Senegalia afra

PLANTAE / PHANEROGAMAE / ANTHOPHYTA / FABALES / FABACEAE / CAESALPINIOIDEAE / ACACIEAE / SENEGALIA / AFRA

Senegalia afra (Thunb.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Indigenous

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Morphological description

Shrub or tree to 14 m high; trunk to 0.6 m diam.; crown often rounded. Bark reddish-or dark-brown to blackish, rough, frequently transversely and longitudinally fissured; young branchlets glabrous to sparingly or densely tomentose, eglandular or with minute reddish glands. Stipules not spinescent, in pairs, linear, 2.5-4 x 0.2-0.8 mm, soon deciduous. Prickles in pairs just below each node (rarely absent or with a few additional prickles scattered elsewhere on the stems), recurved or sometimes ± straight, dark-brown to blackish, up to 9 mm long. Leaves: petiole (0.5)0.8-3(4) cm long, adaxial gland variable in position, often slightly below the lowest pinna pair, 0.7-1.5 x 0.3-0.7 mm; rhachis (2)5-15(22.7) cm long, glabrous to densely tomentose, abaxial surface often with recurved prickles up to 3 mm long, with a gland at the junction of the top 1-3 pinnae pairs, occasionally between each pinna pair, or absent from some; pinnae (6)8-26(38) pairs; rhachillae (1.1)2.4-5(6.7) cm long, glabrous to tomentose; leaflets (13)21-50(64) pairs per pinna, 2-7(12.2) x 0.7-1.5(2.3) mm, linear to linear-oblong, apex rounded to subacute, glabrous to sparingly or densely appressed-pubescent below, margins with or without appressed or spreading cilia. Inflorescences spicate, solitary, fascicled or crowded into an irregular terminal panicle. Flowers yellowish-white, sessile; spikes (2)2.6-6.5(10) cm long; peduncles (0.2)0.8-2.5(4.1) cm long, subglabrous to densely tomentose, often glandular. Calyx campanulate, puberulous to pubescent or occasionally subglabrous or glabrous, tube 1-1.6 mm long, lobes 0.2-0.8 mm long. Corolla sometimes tinged with pink, puberulous to tomentose or occasionally glabrous, tube up to 2.5 mm long, lobes up to 1 mm long. Stamen-filaments free, up to 6 mm long; anthers ±0.15 mm across, with a deciduous apical gland. Ovary 0.5-1.9 mm long, glabrous or subglabrous, sessile or shortly stipitate. Pods light or dark brown, 4.5-19.7 x 0.7-1.5(2.7) cm, linear, straight or occasionally ± falcate, rounded to acuminate apically, longitudinally dehiscent, coriaceous, umbonate over the seeds, subglabrous or puberulous, seldom tomentose, with few to numerous reddish-brown glands scattered over the surface. Seeds olive-to light brown, subcircular to elliptic-lenticular, 6-12 x 4-8 mm, compressed; central areole 2-5 x 2-4 mm, horseshoe shaped. From: Ross, JH. 1975. Mimosoideae. Fl. S. Africa 16(1): 1-155. BRI, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd.

Shrub or tree, 3-14 m high, trunk up to 0.6 m in diam. Bark dark brown, rough, transversely and longitudinally fissured forming squares. Branches glabrous to hairy when young, with or without minute red glands. Leaves drooping, bipinnate, rachis 50-150 mm long, pinnae 8-26 pairs, each with 21-50 pairs leaflets. Prickles 2, recurved, dark brown, up to 9 mm long. Flowers in spikes, 26-65 mm long, creamy white. Flowering time Sept.-Nov. From: Boatwright, JS; et al. 2019. Fabaceae. In: CL Bredenkamp (ed.), A Flora of the Eastern Cape Province. Strelitzia 41(2): 926-1066. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Senegalia caffra (Thunb.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Tree or shrub, up to 14 m high; prickles in pairs just below each node, few, inconspicuous. Leaves with pinnae > 4 mm apart, giving leaf an open appearance; leaflets 0.70-2.31 (3.80) mm wide, 16-64 pairs per pinna; petioles 13-15 mm with rachis > 60 mm long. Flowers: inflorescence spicate; corolla yellowish white; Aug.-Dec. Pods linear, 45-197 x 7-15 mm, light to dark brown. From: Grobler, A; Retief, E; Meyer, NL. 2017. Fabaceae: Senegalia Raf. In: E Retief & NL Meyer (eds), Plants of the Free State: Inventory and identification guide. Strelitzia 38: 558-559. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Senegalia caffra (Thunb.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Armed shrub or tree to 14 m, spines hooked. Leaves bipinnate. Flowers in cylindrical spikes, creamy yellow. Pods flat, constricted between seeds. From: Schutte, AL. 2012. Fabaceae: Senegalia Raf. In: J Manning & P Goldblatt (eds), Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29: 579-579. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Senegalia caffra (Thunb.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Tree or shrub, up to 14 m high. Prickles in pairs just below each node. Pinnae more than 4 mm apart, giving leaf an open appearance; leaflets 0.70-2.31 (-3.80) mm wide, 16-64 pairs per pinna. Pods linear, 45-197 x 7-15 mm. Flowers yellowish white. From: Retief, E; Herman, PPJ. 1997. Plants of the northern provinces of South Africa: Keys and diagnostic characters. Strelitzia 6: 1-681. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd.

Diagnostic description

A. caffra is widespread throughout much of our area from the western Cape to the northern Transvaal. It is a very variable species, particularly in the degree of development of the indumentum and in the number of pinnae pairs. Of the four varieties recognized within A. caffra, only one, namely var. tomentosa Glover, remained in common use for some time. Var. tomentosa was distinguished from the other varieties on the number of pinnae pairs, the arrangement of the inflorescences and the degree of pubescence of the young branchlets, peduncles and calyces. In its typical form var. tomentosa is fairly distinctive but the characters typifying it vary independently. The extremes of the species look very different, yet when the range of variation is inspected, it becomes clear that intermediates are so numerous that infra-specific categories cannot be delimited satisfactorily. The many minutely differing forms in various parts of the species range, whose taxonomic significance seems unworthy of recognition, are therefore regarded as no more than part of the overall range of variation within the species. From: Ross, JH. 1975. Mimosoideae. Fl. S. Africa 16(1): 1-155. BRI, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd.

Habitat

Occupies a diverse range of habitats from coastal scrub, dry thornveld and river valley scrub, to mixed bushveld and tall grassland. Frequently occurs amongst boulders or near termite mounds which afford some protection from fire. A dwarf stunted from often occurs on rocky stream banks in the eastern Cape. From: Ross, JH. 1975. Mimosoideae. Fl. S. Africa 16(1): 1-155. BRI, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd.

Arid bushveld, dry river valleys, often amongst rocks; Sub-Escarpment Grassland, Sub-Escarpment Savanna, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Albany Thicket. From: Boatwright, JS; et al. 2019. Fabaceae. In: CL Bredenkamp (ed.), A Flora of the Eastern Cape Province. Strelitzia 41(2): 926-1066. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Senegalia caffra (Thunb.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Vredefort Dome Savanna. Thornveld, river valley scrub, bush clumps, tall grassland. From: Grobler, A; Retief, E; Meyer, NL. 2017. Fabaceae: Senegalia Raf. In: E Retief & NL Meyer (eds), Plants of the Free State: Inventory and identification guide. Strelitzia 38: 558-559. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Senegalia caffra (Thunb.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Karroid scrub, stream banks. From: Schutte, AL. 2012. Fabaceae: Senegalia Raf. In: J Manning & P Goldblatt (eds), Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29: 579-579. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Senegalia caffra (Thunb.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Thornveld, river valley scrub, mixed bushveld and tall grassland. From: Retief, E; Herman, PPJ. 1997. Plants of the northern provinces of South Africa: Keys and diagnostic characters. Strelitzia 6: 1-681. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd.

Distribution

Found in south-eastern Botswana, the Transvaal, southern Mozambique, Swaziland, Natal and the Cape Province. From: Ross, JH. 1975. Mimosoideae. Fl. S. Africa 16(1): 1-155. BRI, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd.

Clanwilliam, Oudtshoorn to Limpopo. From: Schutte, AL. 2012. Fabaceae: Senegalia Raf. In: J Manning & P Goldblatt (eds), Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29: 579-579. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY] As: Senegalia caffra (Thunb.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Occurrence records map

This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations

iNaturalist: BODATSA: Data partners records:

Residence status

Occurrence in the Flora of Southern Africa (FSA) countries and South African provinces. Residence status indicates if a taxon is indigenous, endemic, naturalised or invasive in a specific region. This data is based on specimen records and literature

FSA

BOT

NAM

ESW

LES

KZN

Absent

Indigenous

Endemic

Naturalised

Invasive

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Names and Sources

Accepted name

Senegalia afra (Thunb.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Published in: Mabberley's Pl.-Book 1021 (2008)

Nomenclature note: as 'caffra'

Synonym(s)

Mimosa afra Thunb., as 'caffra'

Published in: Prodr. Pl. Cap. 2: 92 (1800)

Mimosa caffra Thunb., orth. var. not permitted by ICN (Art. 61.6, Madrid Code onwards)

Published in: Prodr. Pl. Cap. 2: 92 (1800)

Acacia afra (Thunb.) Willd., as 'caffra'

Published in: Sp. Pl., ed. 4 [Willdenow] 4(2): 1078 (1806)

Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd., orth. var. not permitted by ICN (Art. 61.6, Madrid Code onwards)

Published in: Sp. Pl., ed. 4 [Willdenow] 4(2): 1078 (1806)

Senegalia caffra (Thunb.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb., orth. var. not permitted by ICN (Art. 61.6, Madrid Code onwards)

Published in: Mabberley's Pl.-Book 1021 (2008)

Acacia afra (Thunb.) Willd. var. namaquensis Eckl. & Zeyh., as 'caffra'

Published in: Enum. Pl. Afric. Austral.: 260 (1836)

Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd. var. namaquensis Eckl. & Zeyh., orth. var. not permitted by ICN (Art. 61.6, Madrid Code onwards)

Published in: Enum. Pl. Afric. Austral.: 260 (1836)

Acacia afra (Thunb.) Willd. var. longa Glover, as 'caffra'