with a pair of mighty thorns - these thorns, about 6 to 8 cm long, are more resistant than an average 4x4 vehicle tyre, and capable of ripping it off like a balloon (let alone the sole of your shoe - I tested that one some years ago...) if you are unlucky enough to drive over the dead branch, which I tested few times. The seed pods (pic N° 4) are about 10cm in length and slightly curved. Leaves are bipennate, with opposite leaflets.

Habitat:

Here, observed in rural area of Kunene, at outskirts of a town named Puros, north-west of Sesfontein district, on the way to Skeleton Coast. This is a very, very dry area, a succession of dunes, open dryland grazing areas (now being dry for few years) and acacia (or rather Vachellia) shrubland.

Notes:

Since year 2000, the African lineages of the then genus Acacia were renamed, and from 2009 they belong to Vachellia and Senegalia genera. Since the revision, only the Australian species now keep the name Acacia - a bit more on the complicated and controversial process here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia; and in a Wiki reference beside.