Acacia gerrardii

Acacia gerrardii

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Common Names

Rooidoring, rooibas, rooihaakdoring, swarthaakdoring, engelsedoring (afrikaans)
Red Thorn (english)
umphuzwe, Umsama (zulu)
muunga (venda)

Taxonomy

Family FABACEAE
Genus Acacia
Species gerrardii
SA Plant Number 167
Basionym Acacia gerrardii

Description

Acacia gerrardii (=Vachellia gerrardii) is a hardy, fairly fast-growing, drought-resistant, deciduous Acacia. It has a long, straight stem that starts branching high up to form a flattish crown. As it is sparsely branched and throws little shade, many plants and lawn grass will grow underneath it.

The bark is dark grey and fissured, with red under-bark appearing in the cracks. The bark on the young branches is red and young growth is covered in hairs.

From October to February the tree is literally covered in masses of large, creamy-white, scented puffball flowers that attract many pollinating insects. It is the host plant of the Black-striped Hairtail butterfly. The flowers are followed by nutritious, sickle shaped pods.

Bark contains tannin that is used for medicinal purposes. It tolerates a wide variety of soil types. This Acacia can be used in fairly small gardens as it is tall but not bulky.

Plant in full sun.

Size: 5 to 7m

Wildlife

Butterfly host:

It is the host plant of the Black-striped Hairtail butterfly.

Forage and fodder plant:

The nutritious leaves are readily eaten by game.

Uses

Medicinal:

Bark contains tannin that is used for medicinal purposes.

Landscaping:

Useful tree for grassy park areas as the light shade from a sparesely branched canopy means that grass will still grow well under the tree.

Fodder and forage plant:

The leaves are good forage and fodder for both domestic animals and wild game.

Bark for twine:

The inner bark of this tree is stripped and worked to make twine.

Distribution

Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West


Biome:
Nama Karoo

Natural Habitat:

Woodland and wooded grassland

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