FLORA

OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

VOLUME 16, PART I

EDITED BY

J. H. ROSS

1975

Price R13,50 Other Countries R16,75

Post Free

Printed in the Republic of South Africa by the Government Printer, Pretoria

Obtainable from the Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Private Bag X144, Pretoria, 0001

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

REPUBLIEK VAN SUID-AFRIKA

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL SERVICES

DEPARTEMENT VAN LANDBOU-TEGNIESE DIENSTE

FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

VOL. 16, PART I

ISBN 0 621 02263 2

1

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2016

https://archive.org/details/floraofsoutherna161 unse

FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

which deals with the territories of

THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, LESOTHO,

SWAZILAND AND SOUTH WEST AFRICA

VOLUME 16, PART I

Edited by

J. H. ROSS

Editorial Committee: B. de Winter, D. J. B. Killick,

O. A. Leistner and J. H. Ross

Botanical Research Institute,

Department of Agricultural Technical Services

1975

iii

THE TERRITORIES DEALT WITH IN THIS FLORA

IV

INTRODUCTION

Volume 16, part 1 is the fourth part of the Flora of Southern Africa to be published, the

three which have already appeared being Vol. 1 (1966), Vol. 26 (1963) and Vol. 13 (1970).

For a key to the families, the Flora should be used in conjunction with Phillips’s Genera

of South African Flowering Plants, which is arranged on the lines of the Engler system. The

genera are numbered according to the list published by De Dalla Torre and Harms in order to

facilitate reference, though genera in the Flora are not necessarily arranged in this sequence.

As in previous volumes, generally accepted abbreviations are used for literature references,

except in the following cases which appear frequently and are, therefore, considerably con-

densed :

C.F.A Conspectus Florae Angolensis.

F.C Flora Capensis.

F.C.B Flore du Congo et du Rwanda-Burundi.

F.S.W.A Prodromus einer Flora von Siidwestafrika.

F.T.A Flora of Tropical Africa.

F.T.E.A Flora of Tropical East Africa.

F.Z Flora Zambesiaca.

Phill., Gen The Genera of South African Flowering Plants by E.P.

Phillips, ed. 2(1951).

Burtt Davy, FI. Transv Manual of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of the Transvaal

and Swaziland, Vol. 1 (1926) and Vol. 2 (1932).

As before, the abbreviation “l.c.” is used for previously cited references even though

“op. cit.” or “tom. cit.” would in certain cases be more correct.

In citing specimens the grid reference system has been used. The spelling of the names of

some localities has been brought into line with the findings of the Committee on Standardisa-

tion of Place Names.

In the text, species which show evidence of becoming naturalized are treated in the same

way as indigenous species. In the Index, synonyms are in italics while exotic species are

signified by an asterisk*.

v

PLAN OF CONTENTS OF VOLUMES

VOL. 10

Stangeriaceae

Zamiaceae

Podocarpaceae

Pinaceae

Cupressaceae

Wei witschiaceae

Typhaceae

Zosteraceae

Potamogetonacccw

Ruppiaceae

Zanichelliaceae

Najadaceae

Aponogetonaceae

Juncaginaceae

Alismataceae

Hydrocharitaceae

Poaceae

Cyperaceae

Arecaceae

Araceae

Lemnaceae

Flagellariaceae

Restionaceae

Mayacaceae

Xyridaceae

Eriocaulaceae

Commelinaceae

Pontederiaceae

Juncaceae

Liliaceae

Haemodoraceae

Amaryllidaceae

Velloziaceae

Dioscoreaceae

Iridaceae

Musaceae

Zingiberaceae

Burmanniaceae

Orchidaceae

Piperaceac

Salicaceae

Myricaceae

Ulmaceae

Moraceae

Urticaceae

Proteaceae

VOL. 1

VOL. 2

VOL. 3

VOL. 4

VOL. 5

VOL. 6

VOL. 7

VOL. 8

VOL. 9

Loranthaceae

Santalaceae

Grubbiaceae

Olacaceae

Balanophoraceae

Aristolochiaceac

Rafflesiaceae

Hydnoraceae

Polygonaceae

Chenopodiaceae

Amaranthaceae

Nyctaginaceae

VOL. 11

Phytolaccaceae

Aizoaceae

VOL. 12

Portulacaceae

Basel laceae

Caryophyllaceae

Nymphaeaceae

Ceratophyllaceae

Ranunculaceae

Menispermaceae

Annonaceae

Monimiaceae

Lauraceae

Hernandiaceae

Papaveraceae

Fumariaceae

VOL. 12

Brassicaceae

Capparaceae

Resedaceae

Moringaceae

Droseraceae

Podostemaceae

Hydros tachyaceae

VOL. 14

Crassulaceae

VOL. 15

Saxifragaceae

Pittosporaceae

Cunoniaceae

Myrothamnaceae

Bruniaceae

Hamamelidaceae

Rosaceae

Connaraceae

VOL. 16

Fabaceae

VOL. 17

Geraniaceae

Oxalidaceae

VI

PLAN OF CONTENTS OF VOLUMES

Linaceae

Erythroxylaceae

Zygophyllaceae

Rutaceae

Simaroubaceae

Burseraceae

Meliaceae

Malpighiaceae

Polygalaceae

Dichapetalaceae

Euphorbiaceae

Callitrichaceae

Buxaceae

Anacardiaceae

Aquifoliaceae

Celastraceae

Hippocrateaceae

Icacinaceae

Sapindaceae

Melianthaceae

Balsaminaceae

Rhamnaceae

Heteropyxidaceae

Vitaceae

Tiliaceae

Malvaceae

Bombacaceae

Sterculiaceae

Ochnaceae

Clusiaceae

Elatinaceae

Frankeniaceae

Tamaricaceae

Canellaceae

Violaceae

Flacourtiaceae

Turneraceae

Passifloraceae

Achariaceae

Loasaceae

Begoniaceae

Cactaceae

Geissolomaccac

Penaeaceae

Oliniaceae

Thymelaeaccae

Lythraceae

Lecythidaceae

VOL. 18 VOL. 24

vii

FABACEAE

(alternative name Leguminosae)

Trees, shrubs, climbers or herbs. Leaves nearly always alternate, often pinnate or pin-

nately 3-foliolate, less often bipinnate or digitately 3-foliolate, occasionally 1-foliolate, simple

or digitate*; stipules usually present. Receptacle usually expanded, flat or saucer- or cup-

shaped, occasionally tubular or not expanded. Sepals usually united. Petals usually 5, occasio-

nally fewer or absent, usually free, less often some or rarely all united. Stamens inserted with

the petals at the rim of the receptacle, usually 10 but sometimes fewer or more. Ovary almost

always a single superior 2-several-ovulate carpel, rarely I -ovulate, the ovules attached to the

adaxial suture. Fruit nearly always a dry legume (pod), usually dehiscing into 2 valves, less

often dehiscing only along the upper suture or splitting transversely into 1 -seeded segments or,

indehiscent. Seed without, or with very little, endosperm.

Key to Subfamilies

Flowers regular, the petals valvate in the bud, often united basally; sepals usually united

basally; stamens as many as the petals or twice as many or numerous, free or all united

into a tube or to the base of the petals; leaves bipinnate or, rarely, pinnate in indige-

nous species* ; seeds normally with an areole on each face or side Mimosoideae

Flowers nearly always zygomorphic; petals imbricate in the bud, free or some of them

united; seeds usually without an areole:

Adaxial (uppermost) petal overlapped by the adjacent lateral petals when these are

present; sepals often free; stamens 10 or fewer or occasionally more, free or, less

often, variously united; leaves bipinnate or pinnate, rarely simple or 1-foliolate;

seeds with radicle usually straight Caesalpinioideae

Adaxial (uppermost) petal outside the adjacent lateral petals; sepals united basally;

stamens 10 or rarely fewer, sometimes free, most often the adaxial free or nearly

so and the other 9 united, sometimes united into 2 groups of 5 or all united; leaves

never bipinnate; seeds with radicle usually curved Papilionoideae

A cosmopolitan family of about 690 genera and 1 8 000 species, many of which are of great economic

significance.

* Some exotic species of Acacia grown in our area have phyllodes which may appear to be simple leaves.

2

Mimosoideae

Subfamily 1. MIMOSOIDEAE

DC., Prodr. 2 : 424 (1825), as suborder or tribe Mimoseae; Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 3 : 133

(1841), in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 335 (1875).

by J. H. ROSS

Trees, shrubs or rarely herbs, often armed with prickles or spines. Leaves bipinnate or (in

exotic species only) simply pinnate or modified to phyllodes. Stipules present, sometimes

spinescent. Inflorescences usually spikes, racemes or heads of sessile or shortly pedicellate,

usually small or very small, regular, (3)5(6)-merous flowers. Sepals with valvate or rarely

imbricate aestivation, often open from an early stage of bud, usually united to form a toothed

or lobed calyx, rarely free. Petals valvate in bud, free or more often united below into a tube.

Stamens 4-10 (as many as or twice as many as the petals) or indefinite, free or adnate below to

the corolla, or the filaments united below into a tube, usually ihexserted; anthers small,

versatile, sometimes with an apical gland; pollen-grains sometimes simple but frequently

compound or united. Pods and seeds various, the latter usually marked with areoles* ; radicle

of embryo in seed usually straight.

Genera 56, with about 2 800 species, mainly tropical and subtropical, especially numerous in the southern

hemisphere. 13 genera and 106 species occur in our area.

The genera in our area are grouped under a number of tribes. The sequence of the genera, and consequently

of the tribes, follows the numerical order adopted by de Dalla Torre and Harms in their Genera Siphonoga-

marum (1900-1907). A conspectus of the tribes is given below: —

1. Tribe Ingeae Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 359 (1875). Calyx-lobes valvate; stamen-filaments

more or less united into a tube; stamens numerous (more than 10); pollen-grains usually collected into 2-6

masses in each loculus. Genus 1.

2. Tribe Acacieae Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 1:318 (1842); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 359

(1875). Calyx-lobes valvate; stamen-filaments free from one another or united basally only; stamens numerous

(more than 10); pollen-grains usually collected into 2-6 masses in each loculus. Genus 2.

3. Tribe Mimoseae Bronn, De Formis PI. Legum. 130 (1822); Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 2 : 127 (1840); {Eumi-

moseae Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 359, 1875). Calyx-lobes valvate; stamen-filaments free from one

another or united basally only; stamens 10 or fewer; anthers without a gland at the apex; pollen-grains numerous

and separate in each loculus. Genera 3-5.

4. Tribe Adenanthereae Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 358 (1875). Calyx-lobes valvate; stamen-

filaments free from one another or united basally only; stamens 10 or fewer; anthers with a (some-

times deciduous) gland at the apex; pollen-grains numerous and separate in each loculus. Genera 6-13.

It is often difficult to identify some of the genera of this subfamily without complete material, including

flowers and fruits. As either flowers or fruits are frequently absent, two alternative keys have been constructed,

one for flowering and the other for fruiting specimens.

Key to genera based on vegetative and floral characters

Plant armed with prickles or spines :

Inflorescence bicoloured, the upper part yellow, the lower mauve, pink or white ; short

lateral branchlets terminating in spines, plants otherwise unarmed 7. Dichrostachys

* The seeds of nearly all Mimosoideae show on each face an area, usually circular to elliptic or oblong in

shape, bounded (except usually for a gap opposite the micropyle) by a fine line which frequently appears as a

fissure in the testa. The size and shape of this area are often taxonomically important, and I have followed

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 1 (1959) in employing the term “areole” to refer to it. It corresponds to

the term “pleurogram” as used by Corner in Phytomorphology 1 : 117-150 (1951).

The seeds of nearly all our Mimosoideae show these areoles. They appear to be absent only in Elephan-

torrhiza, Newtonia and the giant Entada species.

While areoles are of common occurrence in Mimosoideae, they do not seem to occur in the other sub-

families of Leguminosae, except in a few genera of Caesalpinioideae, namely, Burkea, Tamarindus and in a

rather modified way in some species of Cassia.

Mimosoideae

3

Inflorescence concolorous; plants armed with recurved prickles or stipular spines, very

rarely short lateral branchlets terminating in spines:

Plant armed with recurved prickles or stipular spines, spine-tipped lateral branchlets

absent:

Flowers in globose or subglobose heads, very rarely the inflorescence reduced

to only 2-4 flowers per “head”:

Stamens as many as or twice as many as the (3)4-5(6) corolla-lobes:

Small rigid much branched shrub with pale green to olive, cano-puberulous,

substriate branches; stipules spinescent, recurved, up to 3,5 mm long;

leaves small, each with 1 pinna pair; stamens 10, the 5 opposite the petals

shorter than those alternating with the petals; anthers with a minute

deciduous apical gland 8. Xerocladia

Annual or perennial herb or small shrub; stems armed with scattered prickles

and usually densely hispid or setulose; stipules not spinescent, persistent;

leaves sensitive to touch, with (1)2-14 pinnae pairs ; stamens 4 or 8 ; anthers

eglandular apically; flowers pink or mauve 4. Mimosa

Stamens numerous (i 35-200); flowers mostly white, yellowish-white or deep

yellow 2. Acacia

Flowers in spikes or spiciform racemes:

Stamens 10; recurved prickles scattered along the stem; leaflets 2,5-9 mm

wide 13. Entada

Stamens numerous (± 35-200); prickles or stipular spines usually confined to

the nodes and in pairs, sometimes solitary or in threes at the nodes, seldom

prickles scattered but then leaflets less than 1,75 mm wide 2. Acacia

Plant armed with spine-tipped lateral shoots, recurved prickles and stipular spines

absent; inflorescence globose; stamen-filaments united basally into a tube 1. Albizia

Plant unarmed :

Inflorescence capitate, globose or subglobose:

Aquatic herb with creeping, usually floating and swollen stems; flowers of two sorts,

hermaphrodite in upper part of head, neuter with elongate staminodes in lower

part 6. Neptimia

Trees, shrubs or suffrutices, rarely herbaceous and then not aquatic:

Leaves reduced to simple entire phyllodes 2. Acacia

Leaves bipinnate :

Stamens 10:

Leaves with 1 pinna pair; leaflets large, 2-6 cm wide; large trees up to 15 m

high 11. Xylia

Leaves with (2)3-8 pinnae pairs; leaflets small, less than 0,5 cm wide; peren-

nial herb, suffrutex, shrub or small tree:

Anthers with conspicuous scattered hairs; flowers in heads up to 1,8 cm

in diameter; shrub or small tree with densely grey-puberulous branch-

lets; leaflets 1,5-4 mm wide 3. Leucaena

Anthers glabrous; flowers in heads up to 0,8 cm in diameter; perennial

herb or suffrutex with subglabrous to sparingly puberulous±angular

stems; leaflets 0,8-1 ,5 mm wide 5. Desmanthus

Stamens many to numerous (i 19-200) :

Stamen-filaments free; central flower of inflorescence not different from

the rest 2. Acacia

4

Mimosoideae

Stamen-filaments united basally into a tube, tube included or exserted beyond

the corolla; central flower of inflorescence usually differing from and

often larger than the rest 1 . Albizia

Inflorescence elongate, spicate or racemose:

Leaflets alternate to subopposite, 0,7-1, 9 cm wide, with petiolules 1,5-3 mm

long 9 . Ambly gonocarpus

Leaflets opposite, very rarely alternate but then sessile and less than 2 mm wide:

Stamens 10:

Leaf-rhachis with a gland at the junction of each pair of pinnae or the upper

pairs; large tree 10. Newtonia

Leaf-rhachis eglandular; liane, climber, scandent shrub, suffrutex or small tree:

Liane, climber, scandent shrub or erect suffrutex, the latter with leaflets 7-20

mm wide 13. Entada

Suffrutex, shrub or small tree, leaflets less than 6,5 mm wide ... 12. Elephantorrhiza

Stamens many to numerous (± 19-200):

Stamen-filaments free 2. Acacia

Stamen-filaments united basally into a tube, tube included or exserted beyond

the corolla 1 . Albizia

Key to genera based on vegetative and pod characters

Plant armed with prickles or spines :

Pod at maturity splitting transversely into segments each containing a seed :

Valves of pod falling away at maturity, leaving the persistent margins; stem and often

leaves with scattered prickles:

Pod without bristles or prickles on the surface or margins (very rarely a few

prickles occur along one margin), 2,8-4 cm wide; leaflets 2,5-9 mm wide;

climber or scandent shrub 13. Entada

Pod ±bristly or prickly on the surface or on the margins only, up to 1 , 2 cm wide ;

leaflets up to 3 mm wide ; annual or perennial herb or small shrub 4. Mimosa

Valves of pod not falling away from the margins; stems armed with paired stipular

spines 2. Acacia

Pod not splitting transversely into segments:

Plant armed with stipular spines or with recurved prickles; spine-tipped lateral

branchlets absent :

Pod indehiscent, broadly falcate-ovate to semi-orbicular, up to ± 1,5 cm long

and 1,5 cm broad, compressed, the lower suture arched and winged; small

rigid much branched shrub with pale green to olive, cano-puberulous, sub-

striate branches; armed with paired, short, recurved stipular spines; leaves

small, each with 1 pinna pair 8. Xerocladia

Pod dehiscent or indehiscent, if indehiscent then not as above; small shrubs to

large trees; armed with paired stipular spines or with prickles which are in

pairs, solitary or in threes at the nodes, or scattered along the stem; leaves

with 1-60 pinnae pairs 2. Acacia

Plant armed with spine-tipped lateral shoots; recurved prickles and stipular spines

absent:

Pods densely clustered, usually contorted or spirally twisted ; leaflets less than 3 mm

wide 7. Dichrostachys

Mimosoideae

5

Pods not densely clustered, ±straight or slightly curved, not contorted or twisted;

leaflets more than 3 mm wide 1 . Albizia

Plant unarmed (except for a single minute very inconspicuous prickle below the node

which is sometimes present in Albizia harveyi):

Aquatic herb with creeping, usually floating and swollen stems; pods clustered, bent

almost at right angles to the short basal stipe, 1 ,3-2,8 cm long 6. Neptunia

Trees, shrubs or suffrutices, rarely herbaceous and then not aquatic; pods usually

longer than 3,5 cm:

Leaves reduced to simple entire phyllodes 2. Acacia

Leaves bipinnate :

Leaflets alternate to subopposite, distinctly petiolulate; pod bluntly tetragonal or

subcylindric in section, woody, indehiscent 9. Amblygonocarpus

Leaflets opposite, very rarely alternate but then sessile and very narrow; pod

usually flattened, rarely ±turgid, never tetragonal:

Pod at maturity splitting transversely into segments each containing a seed

13. Entada

Pod not splitting transversely into segments:

Valves of pod woody, separating along both margins, recurving; leaves with

only 1 pinna pair 11. Xylia

Valves of pod membranous to rigidly coriaceous but not woody or recurving :

Pod dehiscent :

Valves of pod separating along one margin only:

Pod 0, 3-1(1, 3) cm wide, usually ±moniliform; seeds small, black to

brown, unwinged 2. Acacia

Pod 1 , 3-2 cm wide, margins entire, bright red when young becoming

brown with age; seeds large, brown, conspicuously winged

lO.Newtonia

Valves of pod separating along both margins:

Pod up to 4 mm wide ; perennial herb or small suffrutex 5. Desmanthus

Pod over 1 cm wide, shrub or tree:

Seeds 6-13 mm wide; leaflets variable, often exceeding 4 mm in

width; large shrub or tree; widespread 1. Albizia

Seeds 3,5-5 mm wide; leaflets up to 4 mm wide; shrub or small tree

to 4 m high, naturalized exotic confined to Natal coast. .3. Leucaena

Pod indehiscent:

Valves at maturity separating from the persistent margins, the outer layer

often peeling off the inner layer, the layers remaining intact or break-

ing up irregularly; suffrutex, shrub or small tree.. 12. Elephantorrhiza

Valves not separating from the margins and splitting into layers; large

shrub or tree 1. Albizia

Conspectus of the pod differences

In all genera except Acacia the pod is usually rather constant in form and structure.

1. Pod dehiscing into two separate valves:

Valves woody :

Acacia

Xylia

6

Mimosoideae

Valves papery to rigidly coriaceous:

Acacia

Albizia

Desmanthus

Leucaena

Neptunia

2. Pod dehiscing into two valves which remain attached to one another along one margin :

Acacia

Newtonia

3. Pod splitting transversely into segments each containing a seed:

Acacia

Entada

Mimosa

4. Pod indehiscent, not splitting transversely:

Valves separating from the margins, usually splitting into two layers:

Elephantorrhiza

Valves spiral or contorted, but neither separating from the margins nor splitting:

Acacia

Dichrostachys

Valves flattened, but neither spiral nor contorted nor separating from the margins nor

splitting:

Acacia

Albizia

Xerocladia

Valves not flattened but convex or angled, neither spiral nor contorted nor separating

from the margins nor splitting:

Acacia

A mblygonocarpus

Exotic species

Several exotic species of Mimosoideae are planted in our area and most of them are

mentioned under their appropriate genera. In addition to these, however, the genus Prosopis

occurs only as an exotic and is dealt with briefly below. Some species of Prosopis bear a

superficial resemblance to certain of the indigenous Acacia species but may be readily distin-

guished from the latter as there are only 10 stamens per flower.

1. Prosopis pubescens Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 5 : 82 (1846); Benson in Am. J. Bot.

28 : 753 (1941); Isely in Madrono 21 : 294 (1972); in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gdn. 25 (1) : 120 (1973).

Large shrub or small tree up to 4 m high armed with paired straight spines 0,5-1 ,5 cm

long. Leaves bipinnate, with 1 pinna pair; leaflets 5-8 pairs per pinna, 5-10 x 1,75-4 mm,

finely and rather sparsely appressed-pubescent on both surfaces. Inflorescence an axillary

spike; flowers sessile, yellow. Ovary densely pilose. Pod very tightly spirally coiled into a±

straight, brownish cylinder 2,5-5 cm long overall, 4-6 mm in diameter, tomentellous when

young but becoming glabrescent with age.

The Screw-Bean, a native of the Western United States of America, is found in the

northern Cape Province. Recorded from Kimberley, Wilman sub KMG 3385, Acocks 50;

Carnarvon Distr., along River at Van Wyk’s Vlei, Acocks 1788.

Mimosoideae

7

2. Prosopis velutina Wooton in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 25 : 456 (1898); Johnston in Brit-

tonia 14 : 86 (1962); Isely in Madrono 21 : 295 (1972); Isely in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gdn. 25 (1) ;

120(1973).

Shrub or small tree up to 3 m high armed with paired straight spines 1-2 cm long. Leaves

bipinnate; petioles and rhachillae sparingly to densely pubescent; with 1 pinna pair; leaflets

13-20 pairs per pinna, 6-13 x 2-4 mm, venation usually fairly conspicuous on the lower

surface, with marginal cilia. Inflorescence an axillary spike, axes densely pubescent; flowers

sessile, yellow. Ovary densely pilose. Pod straight or slightly falcate, 10-20 cm long, 0,8-1 cm

wide, somewhat compressed, margin slightly constricted between the seeds, segments oblique,

finely longitudinally venose, beaked apically.

The Velvet Mesquite, a native of the Western United States of America. Recorded from

the Cape Province: Kenhardt Distr., near Putsonderwater on Marydale-Upington Road,

Merxmuller 728; Hay Distr., Witsand, Acocks 2287.

3. Prosopis glandulosa Torrey in Ann. Lyc. N.Y. 2 : 192 (1827); Johnston in Brittonia

14 : 82 (1962); Isely in Madrono 21 : 290 (1972); in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gdn. 25 (1) : 118 (1973).

P. juliflora auct., non (Swartz) DC.

P. chilensis auct., non (Mol.) Stuntz

Shrub or tree to 10 m high armed at the nodes with paired or solitary straight spines

0,5-3 cm long. Leaves bipinnate; with 1-2 pinnae pairs; leaflets 7-22 pairs per pinna, 1-6 cm

long, 1-4 mm wide, widely spaced on the rhachilla, the intervals wider than the width of the

leaflets, venation fairly conspicuous, glabrous. Inflorescence an axillary spike; flowers sessile,

yellow. Ovary densely pilose. Pod straight or almost so, 10-22 cm long, ± 8 mm in diameter,

margins not or scarcely constricted, valves becoming woody, with a fibrous exocarp, beaked

apically.

P. glandulosa, the Mesquite, is one of the most successful and characteristic plants of the

southwestern United States of America. P. glandulosa forms part of a complex of closely

related and taxonomically difficult species (see M. C. Johnston in Brittonia 14 : 72-90, 1962).

Leaflet size, shape and number in P. glandulosa are extremely variable and two varieties are

recognized chiefly on the basis of leaflet size, namely, var. glandulosa with leaflets 2 , 5-6 cm

long and var. torreyana (Benson) M. C. Johnston with leaflets 1-2,5 cm long. The latter

occurs in our area.

Recorded from Southwest Africa, without precise locality, Cellier sub PRE 1603;

Transvaal, Wolmaransstad, Liebenberg 3422.

3443 1. ALBIZIA

Albizia Durazz., Magazz. Tosc. 3(4) (vol. 12) : 10, 13, illustr. (1772)*; Benth. in Hook., Lond.

J. Bot. 3 : 84 (1844); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 284 (1862); Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. PI. 1 : 596 (1865);

Harv., Gen. PI. ed.2 : 92 (1868); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 355 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 30 : 557 (1875); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 106 (1891); Sim, For. FI. P.E.Afr. 58

(1909); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 337 (1915); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 855

(1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 347 (1932); Little in Amer. Midi. Nat. 33 : 510 (1945);

Phill, Gen. 390 (1951); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 170 (1952); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 288

(1956); Codd in Bothalia 7 : 68 (1958); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed.2, 1 : 501 (1958); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 136 (1959); Dale & Greenway, Kenya Trees & Shrubs 298 (1961);

F. White, For. FI. N.Rhod. 88 (1962); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 294 (1964); Schreiber in F.S.W.A

58 : 13 (1967); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 113 (1970). Type’species: A. julibrissin Durazz.

Zygia sensu E. Mey., Comm. 164 (1836); Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 3 : 92 (1844); Bolle in Peters, Reise

Mossamb. Bot. 1 : 1 (1861); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 284 (1862); Gen. PI. ed.2 : 92 (1868), non P. Br.

Besenna A. Rich., Tent. FI. Abyss. 1 : 253 (1847)

*I have not seen this work. The reference is from Little in Amer. Midi. Nat. 33 : 510 (1945).

8

Mimosoideae

Trees or shrubs, very rarely climbing (not in Africa); prickles or stipular spines absent in

African species (except for a very small prickle beneath the node in A. harveyi sometimes,

while in A. anthelmintica some branchlets are sharp and spinescent apically). Leaves bipinnate;

petiole usually glandular; pinnae each with one to many pairs of leaflets. Stipules herbaceous,

usually soon deciduous. Inflorescences globose or (not in indigenous African species) spicate,

pedunculate, axillary and solitary or more often fascicled, often aggregated near the ends of the

branchlets which may be lateral and much shortened, sometimes paniculate. Flowers herma-

phrodite or occasionally male and hermaphrodite; 1-2 central flowers in each head frequently

larger, different in form from the others and apparently male. Calyx gamosepalous, normally

with 5 teeth or lobes (rarely 4, 6 or 7). Corolla gamopetalous, infundibuliform or campanulate,

normally with 5 lobes (rarely 4 or 6). Stamens numerous (19-50), fertile, their filaments united

basally into a slender tube, tube shorter than or exceeding the corolla. Ovary subsessile or

shortly stipitate. Pods oblong, straight, flattened, dehiscent or not, not septate within, the

valves papery to rigidly coriaceous. Seeds usually ±flattened.

A genus of 100-150 species occurring throughout the tropics, with fewer in the subtropics. 11 indigenous

species occur in our area, while 3 introduced species have become naturalized. A. chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. is

cultivated in the Transvaal but does not appear to have become naturalized yet.

The generic name was previously often spelt Albizzia\ the reasons for rejecting this spelling are given by

Little in Amer. Midi. Nat. 33 : 510 (1945).

The genus Albizia is named in honour of Filippo del Albizzi, a Florentine nobleman who in 1749 introduced

A. julibrissin into cultivation.

In the following key the descriptions of the floral parts do not apply to the 1-2 larger modified flowers

usually found in the centre of each of the globose heads ; in these the staminal tube is not or scarcely exserted

beyond the corolla even when it is long-exserted in the other flowers.

Key based mainly on vegetative and floral characters

Inflorescences spicate 14. A. lophantha

Inflorescences globose:

Staminal tube not or scarcely exserted beyond the corolla :

Leaflets small or very small, 0,5-4 mm wide:

Calyx and corolla glabrous or with few whitish hairs; mature leaves glabrous or sparsely (rarely ±

densely) appressed grey-pubescent; pinnae (3)6-10(15) pairs; apex of leaflets symmetric, not

falcate 1. A. brevifolia

Calyx and corolla fulvous- to golden-pubescent or tomentose; mature leaves clothed with a grey to

golden spreading indumentum; pinnae 2-44 pairs:

Leaflets 0 , 5-1 , 5 mm wide ; pinnae 2 -44 pairs :

Apex of leaflets acute, asymmetric, falcate, the point turned towards the apex of the pinna;

lateral nerves of leaflets ± raised and visible beneath; pinnae 6-22 pairs ; bracteoles persistent

until the flowers open; stamen-filaments ± 1,5-2 cm long; pods dehiscent; glabrous or

almost so 3. A. harveyi

Apex of leaflets obtuse or subacute, symmetric, not falcate; lateral nerves of leaflets indistinct

beneath; pinnae 12-44 pairs; bracteoles already fallen when flowers open ; stamen-filaments

1-1,5 cm long; pods apparently indehiscent, puberulous. .. .2. A. amara subsp. sericocephala

Leaflets 1 , 5-4 mm wide, apex rounded to subacute or mucronate, turned towards the apex of the

pinna, lateral nerves usually±raised and visible beneath; pinnae 2-7 pairs; pods indehiscent,

very prominently transversely venose, the veins ± parallel and 2-4 mm apart 4. A.forbesii

Leaflets exceeding 4 mm in width:

Young branchlets often forming abbreviated spine-tipped lateral shoots; rhachides and rhachillae

of all or most leaves projecting at the ends as a short rigid persistent deflexed hook; a single

similarly bent stipel often near the base of each rhachilla; leaflets (l)2-4(6) pairs; flowers usually

precocious on leafless or almost leafless branchlets; calyces and corollas glabrous or sparsely

puberulous 9. A. anthelmintica

Mimosoideae

9

Young branchlets not forming spine-tipped shoots; rhachides and rhachillae not projecting, or else

projections ± straight and not hooked (except rarely and casually in A. versicolor) and usually

deciduous; calyces and corollas usually ± densely puberulous to tomentose outside, if glabrous

or almost so then flowers not precocious:

Mature leaflets densely pubescent to tomentose beneath, mostly broadly and obliquely obovate to

subcircular, in 2-5(6) pairs; young branchlets densely rusty-tomentose; indumentum on

corolla-lobes usually rusty-tomentose 5. A. versicolor

Mature leaflets thinly appressed-pubescent or glabrous beneath, in 3-17 pairs; young branchlets

not densely rusty-tomentose:

Indumentum on corolla-lobes conspicuously rusty:

Leaflet margins crisped; stamens 1-1,6 cm long; pods 1 ,4-2,6 cm wide 8. A. suluensis

Leaflet margins not crisped; stamens 1 ,5-3 cm long; pods 2,5-5 cm wide:

Leaflets markedly discolorous, glaucous to grey or whitish beneath, glabrous on both

surfaces; pinnae 1-4 pairs; leaflets 4-9 pairs; bark grey, not peeling off in papery

flakes 6. A. antunesiana

Leaflets not markedly discolorous, glabrous or sparingly pubescent on both surfaces;

pinnae (2)3-6(7) pairs; leaflets 4-13(17) pairs; bark smooth, creamy-white to ochre-

yellow, peeling off in large papery pieces 1. A. tanganyicensis

Indumentum on corolla-lobes grey to whitish or lobes glabrous:

Inflorescences in fascicles; flowers on pedicels 1,5-4, 5 mm long; leaflets not discolorous;

pods straw-coloured to light brown, 3-4,5 cm wide 12. lebbeck

Inflorescences in axillary or terminal panicles; flowers sessile or almost so; leaflets markedly

discolorous; pods light to dark brown, 1,5-2 cm wide 13. A. procera

Staminal tube exserted beyond the corolla for a length of ± 0,7-2, 5 cm (usually more than 1 cm):

Leaflets 2-5 pairs; pinnae (l)2-3(4) pairs; bracteoles± 1 mm long, rapidly deciduous and falling

while the flowers are still in bud ; shrub or tree usually branching freely near the ground with many

ascending branches 10. A. petersiana subsp. evansii

Leaflets (4)6-15 pairs; pinnae 4-8 pairs; bracteoles 5-8 mm long, linear-spathulate to oblanceolate,

exceeding the flower buds, variably persistent but sometimes deciduous before the flowers open;

stipules and bracts at base of peduncles 5-12 x 3-1 1 mm, ovate; tree usually with a single stem

and a flattened spreading crown l\. A. adianthifolia

Key based on vegetative and fruit characters

Leaflets small or very small, 0,5-4 mm wide:

Mature leaves glabrous or sparsely (rarely ± densely) appressed grey-pubescent; pinnae (3)6-10(15)

pairs; apex of leaflets symmetric, not falcate 1. A. brevifoUa

Mature leaves clothed with a grey to golden spreading indumentum; pinnae 2-44 pairs:

Leaflets 0 , 5-1 , 5 mm wide :

Apex of leaflets acute, asymmetric, falcate, the point turned towards the apex of the pinna; lateral

nerves of leaflets ± raised and visible beneath ; pinnae 6-22 pairs ; pods dehiscent, glabrous or

nearly so except for slight pubescence along the margins h. A. harveyi

Apex of leaflets obtuse or subacute, symmetric, not falcate; lateral nerves of leaflets indistinct

beneath; pinnae 12-44 pairs; pods apparently indehiscent, puberulous

2. A. amara subsp. sericocephala

Leaflets 1 , 5-4 nim wide :

Pinnae 2-7 pairs; leaflets 6-16 pairs per pinna; pods oblong, 3,2-5 cm wide, indehiscent, very

prominently transversely venose, the veins ± parallel and 2-4 mm apart 4. A. forbesii

Pinnae 7-12 pairs; leaflets 20-35 pairs per pinna; pods linear-oblong, 1 ,4-1 ,7 cm wide, obscurely

venose 14. A. lophantha

Leaflets exceeding 4 mm in width:

Young branchlets often forming abbreviated spine-tipped lateral shoots; rhachides and rhachillae of all

or most leaves projecting at the ends as a short rigid persistent deflexed hook; a single similarly bent

stipel often near the base of each rhachilla; leaflets (l)2-4(6) pairs per pinna 9. A. anthelmintica

10

Mimosoideae

Young branchlets not forming spine-tipped shoots; rhachides and rhachillae not projecting, or else

projections ± straight and not hooked (except rarely and casually in A. versicolor) and usually

deciduous :

Mature leaflets broadly and obliquely obovate to subcircular, 15-67 x (10)15-45 mm, densely

pubescent to tomentose beneath, in 2-5(6) pairs ; pods glabrous or almost so, ± glossy, 3-5 , 5 cm

wide; young branchlets densely rusty-tomentose 5. A. versicolor

Mature leaflets not broadly and obliquely obovate to suborbicular, thinly appressed-pubescent or

glabrous beneath, if densely pubescent beneath then smaller than above and usually more nume-

rous; pods glabrous to pubescent, not ± glossy:

Bark smooth, creamy-white to ochre-yellow, peeling off in large papery pieces. . . .7. A. tanganyicensis

Bark not peeling off in large papery pieces :

Leaflet margins crisped; pods 1,4-2, 6 cm wide 8. A. suluensis

Leaflet margins not crisped:

Pods 1,4-2 cm wide; young branchlets not densely and coarsely rusty- to fulvous-pubescent;

stipules <3 mm wide:

Young branchlets densely pubescent; leaflets 2-5 pairs, (4,5)8-22 x (3,5)5-13 mm; rhachillae

0,5-3 cm long; shrub or tree, usually branching freely near the base with many ascending

branches . .10. A. petersiana subsp. evansii

Young branchlets glabrous or subglabrous; leaflets 5-11 pairs, 15-60 x 8-21 mm; rhachillae

7-19 cm long; tree, usually single-stemmed 13. A. procera

Pods 2 , 2-4 , 6 cm wide, if less than 2 , 2 cm wide then young branchlets densely rusty- to fulvous-

pubescent and stipules ovate, 5-12 x 3-8(11) mm:

Young branchlets densely and rather coarsely and persistently rusty- to fulvous-pubescent,

indumentum sometimes becoming grey with age; pinnae 4-8 pairs; leaflets 4-8 (11) mm

wide, obliquely rhombic-quadrate or -oblong, midrib diagonal; stipules ovate, 5-12 x

3-8(11) mm; pods 1 ,9-3,4 cm wide, densely and persistently pubescent; crown typically

flattened and spreading 11. A. adianthifolia

Young branchlets very shortly pubescent, often becoming glabrous with age; pinnae 1-4(5)

pairs; leaflets 8-28 mm wide, not as above; stipules much smaller than above; pods

2,5-4,6cm wide:

Leaflets markedly discolorous, glaucous to grey or whitish beneath, glabrous on both

surfaces; pods brown or reddish-brown, sli^tly umbonate over the seeds, longitudi-

nally dehiscent; confined to South West Africa 6. A. antunesiana

Leaflets not markedly discolorous, glabrous to pubescent beneath; pods straw-coloured to

light brown, very conspicuously raised over the seeds, tardily dehiscent and often

only after falling to the ground; introduced into Natal 11. A. lebbeck

1. Albizia brevifolia Schinz in Bull. Herb.

Boiss., S^r. 2, 2 : 945 (1902); Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 864 (1930); Codd in Bothalia

7 : 69 (1958); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees

S. Afr. 2 : 254 (1965); Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

58 : 14 (1967); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 ; 125

(1970); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park

1 ; 112 (1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S.

Afr. 2 : 713 (1973). Type: Mozambique,

Boruma, on the Nhasinde, Menyharth 994

(Z, holo.!;K!).

A. parvifolia Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : xvii, 348

(1932). Syntypes: Transvaal, Soutpansberg district,

near Messina, Rogers 19247a (PRE!); Rogers 22118

(K!). A. rogersii Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : xviii, 348

(1932); Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 56

(1951); O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 27 (1952);

F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 89, fig. 16 I (1962).

Type: Transvaal, Soutpansberg district, Messina,

Moss & Rogers 66 (PRE holo!; BM!; K!).

Shrub or tree 3-15 m high, trunk often

branching near ground level into several to

many ascending branches. Bark grey to grey-

black, smooth or shallowly fissured; young

branchlets very sparingly to ± densely appres-

sed grey-puberulous when young, becoming

glabrous with age; occasionally a few lateral

shoots abbreviated and spinescent apically.

Leaves sparingly to ± densely pubescent or

glabrous: petiole 0,8-2, 5 cm long, adaxial

gland squat, sessile, ±0,25 mm high; rhachis

(1)2,5-7(14) cm long; pinnae (3)6-10(15)

pairs; rhachillae 1-4,4 (6,5) cm long;

leaflets 9-25 pairs, 3-7, 5(9) x 0,75-1,75(2)

mm, narrowly oblong to linear-oblong,

symmetric, obtuse to subacute apically, not

falcate, midrib nearly central (except basally),

lateral nerves indistinct beneath, glabrous or

margins ± appressed-ciliate. Inflorescences

Mimosoideae

11

globose ; peduncles 1 , 5-3 cm long, sparingly

appressed-pubescent. Flowers white to

creamy-yellow, on pedicels 1-1,5 mm long;

bracteoles rapidly deciduous. Calyx 1-1,5

mm long, glabrous to ± puberulous outside.

Corolla 4-5 mm long, tube 2,5-3 mm long,

glabrous, lobes 1 , 5-2 mm long, pubescent

apically. Stamens 1-1,8 cm long, united

basally for ± 3 mm, tube not or scarcely

exserted beyond the corolla. Ovary ± 1»5

mm long, shortly stipitate, glabrous. Pods

(9)12-25 X (1 ,8)2, 4-4, 4 cm, linear to linear-

oblong, valves thin, transversely venose,

glabrous to finely puberulous, umbonate over

the seeds, apparently indehiscent. Seeds

8-10 X ± 6,5 mm, flattened.

Found in South West Africa, Botswana,

Rhodesia, Mozambique and the Transvaal. Occurs

usually on hot, dry, rocky hillsides, often on granite,

quartzite or sandstone formations.

S.W.A. — 1720 (Posto Velho): S.E. slope of moun-

tain at Ombepera, De Winter & Leistner 5510. 1813

(Ohopoho): Giraffenbergen bei Otjue, MerxmuUer &

Giess 1476 (M); 14,4 km W. of Oruwanje, Giess &

Leippert 7387 (M). 1814 (Otjitundua): Otjitoko,

MerxmuUer & Giess 1364 (M).

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 ( Waterpoort) : Dongola

area, farm Little Muck, Codd4459. 2230 (Messina):

Messina, Pole Evans 2527. 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger

National Park, near Punda Milia, Lamont 5. 2327

(Ellisras); 17,6 km S. of Ellisras, Codd 8493. 2331

(Phalaborwa) : Kruger National Park, The Gorge,

Codd 6188. 2527 (Rustenburg) : 15,4 km N. of Assen,

Codd 6566.

Vegetative specimens of A. harveyi Fourn. are

sometimes confused with specimens of A. brevi/olia

but the two species may be distinguished by the

shape of the apex of the leaflet which, in A. harveyi, is

acute and distinctly falcate, the apex turned towards

the pinna-apex, while in A. brevifolia it is obtuse to

subacute and almost straight.

2. Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boiv. in

Encycl. XlX-me Siecle 2 : 34 (71834);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 567

(1875); Brenan in Kew Bull. 10 : 189 (1955);

in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 151 (1959);

in F.Z. 3, 1 : 123 (1970). Type: India,

Roxburgh (K, painting of holotype material.

No. 486!).

Mimosa amara Roxb., PI. Corom. 2 : 13, t.l22

(1799). Type as above.

subsp. sericocephala {Benth.) Brenan in

Kew Bull. 10 : 190 (1955); Palgrave, Trees

Cent. Afr. 258 (1956); Codd in Bothalia 7 : 70

(1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. :

152 (1959); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 89,

fig. 16H (1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees

S. Afr. 2 : 255 (1965); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 :

125, t.23A (1970); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger

Nat. Park 1 : 108 (1972); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 715 (1973). Syntypes: Sudan,

Sennar, Kotschy 244 (Kl; P!) & Kordofan,

Milbes, Kotschy 294 (BMI; El; Kl; OXFl;

PI; Wl); Ethiopia, Gapdia, Schimper 818

(BMI; Kl; OXFl; P!) & Dscheladscheranne

[Jelajeranne], Schimper 883 (BMI; Kl;

OXFl; PI).

A. sericocephala Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot.

3 : 91 (1844); Milne-Redhead in Kew Bull. 1934 : 301

(1934); Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 341 (1949);

Pardy in Rhod. Agric. J. 49 : 14 (1952). Types as

above. A. amara sensu Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 ; 356 (1871);

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 865 (1930); Gilbert &

Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 172 (1952). A. struthiophylla

Milne-Redhead in Kew Bull. 1933 ; 144 (1933);

O. B. Miller in J. S.Afr. Bot. 18 : 27 (1952) (“struthio-

folia”). Type: Zambia, Mazabuka, Milne-Redhead

1207 (K, holo.!, PRE!).

Acacia sericocephala Fenzl in Flora 27 : 312 (1844),

nomen nudum.

Inga sericocephala A. Rich., Tent. FI. Abyss.

1 : 236 (1847). Types as for Albizia sericocephala.

Tree 2-12 m high, crown rounded or

somewhat flattened. Bark fissured, rough;

young branchlets with rather short dense

spreading golden to grey pubescence. Leaves

golden-tomentose when young, rusty to

grey-pubescent when older: petiole 0,6-1, 6

cm long, adaxial gland low, sessile, up to ±

0,25 mm high; rhachis 5,8-23 cm long;

pinnae 12-44 pairs; rhachillae 1-3 cm long;

leaflets (12)20-45 pairs, 2-4 x 0,5-1 mm,

linear to linear-oblong, symmetric, obtuse to

subacute apically, not falcate, midrib nearly

central (except basally), lateral nerves indis-

tinct beneath, rarely slightly raised, ±

appressed-pubescent on one or both surfaces

or on the margins only, glabrescent or not

later. Inflorescences globose ; peduncles 1-2,4

cm long, golden-tomentose when young,

becoming greyish when older. Flowers whitish

or tinged with pink, subsessile, buds golden-

tomentose; bracteoles rapidly deciduous.

Calyx 1-2 mm long, golden-puberulous or

pubescent. Corolla 3,5-5 mm long, golden-

puberulous or pubescent, especially towards

apices of lobes, lobes 2-2,5 mm long.

Stamens 1-1 ,5 cm long, united basally for ±

2,5 mm, tube not or scarcely exserted beyond

the corolla. Ovary 2-2,5 mm long, shortly

stipitate, glabrous. Pods 12-28 x 2,5-4 cm,

linear-oblong, valves thin, transversely venose.

12

Mimosoideae

puberulous, umbonate over the seeds, appa-

rently indehiscent. Seeds 8-13 x 7-8 mm,

flattened.

Found from the Sudan and Ethiopia southwards

to Botswana, Rhodesia, Mozambique and the north

eastern Transvaal. In the Transvaal it is restricted to

the area between Sibasa and Punda Milia where it

occurs on sandy flats in woodland and lowveld bush.

TRANSVAAL. — 2230 (Messina): Sibasa area,

VanWarmelo 51 15 j 24 \ 27,2 km E. of Sibasa, Codd &

Dyer 4494 \ 38,4 km N.E. of Sibasa near Sambandou,

Codd 6901 \ Minga, Gerstner 6219. 2231 (Pafuri):

Kruger National Park, near Punda Milia, Van der

Schijff 986 ; Van der Schijff 2894.

A. amara subsp. sericocephala may be readily

distinguished from A. harveyi by its longer leaves,

more numerous pinnae and leaflet pairs, and by the

apex of the leaflets not being acute and distinctly

falcate. Subsp. sericocephala differs from A. brevifolia

in the longer leaves, more numerous pinnae and

leaflet pairs, and in the dense spreading golden

indumentum on the young branchlets.

Typical subsp. amara, which differs in having

fewer pinnae and leaflet pairs, is found in India,

Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique.

3. Albizia harveyi Fourn. in Bull. Soc.

Bot. Fr. 12 : 399 (1865); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 865 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 348 (1932); Steedman, Trees etc. S.

Rhod. 16 (1933); Brenan, Checklist Tang.

Terr. 341 (1949); in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gdn.

8 ; 430 (1954); Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol

Mogamb. 4 : 46 (1949); Codd, Trees &

Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 56, figs. 49-51

(1951); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 173

(1952); O. B. Miller in J.S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 27

(1952); Codd in Bothalia 7 : 71 (1958);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 149,

fig. 20 (1959); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod.

89, fig. 16G (1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 2 ; 256 (1965); Gomes e Sousa,

Dendrol. Mogamb. 1 : 235, t.39 (1966);

Compton in J.S. Afr. Bot. Suppl. 6 : 45

(1966); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 ; 14 (1967);

Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 122, t.22 (1970); Van

Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 118 (1972);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 713 (1973).

Type; Botswana, near Lake Ngami, McCabe

(K, holo.!).

A. pallida Harv. in F.C. 2 : 284 (1862) nom. illegit.,

non A. pallida Fourn. in Ann. Sci. Nat. Ser. IV,

14 : 375 (1860). Type as for A. harveyi. A. hypoleuca

Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 356 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 567 (1875). Type as for A. harveyi.

Tree up to 15 m high, crown narrowly

rounded or rounded. Bark grey-brown to

blackish, rough, fissured; young branchlets

with grey to brown or sometimes slightly

golden spreading pubescence, a very small

prickle-like outgrowth often present beneath

each node. Leaves often golden-tomentose

when very young, rusty to grey-pubescent

when older: petiole 0,8-3 cm long, adaxial

gland often prominent and sometimes

shortly stalked and up to 1 mm high, often

absent; rhachis 2,4-9(15) cm long; pinnae

6-22 pairs; rhachillae 1-3,4 cm long;

leaflets (6)12-28 pairs, 2-6 x 0,5-1, 5 mm,

ih falcate, apex asymmetric, acute, turned

towards the apex of the pinna, midrib nearer

the distal margin, lateral nerves ± raised and

visible beneath, lower surface of leaflet paler

than upper, ± appressed-pubescent on both

surfaces or the lower only when young,

becoming sparingly pubescent to glabrescent

with age. Inflorescences globose; peduncles

1 , 5-4 cm long, ± golden-pubescent when

young, becoming greyish when older. Flowers

creamy-white, sessile or up to 0,5 mm

pedicellate, buds golden-pubescent ;

bracteoles persistent during flowering period.

Calyx 1 , 5-2 , 5 mm long, golden-pubescent,

lobes it 0,5 mm long. Corolla 4-5,5 mm

long, pubescent, tube to 3 mm long, lobes to

2,5 mm long. Stamens 1,3-1, 8 cm long,

united basally for it 2,5 mm, tube not or

scarcely exserted beyond the corolla. Ovary

it 2 mm long, very shortly stipitate, puberu-

lous. Pods yeUo wish-brown to brown, 6-15 X

1,8-3, 5 cm, oblong, valves thin, glabrous or

nearly so except for a slight pubescence

along the margins and near the base, umbo-

nate over the seeds, longitudinally dehiscent.

Seeds 8-12 x 6-9 mm, flattened.

Widespread in eastern and southern tropical

Africa from southern Kenya in the north to South

West Africa, Botswana, the Transvaal and Swaziland.

Occurs in woodland and dry bushveld, sometimes

near rivers.

S.W.A.— 1719 (Runtu): Runtu, Volk 2030 (M).

1724 (Katima Mulilo): Katima Mulilo, West 3249.

1821 (Andara): Andara, Volk 2090 (M). 1920 (Tsum-

kwe): 9,6 km S. of Tsumkwe, Giess 9898 (M).

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 ( Waterpoort) : Dongola

reserve, Cream of Tartarfontein, Pole Evans 3526.

2230 (Messina): Messina, Pole Evans 1440. 2231

(Pafuri): Kruger National Park, Punda Milia, Codd

4223. 2328 (Baltimore): 32 km E. of Ellisras, Acocks

8820. 2331 (Phalaborwa) : Kruger National Park,

Letaba area, Lang sub TRV 30357. 2431 (Acornhoek):

Kruger National Park, near Skukuza camp, Letty 57.

2531 (Komatipoort) : Kruger National Park, 20 km

N.E. of Malelane on road to Skukuza, Codd 5218.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): near Makombo,

Mtendekwa stream. Miller S/15.

Mimosoideae

13

FIG. 1. — Albizia harveyi. 1, flowering branch, x 1 ; 2, part of leaf showing glands on rhachis, x 2; 3, leaflet

X 8; all from Burtt 3809; 4, gland on rhachis, x 24; 5, young flower head, x 2; 6, flower bud, x 8;

7, flower bud opened, showing arrangement of stamens, x 8; 8, anthers from bud, front and back views,

X 40; 9, open flower, x 4; 10, calyx opened out, x 4; 11, corolla opened out, x 4; 12, stamen filaments

and tube, x 4; 13, ovary from bud, x 8; 14, ovary from mature flower, x 4; all from Bidrtt 5037; 15,

pods, X Burtt 1661; 16, part of valve of pod, seen from inside, x j; 17, .seed, x 2, both from Legat

65. Reproduced by permission of the Editor of Flora of Tropical East Africa.

14

Mimosoideae

Vegetative sj^imens of A. harveyi are some-

times confused with specimens of A. brevifolia. The

differences between the two species are given under

A. brevifolia.

4. Albizia forbesii Benth. in Hook.,

Lond. J. Bot. 3 : 92 (1844); Harv. in F.C.

2 : 284 (1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 30 : 568 (1875); Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr.

58, t.39A (1909); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 348 (1932); Codd, Trees & Shrubs

Kruger Nat. Park 54, fig. 48a (1951); in

Bothalia 7 : 72 (1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Mimos. : 151 (1959); Von Breiten-

bach. Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 256 (1965);

Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Mocamb. 1 : 236,

t.40 (1966); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 122 (1970);

Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 116

(1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 717 (1973); Ross, FI. Natal 192 (1973).

Type: Mozambique, Delagoa Bay, Forbes

s.n. (K, holo!; P!; TCD!).

Tree to 20 m high, with a single trunk or

sometimes branching near the base, crown

typically rounded and spreading. Bark grey to

blackish, rough or sometimes smooth ; young

branchlets densely grey-pubescent. Leaves

densely grey-pubescent, often golden when

very young: petiole 0,6-2 (2,8) cm long,

adaxial gland low, up to ±0,25 mm high;

rhachis 0,5-3, 8 cm long, with a fairly con-

spicuous gland at the junction of each

pinna pair or the top 1-3 pairs only; pinnae

2-7 pairs; rhachillae 1,6-4, 8 cm long;

leaflets 6-16 pairs, 3,5-8 x 1,5-4 mm,

obliquely oblong to oblong-elliptic (the

terminal pair obovate), apex rounded to

subacute or mucronate, turned towards the

apex of the pinna, the midrib nearer the distal

margin, lateral nerves usually ± raised and

visible beneath, usually glabrous above,

glabrous beneath except for spreading pubes-

cence on the midrib and recurved margins,

sometimes pubescent throughout. Inflores-

cences globose; peduncles 2-5,5 cm long, ±

golden-pubescent when young, becoming

greyish when older. Flowers creamy-white,

sessile or almost so, buds golden-pubescent;

bracteoles 1 ,5-2 mm long, linear or oblanceo-

late, usually deciduous before flowers open.

Calyx 3-4 mm long, densely and shortly

appressed-pubescent. Corolla 5-8(9) mm

long, densely and shortly appressed-pube-

scent, tube 4-5(7) mm long, lobes up to 2,5

mm long. Stamens 1-1,5 cm long, united

basally for ± 3 mm, tube not or scarcely

exserted beyond the corolla. Ovary 2-3 mm

long, shortly stipitate, glabrous. Pods dark

brown or reddish-brown, 9-18 cm (including

1- 2 cm long stipe) x 3,2-5 cm, oblong,

valves fibrous, puberulous or almost glabrous

except on margins and stipe, very prominently

transversely venose, the veins iparallel and

2- 4 mm apart, margins thickened. Seeds

11-12 X 4, 5-6, 5 mm, oblong-ellipsoid or

ellipsoid, slightly flattened.

Found in southern Tanzania, Mozambique, the

eastern areas of Rhodesia, the Transvaal and Natal

(Tongaland). Occurs in woodland, bushveld and

sand-forest.

TRANSVAAL.— 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National

Park, near Punda Milia, Rowland Jones 29. 2431

(Acornhoek): Kruger National Park, 12,8 km E. of

Skukuza, S. side of Sabie River, Codd 5104. 2531

(Komatipoort) : Kruger National Park, near Male-

lane, Van der Schijff 1417.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, E. of Pongola floodplain, Pooley 1403

(K, NU). 2732 (Ubombo): 12,8 km from Makanes

bridge on road to Sihangwane, Ross 2425.

In Tongaland A. forbesii occurs commonly

on white sandy soils and is one of the dominant

species in sand-forest.

The prominently transversely venose pods are

most distinctive, and the seeds are rather narrow in

proportion to their length.

5. Albizia versicolor Welw. ex Oliv. in

F.T.A. 2 : 359 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 562 (1875); Hiern, Cat. Afr.

PI. Welw. 1:315 (1896); Eyles in Trans. Roy.

Soc. S. Afr. 5 : 361 (1916); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 863 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 348 (1932); Steedman, Trees etc. S. Rhod.

16 (1933); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 236

(1934); Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Mocamb.

1 : 94 (1948); Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr.

343 (1949); Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger

Nat. Park 57, figs. 52, 53 (1951); Gilbert &

Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 182, fig. 7 (1952);

O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 27 (1952);

Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 293 (1956); Codd in

Bothalia 7 : 73 (1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Mimos. : 146 (1959); F. White,

For. FI. N. Rhod. 89, fig. 16J (1962); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 258

(1965); Compton in J. S. Afr. Bot., Suppl.

6 : 45 (1966); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 14

(1967); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 117, t.23 fig.

D (1970); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park

1 : 122 (1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S.

Afr. 2 : 717 (1973); Ross, FI. Natal 192

Mimosoideae

15

(1973). Type: Angola, Cuanza Norte :

Golungo Alto, Candombo e Trombeta,

Welwitsch 1760 (LISU, lecto; BM!; COI;

K!;P!;iso.).

A. versicolor var. mossambicensis Schinz in Bull.

Herb. Boiss., Ser. 2, 2 : 946 (1902); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 863 (1930). Type: Mozambique, Baruma,

Nhaondue, Menyharth 77b (Z, holo.!). A. mossambi-

censis Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 59, t.60 (1909); Eyles in

Trans. Roy. Soc. S.Afr. 5 : 361 (1916). Type: Mozam-

bique, Sim 6392 (NU, holo.!).

Tree to 18 m high with a spreading

rounded crown. Bark greyish-brown, usually

rough; young branchlets densely rusty-

tomentose, older branchlets grey-tomentose.

Leaves densely rusty-tomentose when young,

becoming grey-pubescent when older : petiole

3-7 , 5 cm long, adaxial gland usually present

and situated a short distance above the

pulvinus, usually flattened, ±discoid, up to

3x2 mm; rhachis 0-18 cm long; pinnae

1- 3(5) pairs; rhachillae 2-15 cm long,

usually with a small gland below the junction

of the top or top 1-2 pinnae pairs; leaflets

2- 5(6) pairs, 15-67 x (10)15-45 mm,

broadly and obliquely obovate or obovate-

oblong to subcircular, apex rounded and often

mucronate, sometimes subacute or emargi-

nate, becoming coriaceous, pubescent above,

densely tomentose or pubescent beneath,

midrib and lateral nerves raised and very

prominent beneath. Inflorescences globose;

peduncles 2-6 cm long, rusty-tomentose.

Flowers creamy-white, sessile or subsessile;

bracteoles present or already deciduous at

flowering time. Calyx 4,5-7 mm long,

densely rusty-pubescent or -tomentose.

Corolla 7-12 mm long, clothed like the calyx.

Stamens 2,5^ cm long, united basally for

± 3 mm, tube not exceeding the corolla.

Ovary ± 3 mm long, subsessile, puberulous.

Pods chestnut- to reddish-brown or purplish,

8-22 X (2, 2)3-5, 5 cm, oblong, valves thin,

glabrous or with few hairs on stipe and

margins, rhglossy, obscurely transversely

venose, margins thickened, longitudinally

dehiscent. Seeds 9-\3 x 8-11 mm, flattened.

Found from Uganda and Kenya southwards

to South West Africa, Botswana, Rhodesia, Mozam-

bique, the Transvaal, Swaziland and Natal (Zululand).

Occurs in mixed woodland.

S.W.A. — 1715 (Ondangua): near Oshikango,

Rodin 2609 (K). 1719 (Runtu): Ndwaki camp, 70,4

km W. of Runtu, De Winter 3817. 1721 (Mbambi):

Kangongo camp, 76,8 km E. of Nyangana Mission

station, De Winter 4215. 1821 (Andara): Shitanga-

dimba camp at Andara Mission station, De Winter

4237 ; Andara, Watt 36 (M).

TRANSVAAL. — 2230 (Messina): 6,4 km S.E. of

Sibasa, Codd & Dyer 4491. 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger

National Park, Punda Milia, Codd & Dyer 4615. 2330

(Tzaneen): Elim, Obermeyer 564. 2430 (Pilgrim’s

Rest): 1,6 km N. of P.O. Buffelsvlei, Codd 6674.

2431 (Acornhoek): Acomhoek, Keet 1488. 2531

(Komatipoort): Kruger National Park, Shabin Kop,

near Pretorius Kop, Codd 5694.

SWAZILAND. — 2531 (Komatipoort): near

Ngonini, Compton 29361. 2631 (Mbabane): Mposi,

rOns 59/6. 2731 (Louwsburg): Ingwavuma River,

West 2105.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Ndumu Hill, Pooley 710 (NU). 2732

(Ubombo): 38,4 km W. of Maputa on road to

Makanes Pont, De Winter & Vahrmeijer 8631. 2831

(Nkandia): between Eshowe and Nkandla, Pole

Evans 3622. 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe Game

Reserve, Ward 7<S6/(NH). 2931 (Stanger): Amatikulu,

Wylie sub Wood 7589 (K).

A very distinct and easily recognized species on

account of the combination of the± rust-coloured

indumentum over the vegetative parts, and the few

pairs of broad leaflets.

The type specimen of A. mossambicensis Sim is

cited as Sim 6392. The holotype in the University of

Natal Herbarium is actually annotated by Sim as

A. umbelusiana, but the specimen clearly agrees with

his description and plate of A. mossambicensis and

not with his published description and plate of

A. umbalusiana (see notes under A. antheimintica and

A. petersiana subsp. evansii).

A. versicolor grows into an attractive large tree

and yields a useful timber. Brenan l.c. (1949), in

addition to mentioning that the timber is used,

records that the natives make a soapy substance from

the roots and that the roots are also employed as an

anthelmintic and as a purgative and enema.

The unripe pods and seeds of A. versicolor have

proved to be toxic to stock (Needham & Lawrence in

Rhod. Agric. J. 63 : 137, 1966).

6. Albizia antunesiana Harms in Bot.

Jahrb. 30 : 317 (1901); R.E. Fr., Schwed.

Rhod.-Kongo-Exped. 1 : 63 (1914); Eyles in

Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 5 : 361 (1916);

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 ; 861 (1930);

Steedman, Trees etc. S. Rhod. 15 (1933);

Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 342 (1949);

Pardy in Rhod. Agric. J. 48 : 398 (1951);

Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 189, fig.

IOC, D (1952); O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot.

18 : 27 (1952); Torre in C.F.A.2 :291 (1956);

Palgrave, Trees Cent. Afr. 261 (1956); Codd

in Bothalia 7 : 74 (1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Mimos. : 148 (1959); F. White, For.

FI. N. Rhod. 90, fig. 16M (1962); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 260

16

Mimosoideae

(1965); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 14 (1967);

Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 119 (1970); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 720 (1973); Schreiber

in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 11 : 126

(1973). Syntypes: Tanzania, Mbeya District,

Unyika, lyunga village, Goetze 1372 (B, t;

BM!; P!); Angola, Huila, Antunes 330 (B, f).

Tree up to 12 m high, branches usually

spreading somewhat. Bark grey, rough or

sometimes smooth; young branchlets very

shortly pubescent, becoming glabrous with

age. Leaves: petiole 3-8,5 cm long, adaxial

gland usually immediately above or a short

distance above the pulvinus, humped or

flattened and±discoid and up to 4 x 4 mm;

rhachis 0-13 cm long, sparingly pubescent

when young but soon becoming glabrous or

almost so; pinnae 1-4 pairs; rhachillae 5-16

cm long; leaflets 4-9 pairs, (16)23-50 x 8-28

mm (in our area), oblique, ovate to rhombic-

ovate or eUiptic-oblong, usually rounded or

slightly emarginate apicaUy, papery to sub-

coriaceous, glabrous, venose, glaucous, paler

beneath. Inflorescences globose; peduncles

3,6-8 cm long, sparingly rusty-pubescent.

Flowers creamy-white, sessile or up to 2 mm

pedicellate; bracteoles small, rapidly deci-

duous and shed before flowering. Calyx

(3)3, 5-5, 5 mm long, rusty-puberulous or

-pubescent. Corolla 5 , 5-1 1 mm long, densely

minutely appressed-pubescent, lobes up to

4 mm long. Stamens 1 , 5-3 cm long, united

basally for up to 5 mm, tube not or scarcely

exserted beyond the corolla. Ovary ± 2 mm

long, shortly stipitate, glabrous. Pods 11-16

(23) X 2, 5^(4, 6) cm, oblong, valves thin,

glabrous or with few hairs near the base and

margins, transversely venose, umbonate over

the seeds, longitudinally dehiscent. Seeds ±

7-9 mm in diameter, flattened.

Found in Tanzania, Zaire, Angola, Zambia,

Malawi, South West Africa, Botswana, Rhodesia and

Mozambique. Occurs in mixed woodland.

S.W.A. — 1821 (Andara): between Bagani camp

and Mahango, De Winter & Wiss 4394; opposite

Andara, De Winter & Marais 4816.

Vegetative specimens of A. antunesiana are

easily recognized by the glabrous, discolorous

leaflets, but the flowers are often produced when the

tree is leafless.

A. antunesiana is closely related to A. coriaria

Welw. ex Oliv., the latter differing in having puberu-

lous or pubescent leaf-rhachides and usually smaller,

less oblique leaflets.

More material of A. antunesiana from our area,

particularly fertile material, is needed.

7. Albizia tanganyicensis Bak.f. in J. Bot.

67 : 199 (1929); Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 862

(1930); Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 342

(1949); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 293 (1956);

Codd in Bothalia 7 : 75 (1958); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 144 (1959);

F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 90 (1962); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 262

(1965); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 ; 116 (1970);

Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 120

(1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 721 (1973). Type: Tanzania, Kondoa

District, Simbo Hills, B. D. Burn 716 (BM,

holo.!; EA; K!).

subsp. tanganyicensis.

Brenan in Kew Bull. 29 : 717 (1975).

Type as above. -

A. rhodesica Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : xviii, 348

(1932); Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 56

(1951); O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 27 (1952);

Pardy in Rhod. Agric. J. 51 : 4 (1954); Palgrave, Trees

Cent. Afr. 269 (1956). Syntypes: Rhodesia, Matopos,

Galpin 7082 (PREl); Victoria Falls, Allen 174 (K!);

Rogers 5319 (Kl). A. lebbeck var. australis Burtt Davy

in Burtt Davy & Hoyle, Checklist Nyasaland 53 (1936)

nomen nudum; Burtt Davy & Hoyle, rev. Topham,

Checklist Nyasaland, ed.2 : 65 (1958) nomen nudum.

Tree up to 12 m high, sometimes

sparingly branched near the base and with

few ascending branches, crown rounded or

somewhat flattened, canopy often sparse.

Bark smooth (except at base of trunk where

burned), creamy-white to light ochre-yellow

or yellow-green when young, the older bark

peeling off in large papery pieces; young

branchlets pubescent to ^abrous. Leaves

sparingly pubescent especially when young

but often becoming glabrous: petiole 2-5(8)

cm long, adaxial gland usually just above the

pulvinus or ± midway along length of petiole,

fairly conspicuous and up to 3 mm long;

rhachis 6-14(23) cm long; pinnae (2)3-6(7)

pairs; rhachillae (2,8)3,5-19 cm long, some-

times with a gland at the junction of the top

or top 1-5 leaflet pairs; leaflets 4-13(17)

pairs, (9)13^5(55) x 5-25(32) mm, some-

what asymmetric, ovate- to obovate-elliptic

or ovate-oblong, rounded to subacute

apically, papery to subcoriaceous, pubescent

on both surfaces or glabrous, venose.

Inflorescences globose; peduncles 3-5 cm

long, rusty-pubescent. Flowers creamy-white,

usually produced before the young leaves,

sessile or up to 1 mm pedicellate; bracteoles

rapidly deciduous and shed before the flowers

Mimosoideae

17

open. Calyx 4-6 mm long, densely i rusty-

tomentellous on the lobes, lobes up to 2 mm

long. Corolla 7-11 mm long, lobes up to 4

mm long, ± rusty-tomentellous, especially

apically. Stamens 1 , 5-3 cm long, united

basally for ± 4 mm, tube not or scarcely

exserted beyond the corolla. Ovary ± 3 mm

long, shortly stipitate, glabrous. Pods brown,

10-25 X 2,5-5 cm, oblong, valves slightly

thickened, glabrous, not or obscurely venose,

longitudinally dehiscent. Seeds ± 10-17 x

8-13 mm, flattened.

Found in Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Angola,

South West Africa, Botswana, Rhodesia, Mozam-

bique and the Transvaal. Occurs usually on rocky

outcrops and ridges, often on quartzite and granite

formations.

S.W.A. — 1813 (Ohopoho): Oruwanjei on

Orupembe-Ohopoho Road, Joubert 297 (M); 4,8 km

E. of Oruwanjei, near Kaoko-Otavi, Giess 10533 (M).

TRANSVAAL.— 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National

Park, near Punda Milia, Codd & Dyer 4549. 2427

(Thabazimbi): Rooiberg, Pole Evans s.n. 2428

(Nylstroom): 30,4 km E. of Vaalwater, Codd 986 ; 8

km N.E. of Nylstroom, Codd 5601; 16 km N. of

Warmbaths on road to Nylstroom, De Winter 8681 ;

hills near Warmbaths, Burn Davy 2183; Olifants

Spruit, Kept on 3472.

A very distinct species which is readily distin-

guished by its thin smooth papery-peeling bark. The

flowers are usually produced when the tree is leafless,

and specimens collected in this state, without notes

about the bark, are liable to be confused with speci-

mens of A. antunesiana in the same state. Apart from

having an entirely different distribution in our area,

A. antunesiana may be distinguished by its smaller

flowers and (in dried specimens) by the more promi-

nent and raised nerves on the calyx-tube.

A. tanganyicensis has in the past been confused

with the introduced A. lebbeck (L.) Benth., but the

two are quite distinct. Vegetative specimens of the

two species are similar but A. tanganyicensis differs

in its papery peeling bark and in its more closely

spaced leaflets. In A. tanganyicensis the flowers are

sessile or up to 1 mm pedicellate and the corolla-lobes

are rusty-tomentellous especially apically, while in

A. lebbeck the flowers are on pedicels 1,5-4, 5 mm

long and the corolla-lobes have few whitish hairs.

The pods of the two species also differ, those of

A. lebbeck being straw-coloured and the positions of

the seeds marked by distinct bumps in the valves,

while in A. tanganyicensis they are brown and there

are no conspicuous bumps in the valves indicating the

positions of the seeds within.

The wood of A. tanganyicensis is of no commer-

cial value and Codd l.c. : 76 reports that when the

wood is worked the dust irritates the nose and

throat, so that in the Transvaal it is locally known as

“sneezewood”.

8. Albizia suluensis Gerstn. in J. S. Afr.

Bot. 13 : 62, fig. 6 (1947); Codd in Bothalia

7 : 76 (1958); Von Breitenbach, Tndig. Trees

S. Afr. 2 : 259 (1965); Ross, FI. Natal 192

(1973); Palmer & Rtman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 723 (1973). Type: Natal, Melmoth Distr.,

3,2 km west of Dundulu Store, Gerstner 4337

(PRE, lecto.!).

Tree to 15 m high with a rounded or

spreading crown. Bark greyish, smooth or

fissured; young branchlets sparingly pube-

scent when young but soon becoming

glabrous. Leaves glabrous or subglabrous:

petiole 2-7 cm long, a small rounded slightly

raised gland usually present at or just below

the junction of the lowest pinna pair;

rhachis (0)2-8 cm long, sulcate above, a small

rounded gland usually present at the junction

of the top pinna pair, at the junction of each

pinna pair or absent from some; pirmae

(1)2-4 pairs; rhachillae 5,5-17 cm long,

sulcate above, pulvinule sometimes sparsely

pubescent; leaflets 4-9 pairs, 18-28 x 8-15

(18) mm, oblique basally, oblong to broadly

elliptic or obovate, rounded to truncate

apically, mucronate, margins crisped, glabrous

to sparsely puberulous on both surfaces,

petiolules often sparsely pubescent. Inflore-

scences globose; peduncles 1,5-4 cm long,

sparingly rusty-pubescent. Flowers whitish,

subsessile; bracteoles rapidly deciduous.

Calyx 2,5-4 mm long, densely ± rusty-

tomentellous. Corolla 4-6 mm long, lobes

densely ± rusty-tomentellous, especially

apically. Stamens 1-1,6 cm long, united

basally for up to 6 mm, tube not or scarcely

exserted beyond the corolla. Ovary 2-3 mm

long, shortly stipitate, glabrous. Pods light

brown, 8-21 x 1,4-2, 6 cm, linear-oblong,

valves thin, glabrous, not or scarcely venose,

slightly umbonate over the seeds, longitudi-

nally dehiscent.

Restricted to the Ntonjaneni and Hlabisa

districts of Zululand. Occurs in forest, often on

stream banks or near streams.

NATAL. — 2732 (Ubombo): Dukunbane, Gerstner

714. 2831 (Nkandla): Hlabisa, Gerstner 6440;

Gwegwede River, Gerstner 6261 (BOL, K); Ndhlwati,

Gerstner 730; Inhlwati, F. Bayer s.n. (K, NU); 6,4 km

N. of Hlabisa. Codd 9611. 2832 (Mtubatuba):

Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ward 2829 (K, NH).

A verj- distinct species which is distinguished by

the crisped leaflet margins. It appears to be endemic

in the Ntonjaneni and Hlabisa districts of Zululand

and is nowhere very common.

Gerstner l.c. records that the Zulu’s pound the

bark in water, producing a foaming mixture which is

used as a powerful enema. The timber is said to be

hard and durable with an attractive grain, suitable for

furniture.

18

Mimosoideae

9. Albizia anthelmintica (A. Rich.)

Brongn. in Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 7 : 902 (1860);

Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 357 (1871); Benth. in

Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 564 (1875);

Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 60 (1909); Eyies in

Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 5 : 361 (1916) pro

parte excl. specim. Rogers 5343; Marloth, FI.

S. Afr. 2, 1 : fig. 29 (1925); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 859 (1930); Gomes e Sousa, PI.

Menyharth 68 (1936); Brenan, Checklist

Tang. Terr. 341 (1949); Codd, Trees &

Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 53 (1951); Torre in

C.F.A. 2 : 289 (1956); Pardy in Rhod. Agric.

J. 53 : 952 (1956); Codd in Bothalia 7 : 77

(1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. :

148 (1959); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 90,

fig. 16L (1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 2 ; 259 (1965); Compton in J.

S. Afr. Bot., Suppl. 6 : 45 (1966); L^istner in

Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 38 : 123, t.8, 12

(1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 14 (1967);

Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 120, t.23 fig. C (1970);

Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 110

(1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 725 (1973); Ross, FI. Natal 192 (1973).

Type: Ethiopia, near Add’erbati, Quartin

Dillon (P, holo.!;K.!).

Besetina anthelmintica A. Rich., Tent. FI. Abyss.

1 : 253 (1847).

Acacia inermis Marloth in Trans. S.Afr. Phil. Soc.

5 : 269 (1889); Wordsworth et al. in Ann. Bolus Herb.

3 : 21 (1920); Ross in Bothalia 10 : 548 (1972) nomen

nudum. A. marlothii Engl, in Bot. Jahrb. 10 : 19

(1889); Wordsworth et al, l.c. : 21 (1920). Type:

South West Africa, near Otjimbingwe, Marloth 1317

(B, holo. t: BOL!; GRA!; PRE!).

Albizia umbalusiana Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 59,

t.55A (1909). Type: Mozambique, “Lourenzo Mar-

ques, Maputa, Lebombos”, Sim 6200 (whereabouts

unknown, perhaps no longer extant). A. anthelmintica

var. australis Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 859 (1930);

Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 2W (1956). Type: South West

Africa, Okahandja Distr., Okahandja, Dinter 269

(BM, holo.!; GRAI; Kl; PI; PRE!; SAM!). A.

anthelmintica var. pubescens Burtt Davy, FI. Trans v.

2 : xvii, 348 (1932); O. B. Miller in J. S.Afr. Bot.

18 : 27 (1952). Syntypes: Transvaal, Soutpansberg

Distr., Waterpoort, Rogers 19347 (K!; PRE!);

Messina, Rogers 21504 (PRE!).

Shrub or tree to 10 m high, crown often

somewhat rounded. Bark grey to reddish-

brown, smooth; young branchlets shortly

pubescent or glabrous, lenticellate, often

forming abbreviated divaricate spine-tipped

lateral shoots. Leaves glabrous to shortly

pubescent: petiole 0,5-2 cm long, a small

gland usually present ± midway along the

petiole or just below the junction of the

lowest pinna pair; rhachis 0-3,5 cm long,

usually terminating in a short rigid persistent

deflexed hook, a small gland often present

near the junction of the top pinna pair;

pinnae 1-3(4) pairs; rhachillae 1,5-5 cm

long, usually terminating in a short rigid

persistent deflexed hook, often a single stipel

similarly bent near the base; leaflets (l)2-4(6)

pairs, (5)8-25(30) x 4-18(24) mm (in our

area), obliquely obovate or eUiptic to sub-

rotund, mucronate apically, venose, glabrous

or sparingly pubescent beneath, especially on

the midrib and lateral nerves. Inflorescences

globose; peduncles K3 cm long, glabrous or

sparingly pubescent. Flowers usually borne

on leafless branchlets, whitish, on pedicels

0,5-2, 5 mm long; bracteoles rapidly deci-

duous. Calyx greenish, 3-5 mm long,

usually deeply slit unilaterally, glabrous

throughout or with a tuft of hairs at the

apex of each lobe, sometimes sparingly

pubescent throughout. Corolla greenish, 6-12

mm long, glabrous throughout or puberulous

near the apices and margins of the lobes,

lobes up to 5 mm long. Stamens 1,5-2, 8 cm

long, united basally for up to 4 mm, tube

not exserted beyond the corolla. Ovary ±

3 mm long, glabrous, shortly stipitate. Pods

straw-coloured to light brown when mature,

(6)8-18 X 1,5-2, 8 cm, oblong, valves thin,

glabrous or occasionally puberulous all over,

venose, umbonate over the seeds, longi-

tudinally dehiscent. Seeds 9-13 mm in diam.,

rounded, flattened.

Found from the Sudan and Ethiopia southwards

to Angola, South West Africa, Botswana, Rhodesia,

Mozambique, the Transvaal, Swaziland and Zululand.

Occurs in dry bushveld, scrub, woodland and sand

forest.

S.W.A. — 1715 (Ondangua): near Oshikango,

Rodin 2613. 1719 (Runtu): 6,4 km E. of Runtu, De

Winter 3782. 1820 (Tarikora): 56-64 km W. of

Andara, Merxmuller & Giess 2087 (M). 1917

(Tsumeb): Tsumeb, Basson 15. 2017 (Waterberg);

Okosongomingo, Volk 232 (M). 2115 (Karibib):

road from Karibib to Omaruru, Kinges 3602 (M).

2116 (Okahandja): Okahandja, Dinter 269. 2215

(Trekkopje): farm Nudis, Seydel s.n. (M). 2216

(Otjimbingwe): farm Homusas, 128 km W. of

Windhoek, De Winter 2627. 2217 (Windhoek): 4,8

km N. of Windhoek, Codd 5793. 2416 (Maltahohe):

Gamis farmhouse. Great Fish River, Pearson 8976

(K). 2516 (Helmeringhausen) : farm Kleinfontein,

Marloth 5052. 2618 (Keetmanshoop) : Gellap Ost,

19,2 km N.W. of Keetmanshoop, Acocks 15608.

TRANSVAAL.— 2229 (Waterpoort): Dongola

area, farm Little Muck 604, Codd 4331. 2230 (M^-

sina): near Messina, Rogers 19341. 2231 (Pafuri):

Mimosoideae

19

Kruger National Park, Pafuri, Van der Schijff 642.

2328 (Baltimore): Leipzig Mission, Blouberg, Leipolt

3. 2427 (Thabazimbi): 48 km N.W. of Vaalwater,

Smuts 361. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): 6,4 km N. of P.O.

BuflFelsvlei, Codd 6675. 2431 (Acornhoek): Kruger

National Park, 6,4 km E. of Skukuza, Codd 5701.

2531 (Komatipoort): near Louws Creek, Acocks

12879.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): Sipofaneni,

Compton 29112; Ranches, Compton 27013.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Moll 4257. 2732 (Ubombo): Mkuzi Game

Reserve, Ward 3519.

In our area A. anthelmintica is usually ± pube-

scent, whereas in the northern part of its distribu-

tional range it is typically glabrous. These pubescent

specimens in the southern part of the species range

were separated as var. pubescens by Burtt Davy, but

there are so many gradations connecting the glabrous

and pubescent specimens that var. pubescens is not

considered worthy of formal taxonomic recognition.

Codd l.c. : 78 (1958) drew attention to the

possibility that Sim based his A. umbalusiana on a

mixture of A. anthelmintica and A. petersiana subsp.

evansii. The flowering twig with spine-tipped branch-

lets illustrated by Sim in Plate 55A of his For. FI.

P.E. Afr. (1909) is definitely A. anthelmintica; in

A. petersiana subsp. evansii spine-tipped branchlets

are absent and the staminal tube is long and exserted

far beyond the corolla. The pods and two leaves

illustrated are more difficult to identify with certainty,

but the possibility does exist that they may be those of

A. petersiana subsp. evansii. However, in the absence

of Sim’s type specimen, it is unlikely that the leaves

and pods illustrated will ever be identified with

certainty. It is, of course, possible that they are

indeed those of A. anthelmintica after all.

The bark and roots of A. anthelmintica are used

as an anthelmintic, whence the specific epithet.

10. Albizia petersiana {Bolle) Oliv. in

F.T.A. 2 : 362 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 569 (1875); Gilg in Pflanzen.

Ost Afr. B : 299 (1895); Sim, For. FI. P.E.

Afr. 60 (1909); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 867

(1930); Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 340

(1949); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 162

(1959); in F.Z. 3, 1 : 132, t.23 fig.E (1970).

Type: Mozambique, Boror and Sena, 16-

18°S. lat., Peters (B, holo.f; BM!).

Zygia petersiana Bolle in Peters, Reise Mossamb.

Bot. 1 : 1, t.l (1861). Type as above.

subsp. evansii {Burtt Davy) Brenan in

Kew Bull. 21 : 482 (1968); in F.Z. 3, 1 : 133

(1970); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park

1 : 114 (1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S.

Afr. 2: 727 (1973); Ross, FI. Natal 192 (1973).

Type: Transvaal, Nelspruit District, Sabie

Game Reserve, Pole Evans HI 6921 (K,

holo. !).

Albizia evansii Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : xvii, 348

(1932); Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Mocamb. 2 : 54

(1951); Dendrol. Mocamb. 1 : 238, t.42 (1966);

Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 54, fig.47,

48b (1951); in Bothalia 7 : 79 (1958); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S.Afr. 2 : 262 (1965). Type as above.

Shrub or tree up to 10 m high, usually

branching freely near the base with many

ascending branches, sometimes single-stem-

med, crown rounded or somewhat flattened.

Bark grey to brown, usually smooth; young

branchlets densely pubescent, not forming

abbreviated spine-tipped shoots. Leaves ±

densely pubescent: petiole 0, 5-2,4 cm long,

a small gland usually present ± halfway along

the petiole; rhachis (0)0, 8-3 cm long, a small

gland often present at the junction of the top

or top two pinnae pairs; pinnae (l)2-3(4)

pairs; rhachillae 0,5-3 cm long, a small

gland often present just below the junction

of the top pair of leaflets; leaflets 2-5 pairs,

(4,5)8-22 X (3,5)5-13 mm, obliquely obo-

vate or obovate- to oblong-rhombic, obtuse

to mucronate apically, dark green above,

glabrous or sparsely pubescent, lower surface

paler, sparingly to ± densely pubescent, espe-

cially on midrib and lateral nerves. Stipules

rapidly deciduous, 1,75-3,5 X 0,6-1 mm,

oblanceolate or triangular-acute. Inflore-

scences globose; peduncles 0,8-1, 5(2) cm

long, zb densely pubescent. Flowers whitish,

usually tinged with red, on pedicels up to

2 mm long; bracteoles ± 1 mm long, rapidly

deciduous. Calyx 1-1,75 mm long, very

shallowly lobed apically, glabrous except for

apices of lobes or puberulous throughout.

Corolla 6-9 mm long, glabrous throughout or

sparingly pubescent near the apices of the

lobes. Stamens 1 ,6-2,5 cm long, united into a

narrow tube for most of their length, tube

reddish, exserted beyond the corolla for

1-1,5 cm. Ovary ± 2,5 mm long, glabrous,

shortly stipitate. Pods brown, 6-16 x 1,4-2

cm, oblong, valves semi-woody, shortly

pubescent or puberulous, obscurely venose,

longitudinally dehiscent. Seeds 9-12 mm long

or in diam., flattened.

Found in Rhodesia, southern Mozambique, the

Transvaal and Zululand. Occurs in woodland and

scrub.

TRANSVAAL. — 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National

Park, 3,2 km S. of Punda Milia, Codd 5990. 2431

(Acornhoek): Kruger National Park, 32 km N.E.

of Skukuza, Codd 5592. 2531 (Komatipoort): Kruger

National Park, 9 km S.W. of Lower Sabie Camp,

Codd5708.

20

Mimosoideae

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Gerstner 3440; Ward 3179. 2732 (Ubombo):

24 km from Ingwavuma on Ndumu road, Moll 3708;

1 ,6 km E. of Makanes Drift, Ross 1966.

Subsp. petersiana is found in Uganda, Kenya,

Tanzania, Malawi and northern Mozambique. It

differs from subsp. evansii in having only shortly

pubescent or glabrous young branchlets, typically

more numerous leaflet pairs, sparingly pubescent

or glabrous peduncles and ± glabrous pods. Although

sut»p. petersiana is not clearly separable from subsp.

evansii by any single character except perhaps the ±

glabrous pods, the above characters in combination

usually enable petersiana to be distinguished.

Attention has already been drawn (see note under

A. anthelminticd) to the possibility that the descrip-

tion and illustration of A. umbalusiana Sim are drawn

from A. anthelmintica and from A. petersiana subsp.

evansii.

The leaves of A. anthelmintica bear a superficial

resemblance to those of A. petersiana subsp. evansii.

However, the rhachides and rhachillae of the latter

are not terminated by a short rigid persistent deflexed

hook, the base of the rhachillae lack a stipel, and the

leaflets are sparingly to ± densely pubescent beneath,

while those of A. anthelmintica are glabrous or with

few scattered hairs on the midrib and nerves beneath

except in some specimens from South West Africa

where the leaflets are also ± pubescent.

11. Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.)

W. F. Wight in U.S. Dept. Agric. Bur. PI.

Industry BuU. 137 : 12 (1909); Gilbert &

Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 178 (1952); Brenan in

Kew BuU. 7 : 520 (1953); in Mem. N.Y. Bot.

Gdn. 8 : 430 (1954); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 295

(1956); Codd in BothaUa 7 : 79 (1958);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 160,

fig.21/6-9, 22/2 (1959); F. White, For. FI. N.

Rhod. 88, fig. 16E-F (1962); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S.Afr. 2 : 2^ (1965); Gomes e

Sousa, Dendrol. Mocamb. 1 : 239, t.43

(1966); Compton in J. S. Afr. Bot., Suppl.

6 : 45 (1966); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 131, t.24

fig.B (1970); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat.

Park 1 : 106 (1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees

S.Afr. 2 : 729 (1973); Ross, FI. Natal 192

(1973). Type: probably from Ghana, Bligusso

Thotming (C, holo., K, photo. !).

Mimosa adianthifolia Schumach., Beskr. Guin. PI.

322 (1827). Type as above.

Zygia fastigiata E. Mey., Comm. 1 : 165 (1836);

Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 3 : 93 (1844); Harv. in

F.C. 2 : 285 (1862). Syntypes: Natal, between Umzim-

kulu [Omsamculo] and Umkomaas, Drege (P! );

Durban [Port Natal], Drege (K!; OXF!; P!).

Inga fastigiata (E. Mey.) Steud., Nom. Bot. ed.2 :

809 (1840). Types as for Zygia fastigiata.

Albizia fastigiata (E. Mey.) Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 361

(1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 570

(1875), pro parte excl. syn. Inga sassa et Mimosa

sassa; Hiem, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw. 1 ; 317 (1896);

Wood & Evans, Natal Plants 1 ; 24, t.27 (1898);

Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 213, t.62 (1907); Sim, For.

FI. P.E. Afr. 59, t.58 (1909); Marloth, FI. S.Afr. 2,

1 : fig.30 (1925). Types as for Zygia fastigiata.

A. gummifera sensu C.A. Sm. in Kew Bull. 1930 :

218 (1930), pro parte quoad syn. Mimosa adianthifolia

[“adiantifolia”], Zygia fastigiata, Albizia fastigiata;

Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 349 (1932); Henkel,

Woody PI. Natal 236 (1934), non (J.F. Gmel.) C.A.

Sm. sensu stricto.

Tree to 20 m high, crown typicaUy

flattened and spreading. Bark grey to

yeUowish-brown, smooth or rough; young

branchlets densely and rather coarsely and

persistently rusty- to fulvous-pubescent, in-

dumentum sometimes becoming grey with

age. Leaves rusty- to fulvous-pubescent, in-

dumentum sometimes becoming grey with

age: petiole 2,4-7 cm long, a large raised

gland usuaUy situated immediately above or a

short distance above the pulvinus; rhachis

(3)5,5-14 cm long, a small rounded gland

usuaUy present at or just below the junction

of the top pinna pair; pinnae 4-8 pairs;

rhachiUae (2)3-10 cm long; leaflets (4)6-15

pairs, 7-20 x 4-8(11) mm (in our area),

obliquely rhombic-quadrate or -oblong,

proximal margin usually ± rounded into the

pulvinule bas^y and not auriculate, midrib

diagonal, usuaUy obtuse and mucronate

apically, sometimes subacute, upper surface

dark green and thinly pubescent, lower

surface paler, usuaUy ± appressed-pubescent

throughout but especiaUy on midrib and

margins. Stipules and bracts at base of

peduncles 5-12 x 3-8(11) mm, ovate.

Inflorescences globose; peduncles 2, 5-4, 5(6)

cm long, densely rusty- to fulvous-pubescent.

Flowers whitish, on pedicels 0,5-1 mm long;

bracteoles 5-8 mm long, linear-spathulate to

oblanceolate, exceeding the flower-buds,

variably persistent and sometimes deci-

duous before the flowers open. Calyx 2,5-5

mm long, fulvo-pubescent. Corolla 6-10 mm

long, pubescent, tube 5-8 mm long, lobes

2-3 mm long. Stamens 2-3,2 cm long, united

into a narrow tube for most of their length,

tube exserted beyond the coroUa for 1 ,3-2,5

cm. Ovary ± 2,5 mm long, glabrous,

subsessUe. Pods pde brown, (7,5)9-19 x

1 ,9-3,4 cm (in our area), oblong, valves thin

textured, densely and persistently pubescent,

not glossy, umbonate over the seeds, p omi-

nently venose, margins thickened, longitudi-

nally dehiscent. Seeds 7-9 ,5x6, 5-8 , 5 mm,

flattened.

Mimosoideae

21

FIG. 2. — Albizia adianthifolia. 1, flowering branch, x Ross 1369; 2, leaflet, undersurface, X 2; 3, stipules

X 2, both from /Jojs 420; 4, flower, X 2, Mo// 1 925 ; 5, pods, X 6, seed, x 2, both from 2119,

22

Mimosoideae

Widespread in tropical Africa from Gambia in

the west to Kenya in the east and southwards to

Angola, Rhodesia, Mozambique, the Transvaal,

Swaziland, Natal and eastern Cape Province. Occurs

in forest, wooded ravines, woodland and wooded

grassland; often, but by no means always, near water.

TRANSVAAL. — 2230 (Messina): Kruger National

Park, Shipudza, N.W. of Punda Milia, Van der

Schijff 3784. 2330 (Tzaneen): Tshakoma, Obermeyer

975. Grid ref. unknown: Soutpansberg District,

Shewass, Legal sub PRE 4867; Pepiti Falls, Curson &

Irvine 97.

SWAZILAND. — Compton, in J. S.Afr. Bot., Suppl.

6 : 45 (1966), recorded A. adianthifolia from Swazi-

land, but I have not seen any specimens from this

territory.

NATAL.— 2632 (Bela Vista): 10,4 km N.E. of

Maputa on road to Ponta do Ouro, De Winter &

Vahrmeijer 8619. 2732 (Ubombo): 6,4 km from

Hluhluwe on road to False Bay Park, Ross 2119. 2831

(Nkandla): forest adjoining Eshowe, Codd 1864. 2832

(Mtubatuba): Nyalazi, 27,2 km S. of Hluhluwe on

Mtubatuba road, Ross 1369. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg) :

Shongweni, Ross 420 (K, NH, NU). 2931 (Stanger):

Umhlali, Region 1838. 3030 (Port ShepstoneV-

Uvongo, Strey 6842.

CAPE. — 3129 (Port St. Johns): 4km N. of Embotyi,

Codd 9740; Egossa forest, Sim 2365; Port St. Johns,

Bull sub Sim 19961.

A. adianthifolia, with its flattened spreading

crown, is a conspicuous tree in the coastal areas of

Natal. This characteristically flattened spreading

crown has earned the species the common name “flat

crown”.

A. adianthifolia is very closely related to A.

gummifera (J. F. Gmel.) C.A. Sm. The specific limits

within this complex of species and the synonymy are

dealt with in detail by Brenan in Kew Bull. 7 : 507

(1953). A. gummifera, which so far has not been

recorded in our area, differs from A. adianthifolia in

that the leaflets are markedly auriculate basally on

the proximal side and are typically glabrous beneath

apart from the pubescence on the midrib and margins;

the young branchlets and leaf-rhachides are finely and

shortly brownish-pubescent; the stipules are lanceo-

late, ± 6-7 X 2-2,5 mm; and the pods are glabre-

scent. A. gummifera is considered in more detail in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 157 (1959) and in F.Z. 3,

1 : 129 (1970). In territories outside our area A.

adianthifolia and A. gummifera hybridize.

The nature of the bark was one of the differential

characters between A. adianthifolia and A. gummifera

noted by Brenan l.c. : 510 (1953). In A. gummifera

the bark is said to be usually smooth and only rarely

rough, while in A. adianthifolia the bark in tropical

east and south tropical Africa is said to be rough and

only rarely smooth. Detailed field observations on

bark characteristics in our area are necessary to

establish whether our plants are predominantly

smooth-barked or rough-barked, and whether this

character is of any ecological or distributional

significance.

Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 214 (1907), reported that

the wood of A. adianthifolia is “straight grained,

lighter than yellow-wood, easily worked, soft, with

yellowish heart and whiter sapwood.” The wood was

formerly in great demand for use in wagon-building

and other purposes.

12. Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. in Hook.,

Lond. J. Bot. 3 : 87 (1844); in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 562 (1875); Sim, For. FI. P.E.

Afr. 60 (1909); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 862

(1930); Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 342

(1949); Gilbert &. Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 187

(1952); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 292 (1956);

Codd in Bothalia 7 ; 81 (1958); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. ; 147 (1959);

F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 90 (1962);

Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 ; 118 (1970); Ross, FI.

Natal 192 (1973). Type: Egypt, Herb.

Linnaeus 1228.16 (LINN!).

Mimosa lebbeck L., Sp. PI. ed.l : 516 (1753).

Type as above.

Acacia lebbeck (L.) Willd., Sp. PI. 4 : 1066 (1806);

DC., Prodr. 2 : 466 (1825). Type as above.

Tree to 15 m high with a rounded crown.

Bark grey to light brown, rough; young

branchlets glabrous or pubescent. Leaves

subglabrous, puberulous or pubescent:

petiole 4-8 cm long, usually with a raised

gland a short distance above the pulvinus;

rhachis (0)1 ,3-8(20) cm long, usually with a

gland just below the junction of the top

pinna pair; pinnae (1)2^(5) pairs; rhachillae

4-11(16) cm long, often with a small gland

below the junction of each leaflet pair; leaflets

3-9(1 Impairs, 15-45 X (6)8-24 mm, obliquely

oblong or elliptic-oblong (terminal leaflets ±

obovate), somewhat asymmetric with the

midrib nearer the upper margin, rounded or

somewhat emarginate apically, glabrous or

rarely thinly pubescent above, glabrous to

pubescent beneath. Inflorescences globose;

peduncles 4-8 cm long, sparingly puberulous

to pubescent. Flowers whitish, on pedicels

1,5^, 5 mm long; bracteoles 2-3 mm long,

rapidly deciduous. Calyx (2, 5)3, 5-5 mm

long, grey- to fulvous-pubescent. Corolla

5 . 5- 9 mm long, glabrous except for puberu-

lence towards the apices of the lobes. Stamens

1 .5- 2,5 cm long, united basally for ± 5 mm,

tube not or scarcely exserted beyond the

corolla. Ovary ± 2 mm long, glabrous. Pods

straw-coloured to light brown, (9)12-25(33) x

3-4,5 cm, oblong, valves coriaceous, glabrous

or almost so, glossy, ± venose, conspicuously

umbonate over the seeds, margins thickened,

very tardily dehiscent and often only after

falling to the ground. Seeds 7-11,5 x 7-9

mm, flattened.

Mimosoideae

23

Pantropical, probably a native of tropical Asia

and nowhere indigenous in Africa. Introduced into

our area and now naturalized along parts of the north

coast of Natal.

NATAL. — 2831 (Nkandla): Mtunzini, iVard 2996;

Lawn 2118. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Oakford Clinic,

Moll 3285. 2931 (Stanger): 3,2 km S. of Verulam,

Codd 9653; Gingindhlovu, Lawn 1863 (NH).

The stiff straw-coloured or light brown pods with

prominent bumps over the seeds are very characte-

ristic. When agitated by wind the mature pods, and

the seeds inside, are said to produce an incessant rattle

that, according to Brenan in F.Z. l.c. : 118, has been

likened to women’s chatter and the sound of fish being

fried.

The specific epithet is said to be derived from the

Arabian name “Labach” for the tree. The epithet

“lebbeck” has often been misspelt "lebbek".

A. lebbeck has in the past been confused in the

herbarium with A. tanganyicensis. The two species

have very different distributional ranges in our area,

and the morphological differences are discussed under

A. tanganyicensis. A. lebbeck bears a slight re-

semblance to A. suluensis, but the latter may be readily

distinguished by the crisped margins of the leaflets

and by the golden indumentum on the calyx and

corolla.

13. Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth. in

Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 3 : 89 (1844); in FI.

Austral. 2 : 422 (1864); in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 30 : 564 (1875); Bak. in Hook.f., FI.

Brit. Ind. 2 : 299 (1878); Brenan, Checklist

Tang. Terr. 342 (1949); Ross, FI. Natal 192

(1973). Type: India, Roxburgh (K, painting

of holotype material. No. 485!).

Mimosa procera Roxb., PI. Corom. 2 ; 12, t.l21

(1799); FI. Ind. 2 : 548 (1832). Type as above.

Acacia procera (Roxb.) Willd., Sp. PI. 4 ; 1063

(1806); DC., Prodr. 2 : 466 (1825); Wight & Arn.,

Prodr. FI. Ind. 1 : 275 (1834). Type as above.

Tree to 12 m high; bark smooth,

yellowish to grey ; young branchlets glabrous

or subglabrous. Leaves glabrous or sub-

glabrous to sparingly puberulous : petiole

5-8,5 cm long, with a large slightly raised

elongated gland up to 11 mm long situated a

short distance above the pulvinus; rhachis

3,5-13 cm long; pinnae 2-4 pairs; rhachillae

7-19(24) cm long; leaflets 5-11 pairs, 15-60

X 8-21 mm, obliquely oblong, elliptic-oblong

or obovate, apex obtuse or rounded, often

somewhat emarginate, upper surface very

sparingly appressed-pubescent, lower surface

paler, appressed-pubescent. Inflorescences

globose, in axillary or terminal panicles;

peduncles glabrous or sparingly puberulous.

Flowers whitish, sessile or almost so; bracteo-

les rapidly deciduous. Calyx 2-3 mm long,

glabrous or almost so. Corolla 4-6 mm long,

apices of lobes with a conspicuous tuft of

hairs. Stamens up to 1,5 cm long, united

basally, tube not or scarcely exserted beyond

the corolla. Ovary glabrous. Pods light to

dark brown, 8-16 x 1,5-2 cm, linear-

oblong, acuminate apically, glabrous or

almost so, obscurely venose, slightly um-

bonate over the seeds, longitudinally dehi-

scent. Seeds 6-8 x 5-6,5 mm, flattened.

A native of India. Introduced into our area and

now naturalized in parts of Natal.

NATAL.— 2931 (Stanger): 15,2 km S.E. of Mapu-

mulo, Codd 9654; Thring’s Post, Ward 3186.

A. procera bears a superficial resemblance to

A. lebbeck, but differs in having the midrib of the

leaflets ± centric, a panicled inflorescence, ± sessile

flowers, and much smaller pods.

14. Albizia lophantha {Willd.) Benth. in

Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 3 : 86 (1844); in FI.

Austral. 2 : 421 (1864); in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 30 : 559(1875);CoddinBothalia7 :81

(1958); Ross, FI. Natal 192 (1973). Type: It is

not known if the specimen on which Ventenat,

Desc. PI. Jard. Cels : 20, t.20, based his

description and illustration is preserved;

if not, t.20 will suffice as the type.

Acacia lophantha Willd., Sp. PI. 4 : 1070 (1806);

DC., Prodr. 2 : 457 (1825). Type as above.

Mimosa distachya Vent., Desc. PI. Jard. Cels : 20,

t.20 (1800 or 1801), non M. distachya Cav., Icon.

3(2) : 48, t.295 (1795 or 1796). Type as above.

Albizia distachya (Vent.) MacBride in Contr. Gray

Herb. 59 : 3 (1919); Salter in Adamson & Salter, FI.

Cape Penins. 452 (1950). Type as above.

Tree to 7 m high; young branchlets

usually ± golden-pubescent, becoming spar-

ingly pubescent to glabrescent with age.

Leaves ± golden-pubescent when young but

often becoming grey-pubescent with age :

petiole 4-7,5 cm long, a conspicuous elon-

gated gland usually situated ± midway along

the length of the petiole; rhachis 10-20 cm

long, usually with a gland just below the

junction of the top pinna pair; pinnae 7-12

pairs; rhachillae 5-14 cm long; leaflets 20-35

pairs, 7-13 x 1,75-3 mm, obliquely-

oblong or sometimes slightly falcate, the

midrib nearer the upper margin, apex obtuse

to rounded, mucronate, often turned towards

the apex of the pinna, glabrous or sparingly

pubescent, especially on the midrib. Inflore-

scences spicate; spikes axillary, solitary or

24

Mimosoideae

fascicled, 4-8 cm long; peduncles 0,8-1 ,5 cm

long, fulvo-pubescent. Flowers creamy to

yellowish-white, on pedicels 1-3 mm long.

Calyx 2-2,5 mm long, pubescent, con-

spicuously toothed. Corolla 5-7 mm long,

appressed-pubescent. Stamens 1,2- 1,6 cm

long, shortly united basally, tube not or

scarcely exserted beyond the corolla. Ovary ±

2,5 mm long, glabrous, shortly stipitate.

Pods light to dark brown, 5,5-11 x 1 ,4-1 ,7

cm, linear-oblong, glabrous or almost so,

obscurely venose, umbonate over the seeds,

margins thickened. Seeds ±7x5 mm,

flattened.

A native of the south-western coastal region of

Western Australia. Introduced into our area and now

naturalized, particularly in the Cape along the coast

from Humansdorp to the Cajje Peninsula.

NATAL. — Grid ref. unknown: south coast.

Wood 10538 (K, NH).

CAPE. — 3318 (Cape Town): Rondebosch, Gerstner

6135. 3418 (Simonstown) : Simonstown, Watt &

Brandwijk 1682\ Kogel Bay, Parker 4206 (BOL, K).

3421 (Riversdale) : Corente River farm, Muir sub

Galpin 5092. 3423 (Knysna) : Knysna, District Forest

Officer sub PRE 8707. 3424 (Humansdorp) : Humans-

dorp, Rogers 3021.

A. lophantha favours river banks, forest margins

and wooded ravines. It is the only species of Albizia in

our area with a spicate inflorescence.

3446 2. ACACIA

Acacia Mill., Gard. Diet, abridg. ed.4 (1754); Neck., Elem. Bot. 1297 : 458 (1790); Willd., Sp.

PI. 4 : 1049 (1806); Willd., Enum. 1049 (1809); DC., Prodr. 2 : 448 (1825); G. Don, Gen.

Syst. 2 : 401 (1832); Harv., Gen. PI. ed.l : 90 (1838); Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 1 : 318

(1842); Harv. in F.C. 2 ;279 (1862); Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. PI. 1 : 594 (1865); Harv., Gen. PI.

ed.2 : 92 (1868); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 337 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 444

(1875); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 108 (1891); Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 210 (1907); Sim, For.

FI. P.E. Afr. 54 (1909); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 344 (1915); Marloth, FI. S. Afr.

2 : 51 (1925); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 815 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 333 (1932);

Phill., Gen. 391 (1951); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 145 (1952); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 269

(1956); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed.2, 1 ; 496 (1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 49

(1959); Dale & Greenway, Kenya Trees & Shrubs 279 (1961); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 76

(1962); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 280 (1964); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 2 (1967); Brenan in F.Z.

3, 1 : 53 (1970); Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal 5 (1971). Type species: A. nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del.

Mimosa L., Sp. PI. 1 : 516 (1753) pro parte; Thunb., FI. Cap. ed. Schult. : 432 (1823).

Phyllodoce Link, Handb. ii : 132 (1831), non Salisb. (1806).

Vachellia Wight & Am., Prodr. FI. Ind. 272 (1834); Small in Bull. N.York Bot. Gard. 2 : 94 (1901); Britton

& Rose in N. Am. FI. 23 : 87 (1928).

Farnesia Gasparr., Desc. Nuov. Gen. (1838), non Heist, ex Fabr. (1763).

Faidherbia A. Chev. in Rev. Bot. Appl. Agric. Trop. 14 : 876 (1934); Aubrev., FI. Forest. Soudano-Guin.

280, t.51/3, t.53/6 (1950); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 169 (1952).

Trees or shrubs, sometimes scandent or climbing; the indigenous species in our area

almost always armed with stipular spines or recurved prickles, the introduced species usually

unarmed. Leaves bipinnate or (in some introduced species) often modified to phyllodes

(flattened leaf-like organs without pinnae or leaflets) ; each pinna with one to many pairs of

leaflets; gland on the upper side of the petiole usually present; glands also often present at

point of attachment of pinnae (at least some) to the rhachis. Inflorescences usually axillary,

racemose or paniculate; flowers in spikes or spiciform racemes (spicate) or in round heads

(capitate), rarely (in A. redacta) only 2-4 flowers per head, flowers all hermaphrodite or male

and hermaphrodite. Calyx (in our species) gamosepalous, usually with 4-5 teeth or lobes or

subtruncate. Corolla 4-5(7)-lobed. Stamens many, fertile, their filaments free or (in A. albida

and in A. redacta) shortly united into a tube at the base only; anthers (at least some) glandular

apically at least in bud, or all eglandular (in all indigenous species glandular except in A. albida.

Mimosoideae

25

introduced species mostly eglandular). Ovary stipitate to sessile, glabrous to puberulous.

Pods very variable, usually dehiscent but sometimes indehiscent, flattened, ±compressed, or

sometimes almost cylindric, straight, curved, spiral or contorted, margins entire or moniliform,

glabrous to pubescent. Seeds unwinged, exendospermous, often with a hard smooth testa.

A genus of 850-900 species, mostly tropical or subtropical; ± 620 in Australia, ± 115 in Africa, many in

America and fewer in Asia. 44 indigenous species occur in our area and several Australian species have ba:ome

naturalized.

The generic name Acacia is derived from the Greek word akis, meaning a sharp point.

In a few of our species the stipular spines are distinctly and characteristically swollen into structures

commonly known as ant-galls. There is evidence that these structures may not be galls at all, but natural out-

growths of the plant itself. The presence of these structures is certainly taxonomically important. Following

Brenan’s decision in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 49 (1959), I have retained the familiar term “ant-gall” but

have enclosed it in inverted commas. A new and more appropriate term may have to be devised.

The indigenous species of Acacia occurring in our area can be divided into groups and these ^oups form

the basis of the sequence in which the species are arranged here. The primary division of the species is on the

nature of the inflorescence, that is, whether the flowers are in spikes or in round heads. For use in a re^onal

flora this is a convenient character to employ for the primary division of the species into two main artificial

^oups, but, as discussed in Bothalia 11 : 107-113 (1973), when a more natural systematic division is sought

it is the nature of the stipules, that is, whether they are spinescent or non-spinescent, that must be employed

for separating the two main groups of species.

As Acacia is such an important genus in our area, and as many of the species seldom bear flowers and fully-

formed pods at the same time, three alternative keys to the identification of the indigenous species are provided.

The first key is a comprehensive one for use when flowering and fruiting (young fruits are often adequate)

material is available. ITie second key is for use when only flowering material is available, and the third is for

use when only fruiting material is present.

A few of the indigenous species often produce flowers when the plants are quite leafless. As difficulty may be

experienced in keying out leafless flowering specimens, it may help to know which species most regularly flower

when leafless. If the flowers are in elongate spikes (sometimes in short ellipsoid heads but even then the axis

is clearly elongate), and the plants are armed with paired recurved prickles, the specimen is probably A. mellifera,

A. nigrescens, A. galpinii or A. erubescens. If the flowers are in round heads and the plants are armed with

paired straight stipular spines or a mixture of long and straight and short and recurved spines, then the specimen

is probably A. tortilis, A. reficiens, A. hebeclada or A. stuhlmannii.

Leaves bipinnate; plants armed with stipular spines or with recurved prickles Indigenous species (below)

Leaves modified to phyllodes (entire, leaf-like flattened organs) or bipinnate but then plants unarmed ; stipular

spines and prickles absent (except in A. armata but then leaves phyllodic)

Naturalized and cultivated species (p. 39).

For convenience, A.farnesiana is keyed out under the indigenous species as it is more closely allied to some

of the indigenous species than it is to any of the naturalized Australian species.

Keys to the indigenous species

Key to the groups

Flowers in spikes or spiciform racemes, rarely the inflorescences short and ellipsoid but even then the axis

clearly elongate :

Stipules spinescent, straight or almost so A (sp.l)

Stipules not spinescent; plants armed with prickles:

Prickles irregularly scattered along the internodes B (sp.2)

Prickles at or near the nodes :

Prickles in threes or solitary C (sp.3)

Prickles in pairs :

Flowers distinctly pedicellate D (sp.4)

Flowers not distinctly pedicellate E (spp. 5-15)

Flowers in round heads, very rarely inflorescence reduced, apparently capitate and with only 2-4 flowers

per head :

Stipules not spinescent, plants armed with irregularly scattered recurved prickles F (spp. 16-18)

26

Mimosoideae

Stipules spinescent:

Inflorescences with ± 35-200 flowers per head :

Flowers bright or golden yellow:

Pods dehiscent G (spp. 19-26)

Pods indehiscent :

Valves of pod markedly thickened, woody or pulpy in texture H (spp. 27-30)

Valves of pod thin I (sp. 31)

Flowers white or pale yellowish- white, rarely pink:

Pods ± transversely jointed, each joint bearing a wart-like projection J (sp. 32)

Pods not transversely jointed, without wart-like projections:

Pods spirally coiled K (sp. 33)

Pods not spirally coiled :

Pods dehiscent L (spp. 34-40)

Pods tardily dehiscent or indehiscent M (spp. 41-43)

Inflorescences greatly reduced, 2-4 flowers per head N (sp. 44)

Comprehensive key

a Flowers in spikes or spiciform racemes; rarely (in A. mellifera subsp. detinens) the inflorescences short

and ellipsoid but even then the axis clearly elongated:

Stipules spinescent, straight or only slightly curved; petiolar gland absent; stamen filaments united

basally for ±1 mm; anthers eglandular even in bud; pods orange or chestnut- to reddish-brown,

falcate or curled into a circular coil or variously twisted \. A. albida

Stipules not spinescent, plants armed with recurved prickles; petiolar gland usually present; stamen

filaments free to the base; anthers glandular, at least in bud; pods not as above:

Prickles scattered irregularly along the internodes; stipules obliquely ovate, up to 12 x 7 mm; petiolar

gland stalked; ovary densely pilose, on a long stipe that elevates it above the corolla; pods reddish-

brown to purplish, usually distinctly acuminate at both ends, brittle; areole of seed a small central

depression 2. A. ataxacantha

Prickles confined to near the nodes, very rarely and in addition a few casually and irregularly scattered

along the internodes; stipulesi linear, smaller than above; petiolar gland not stalked; ovary and

pods not as above; areole horse-shoe shaped:

Prickles in threes, the two laterals curved upwards and the central one down, or else the prickles

solitary, the two laterals being absent 3. A. Senegal

Prickles in pairs near the nodes :

b Well developed leaves of mature shoots with 1-7 pinnae pairs :

Flowers shortly but distinctly pedicellate (pedicels (0,5) 0,75-1,5 mm long); inflorescence

ellipsoid to distinctly spicate; calyx cupular, 0,6-1 mm long, yellow, lob^ often with a

purplish tinge; leaflets 1-2(3) pairs per pinna; prickles of each pair often lying almost

parallel to each other A. A. mellifera

Flowers sessile or subsessile (pedicel 0-0,3 mm long); inflorescence distinctly spicate; calyx

1 ,5-3,5 mm long (except in A. galpinii where it is shorter but red or purplish); leaflets 3 or

more pairs per pinna (except in A. nigrescens); prickles spreading:

c Calyx glabrous, rarely with occasional scattered hairs:

Leaflets 1-2 (rarely 3) pairs per pinna, obovate or obliquely-obovate to broadly-elliptic or

orbicular, (7)12-50 mm wide; leaves with 2-3(4) pinnae pairs; trunk and larger

branches usually with scattered irregularly shaped knobs 8. A. nigrescens

Leaflets 3-35(45) pairs per pinna, 1-5 mm wide; leaves with 1-7 pinnae pairs:

Calyx cupular, 0,75-1,25 mm long, red or purplish; leaflets 12-35(45) pairs per pinna;

pods 2, 3-3, 5 cm wide 10. A. galpinii

Calyx 1 ,3-3,5 mm long, not red or purplish; leaflets 3-13 pairs per pinna; pods 1-2,4

cm wide:

Leaflets 3-8 pairs per pinna, elliptic, broadly elliptic or somewhat ovate, usually

broadest at or below the middle, 2,5-5 mm wide; young branchlets dark grey to

brownish-black; prickles strongly recurved; occurs in the eastern Transvaal

1. A. welwitschii

Mimosoideae

27

Leaflets (4)6-13 pairs per pinna, linear to linear-oblong or obovate, sometimes

slightly falcate, 0,9-3, 5(5) mm wide; young branchlets not as above; prickles

often spreading laterally and almost at right angles to the stem; confined to

S.W.A.;

Leaves with 1-2 pinnae pairs; pods 3, 5-6, 8 cm long, with a fine closely reticulate

venation; shrub with several erect slender branches which tend to droop

apically or a slender tree with whip-like branches; young branchlets white to

radish-brown or purple, often as though whitewashed over a purplish back-

ground 5. A. robynsianai

Leaves with (2)3-6 pinnae pairs; pods 7,6-18 cm long, inconspicuously venose or

venation coarse; slender tree branching from near the base, “broom-like”;

young branchlets olive- to reddish-brown, bark often papery 6. A. montis-ust

cc Calyx sparingly to densely puberulous:

Calyx cupular, 0,75-1,25 mm long, red or purplish; pods 2, 3-3, 5 cm wide. .10. A. galpinii

Calyx 1,3-4, 5 mm long, greenish-yellow to yellowish-white (sometimes with a distinct

pinkish tinge in A. burkei); pods 1-2,4 cm wide:

Leaflets (1)3-12 (rarely to 15) pairs per pinna, (1)2-13 mm wide, obovate, obovate-

oblong or oblanceolate to orbicular, seldom linear-oblong; bracts in very young

inflorescences projecting beyond the buds; calyx 1,3-2, 5 mm long, often tinged

with pink; stamen filaments 4-6 mm long; pods inconspicuously venose or venation

coarse 9. A. burkei

Leaflets (10)12-30 pairs per pinna, 0,75-1,6(2,5) mm wide, linear to linear-oblong,

straight or ± falcate; bracts not projecting beyond the buds; calyx 2-4,5 mm long,

greenish-yellow; stamen filaments 6-10 mm long; pods with a fine close reticulate

venation :

Petiole (0,8)1 ,2-2, 5(4) cm long; petiolar gland 0,3-0, 7(1) mm long, usually slightly

raised or stalked; leaflets often ± falcate, mostly 5-10 mm long; leaf-rhachis

usually with a gland at the junction of some of the pinnae pairs or the top pinna

pair only, occasionally eglandular; flowers sometimes produced before the leaves

15. A. erubescens

Petiole 0,3-1, 3 cm long; petiolar gland 0,8-2,2mmlong, flattened, elliptic or oval;

leaflets straight, mostly <5 mm long; leaf-rhachis eglandular; flowers produced

after or with the leaves 14. A. fleckii

bb Well developed leaves of mature shoots with 8 or more pinnae pairs :

Calyx cupular, 0,75-1,25 mm long, red or purplish; pods 2, 3-3, 5 cm wide 10. ^4. galpinii

Calyx 1 ,3-4,5 mm long, greenish-yellow to yellowish-white (sometimes with a distinct pinkish

tinge in A. burkei)] pods 1-2,4 cm wide:

Petiolar gland large, 1,5^ x 1,5-3 mm, usually slightly flattened, discoid or oblong; petiole

0,5-4 cm long; rhachis glandular between the top 3-16 pinnae pairs 11. A. polyacamha

Petiolar gland small to medium, 0,3-1 ,5 x 0, 1-0,7 mm, rarely up to 2,2 mm long but then

rhachis eglandular and petiole 0,3-1, 3 cm long:

Leaf-rhachis eglandular; petiolar gland 0,8-2, 2 mm long; petiole 0,3-1, 3 cm long

14. A. fleckii

Leaf-rhachis glandular, with a gland at the junction of the top pinna pair only or at the

junction of all or some of the pinna pairs; petiolar gland 0,3-1 ,5 mm long; petiole

0,4-4 cm long:

Leaflets 4-15 (rarely to 19) pairs per pinna, linear-oblong or obovate to obovate-oblong,

0,8-7 mm wide; pinnae 8-13 pairs per leaf; pods glabrous except sometimes near

margins and stipe, eglandular 9. A. burkei

Leaflets 16-64 pairs per pinna, linear to linear-oblong, 0,5-2, 3(3, 8) mm wide; pinnae

8-38 pairs per leaf; pods usually puberulous or pubescent, glandular:

Leaf-rhachis (2,7)5-15(23) cm long; pinnae >4 mm apart (rarely less), giving the leaf

an “open” appearance; leaflets 0,7-2, 3(3, 8) mm wide; pods 0,7-1 ,5 (rarely up

to 2,7) cm wide, margins usually entire 12. 4. caffra

Leaf-rhachis 1,7-6,5(10) cm long, pinnae <4 mm apart, giving the leaf a compact

appearance; leaflets 0, 5-1,1 mm wide; pods 1,2-2, 3 cm wide, margins often

irregularly constricted between the seeds 13. 4. hereroensis

28

Mimosoideae

aa Flowers in round heads; very rarely inflorescences greatly reduced, apparently capitate with only 2-4

flowers per head :

d Stipules not spinescent, plant armed with irregularly scattered recurved prickles :

Leaves with 1-6 pinnae pairs; leaflets 6-17 per pinna, the lowest pair very much reduced and bract-

like, leaflets large, 5-15(23) mm long, (2)3-6(8) mm wide \6. A. kraussiana

Leaves with 8-30 pinnae pairs ; leaflets 20-60 pairs per pinna, the lowest pair not reduced and bract-

like, leaflets much smaller, <5,5 mm long and <2 mm wide:

Leaflets 0,6-1, 2 mm wide, lower surface densely appressed-pubescent throughout or sometimes

on portion only, rarely leaflets entirely glabrous; petiole 0,5-3, 5 cm long; petiolar gland not

distinctly humped; young branchlets greyish-brown 17. A. brevispica

Leaflets 0,8-2 mm wide, glabrous apart from the appressed marginal cilia; petiole 2, 6-5, 5 cm

long; petiolar gland humped, usually situated immediately above the pulvinus; young branch-

lets olive-green to olive-brown 18. A. schweinfurthii

dd Stipules spinescent, in pairs at or near the nodes, spines either long and straight or short and strongly

recurved or hooked, “ant-galls” sometimes present:

Inflorescences greatly reduced, with 2-4 flowers per head; dwarf shrub; leaves with only 1 pinna pair

and 2-4 pairs of leaflets per pinna; pods 2, 6-3, 2 cm long, densely appressed grey-puberulous

44. A. redact a

Inflorescences with ± 35-200 flowers per head :

e Flowers bright- or golden-yellow:

Leaves bipinnate but the leaflets so tightly compressed laterally that the leaves appear simply

pinnate, each pinna resembling a single linear, crenulate, densely grey-puberulous leaflet;

leaflets 0,25-0,8 mm long, up to 0,5 mm wide; involucel apical; pods densely grey-velutinous

28. A. haematoxylon

Leaves bipinnate but leaflets larger than above and quite distinct from one another, not laterally

compressed as above :

/Involucel apical, rarely slightly below the capitulum; leaflets usually with the lateral nerves

visible and somewhat raised beneath, rounded apically, (7)9-25 pairs per pinna:

Midrib and lateral nerves of leaflets visible and somewhat raised beneath; foliage light or

dark green; leaflets 3-11 ,5 x 0,75-2,5 mm, glabrous throughout or with marginal cilia;

leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and peduncles glabrous or sometimes sparingly pubescent:

Petiole without a gland on the upper side, but leaf-rhachis with a gland at the junction of

each pinna pair; leaves and peduncles glabrous, seldom sparingly pubescent; spines

stout, usually fused basally and often swollen into enlarged “ant-galls” 1,5-2 x

2-2,5 cm, tapering apically; anthers glandular in bud; pods densely grey-velutinous

27. A. erioloba

Petiole with a small gland on the upper side; leaf-rhachis eglandular except for a gland

at the junction of the top pinna pair; leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and peduncles sparingly

pubescent; spines slender, never forming “ant-galls”; anthers eglandular even in

bud; pods glabrous, subterete 48. A. farnesiana

Midrib and lateral nerves of leaflets indistinct beneath; foliage greyish; leaflets 1-4 x

0,75-1,75 mm, sparingly to densely grey-puberulous; leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and

peduncles densely grey-puberulous; pods densely grey-velutinous

29. A. erioloba x A. haematoxylon

/f Involucel basal to over halfway up the peduncle, seldom up to Jths way up the peduncle

but then leaflets spinulose-mucronate apically; leaflets without raised lateral nerves beneath

(except in A. swazica which has (3)4-6(7) pairs of leaflets):

Bark on trunk and branches greenish-yellow or lemon, becoming powdery and flaking

minutely; bark of twigs soon becoming greenish-yellow; pods thin-valved, straight or

slightly curved, transversely segmented, segments mostly longer than wide

31. A. xanthophloea

Bark not greenish-yellow or lemon:

Leaflets glandular-punctate with conspicuous glands on the lower surface and on the

margins, the margins appearing crenulate-glandular; pods slightly to strongly falcate

or curled into an almost complete circle, glandular, viscid 25. A. borleae

Leaflets eglandular on the surface and margins, or at most with a few inconspicuous

glands on the margin near the apex:

Mimosoideae

29

Well developed leaves with 1 2-27 pinnae pairs (reduced leaves with as few as 8 pinnae

pairs sometimes also present); leaflets 20-44 pairs per pinna, up to 1 mm wide; bark

on trunk and branches usually corky; pods straight or slightly curved, 0,5-0, 8 cm

wide, eglandular 26. A. davyi

All leaves with less than 13 pinnae pairs; leaflets fewer than 20(25) pairs per pinna, up

to 5,5 mm wide; bark not corky; pods not as above:

g Leaflets (at least mostly) spinulose-mucronate apically; pinnae 1-7 pairs per leaf;

leaflets 3-10 pairs per pinna; pods yellowish to reddish-brown, up to 7,5(9) x

1 ,4 cm, valves thin, usually glandular, viscid; small shrubs or slender trees:

Young branchlets densely tomentose with spreading whitish hairs 0,75-2 mm long

24. A. permixta

Young branchlets glabrous or occasionally very sparingly pubescent but hairs not

more than 0 , 5 mm long :

Involucel at or near the base of the peduncle; leaves usually with only 1 pinna

pair, rarely 2-3 pairs 21. A. nebrownii

Involucel at or above the middle of the peduncle; leaves with (1)2-6 pinnae pairs:

Leaflets with lateral nerves conspicuous and somewhat raised on the lower

surface 22. A. swazica

Leaflets with lateral nerves inconspicuous on the lower surface :

Rhizomatous shrub 0,5-1, 2(2, 4) m high; leaflets 0,9-1, 5 mm wide, 3-9

pairs per pinna; spines slender, up to 1 , 5 mm in diameter basally ; pods±

densely glandular 20. A. tenuispina

Small tree or slender shrub, not rhizomatous; leaflets 1,5-4, 5 mm wide,

3-6 pairs per pinna; spines frequently enlarged and swollen basally;

bark peeling off in strips; pods eglandular or with few scattered glands

21. A. exuvialis

gg Leaflets not spinulose-mucronate apically; pinnae 2-13 pairs per leaf; leaflets

6-36 pairs per pinna; pods rarely glandular and viscid; robust shrubs or trees:

Young branchlets sparingly to densely pubescent, rarely subglabrous; leaflets

12-27(36) pairs per pinna, 0,5-1 ,5 mm wide, linear-oblong; peduncle sparingly

to densely pubescent; spines often deflexed; pods straight or almost so,

distinctly moniliform or jointed, each segment marked with a distinct raised

bump which corresponds to the seed inside, indehiscent, valves markedly

thickened, ± fleshy when young 30. A. nUotica

Young branchlets glabrous, rarely sparingly to densely pubescent; leaflets 6-15(22)

pairs per pinna, 1-5 mm wide, linear- to obovate-oblong; peduncle glabrous,

rarely densely pubescent ; pods slightly to strongly falcate, sometimes ± straight,

constricted between the seeds to ± moniliform but not jointed as above,

dehiscent, valves ± coriaceous 19. A. karroo

ee Flowers yellowish-white or cream, very rarely pale pink:

h Spines short and strongly recurved or hooked, often intermixed with some long straight spines

or some enlarged swollen “ant-galls”:

Pinnae 1-3(4) pairs per leaf; rhachides and rhachillae subglabrous or appressed-puberulous;

leaflets 5-13 pairs per pinna, margins entirely glabrous or occasionally cilia present but

then appress^; “ant-galls” and usually long straight spines absent; pods straight or

almost so, valves coriaceous 35. A. reficiens

Pinnae (3)5-13 pairs per leaf; rhachides and rhachillae with spreading hairs; leaflets 6-26 pairs

per pinna, margins glabrous or with spreading cilia; “ant-galls” or long straight spines

sometimes present; pods contorted or spirally twisted or ± straight:

Corolla tube 1,2-2 mm long; stamens up to 4,5 mm long; leaflets 1-4 x 0,6-1 mm; spines

slender, usually <1,5 mm in diameter basally; pods contorted or spirally twisted

33. A. tortilis

Corolla tube 1,8-3, 2 mm long; stamens up to 6,5 mm long; leaflets (l,5)2-5(7) x 0,5-

1,5(2) mm; spines usually 2-3 mm in diameter basally; “ant-galls” sometimes present;

pods straight or almost so:

Greatly enlarged swollen ashen or whitish (often purplish when young) “ant-galls” or

long straight spines often present; hairs on peduncle shorter than its diameter ,often ±

appressed; valves of pods coriaceous, not markedly thickened, subglabrous to finely

puberulous; pods pendulous; shrub or large tree 34. A. luederitzii

Mimosoideae

“Ant-galls” and usually long straight spines absent; hairs on peduncle equal to or exceeding

its diameter; valves of pods markedly thickened, woody, densely grey-tomentellous;

pods usually held erect, sometimes pendulous; low spreading shrub branching near

the ground or sometimes a tree 42. A. hebeclada

hh Spines straight or only slightly curved, never strongly recurved or hooked, long or short :

/ Leaves with 1-14 pinnae pairs :

Involucel apical or in upper half of the peduncle; young branchlets, leaves and peduncles

usually densely golden or greyish pubescent; bark yellowish-brown, usually papery and

peeling off; pod valves woody 41. A. sieberana

Involucel basal or in lower third of the peduncle, very seldom more than halfway up the

peduncle but then peduncle and leaves not densely pubescent; pod valves not woody:

/ Young branchlets glabrous or occasionally very sparingly puberulous:

Leaflets 0,5-1,25 mm wide; bark yellowish- or greyish-brown, flaking irreg^arly,

papery, often revealing a greenish inner layer; peduncles usually with conspicuous

sessile glands throughout; corolla usually pinkish-red; pods transversely seg-

mented, each segment with a wart-like projection in the centre 32. A. kirkii

Leaflets mostly 1,5-3, 5(8, 5) mm wide; bark not as above; peduncles eglandular or

glands present but inconspicuous; corolla not pinkish-red; pods not transversely

segmented and without wart-like projections :

Leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and peduncles sparingly to densely pubescent. .37. A. robusta

Leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and peduncles glabrous :

Peduncle 1,2-5, 4 cm long; calyx 1,6-3 mm long; corolla 3, 2-4, 2 mm long;

leaves usually with 3-5(7) pinnae pairs ; young branchlets thick and robust,

with well developed “cushions” at the nodes; spines typically not swollen;

pods straight to falcate, 1,2-2, 4(3) cm wide 31. A. robusta

Peduncle 1 ,2-2(2, 5) cm long; calyx up to 1 ,5 mm long; corolla up to 2,5 mm

long; leaves usually with 2-3(5) pinnae pairs; young branchlets slender,

“cushions” poorly developed; spines typically slightly swollen and fused

basally, pods usually falcate 0, 6-1,1 cm wide 3S. A. grandicornuta

jj Young branchlets sparingly to densely pubescent :

Young branchlets with dense spreading villous hairs 1 ,5-3 mm long, hairs golden when

young but becoming greyish-white with age; peduncle 0,6-1 ,2 cm long; pods with

dense spreading hairs 2-4 mm long; obconical shrub branching from the base;

inflorescences sometimes produced before the leaves 43. A. stuhlmannii

Hairs on young branchlets neither villous nor markedly golden, <1,5 mm long;

peduncle (0,5)1, 2-5, 2 cm long; pods glabrous to densely grey-puberulous or

-tomentellous, hairs <1,5 mm long:

Bark yellowish- or greyish-brown, flaking irregularly, papery, often revealing a

greenish inner layer; leaflets 0,5-1,25 mm wide; peduncles usually with con-

spicuous sessile glands throughout; corolla usually pinkish-red; pods transversely

segmented, each segment with a wart-like projection in the centre. . . .32. A. kirkii

Bark not as above; leaflets (0,75)0,9-3 mm wide; peduncles eglandular or glands

present but inconspicuous ; corolla not pinkish-red ; pods not as above :

Leaves with (2)4-14 pinnae pairs; rhachillae usually < 2,5 cm long; leaflets mostly

<1,5 mm wide; pods sparingly to densely grey-puberulous or -tomentellous,

pendulous or erect, straight or falcate:

Epidermis of young branchlets often splitting and peeling away to reveal a rusty

red inner layer; leaflets 12-26 pairs per pinna; pods falcate, pendulous, valves

rather thin; tree with an irregularly flattened crown, less frequently a shrub;

occurs in the Transvaal, Swaziland and Natal 36. A. gerrardii

Epidermis of young branchlets sometimes splitting but inner layer usually not

rusty-red; leaflets 7-18 pairs per pinna; pods straight or almost so, erect or

sometimes pendulous, valves thick, hard; low spreading shrub branching

near the ground or sometimes a tree; occurs in S.W.A., Transvaal, O.F.S.

and Cape 42. A. hebeclada

Leaves with 3-5 (rarely to 7) pinnae pairs; rhachillae usually 2,5-6 cm long;

leaflets (1,25)1,5-3,5 mm wide; pods glabrous, straight or falcate. .37. A. robusta

Well developed leaves with 15-44 pinnae pairs (reduced leaves with fewer pairs of pinnae

often also present) :

Mimosoideae

31

Involucel apical or in upper half of the peduncle:

Calyx short, up to 1,2 mm long, shorter than the projecting part of the corolla; flowers

white or pale pink; pods arcuate or falcate, 0,5-0, 8 cm wide, valves thin; young

branchlets sparingly to densely puberulous 39. A. arenaria

Calyx >1,5 mm long, longer than the projecting part of the corolla; flowers pale yellowish-

white; pods straight or almost so, 1,3-3, 3 cm wide, valves thick, ± woody; young

branchlets usually densely golden-pubescent A\. A. sieberana

Involucel basal or in lower half of the peduncle:

Leaflets 24—48 pairs per pinna, 1 ,2-2,8 x 0,4-0, 9 mm; pinnae 15-43 pairs per leaf; pods

glabrous to sparingly pubescent 40. A. rehmamiana

Leaflets 6-15 pairs per pinna, 2, 5-5, 5 X 0,6-1 ,5 mm; pinnae 15-19 pairs per leaf; pods

with dense spreading hairs 2-4 mm long 43. A. stuhlmannii

Key based on vegetative and floral characters

Flowers in spikes or spiciform racemes; rarely (in A. mellifera subsp. detinens) the inflorescences short

and ellipsoid but even then the axis clearly elongate:

Stipules spinescent, straight or only slightly curved; petiolar gland absent; rhachis with a gland at the

junction of each pinna pair; stamen filaments united basally for ± 1 mm; anthers eglandular even

in bud 1. A. albida

Stipules not spinescent, plants armed with recurved prickles; petiolar gland usually present; stamen

filaments free to the base; anthers glandular, at least in bud:

Prickles scattered irregularly along the intemodes; stipules obliquely ovate, up to 12 x 7 mm; petiolar

gland stalked ; ovary densely pilose, on a long stipe that elevates it above the corolla . .2. A. ataxacantha

Prickles confined to near the nodes, very rarely and in addition a few casually and irregularly scattered

along the intemodes; stipules ± linear, smaller than above; petiolar gland not stalked; ovary not

as above:

Prickles in threes, the two laterals curved upwards and the central one down, or else the prickles

solitary, the two laterals being absent 3. A. Senegal

Prickles in pairs near the nodes :

Flowers shortly but distinctly pedicellate (pedicels (0,5)0,75-1 ,5 mm long); inflorescence ellipsoid

to distinctly spicate; calyx cupular, 0^6-1 mm long, yellow, lobes often with a purplish tinge;

leaflets 1-2(3) pairs per pinna; prickles of each pair often lying almost parallel to each other

and not spreading 4. A. mellifera

Flowers sessile or subsessile (pedicels 0-0,3 mm long); Inflorescence distinctly spicate; calyx

1 ,5-3,5 mm long (except in A. galpinii where it is shorter but red or purplish); leaflets 3 or

more pairs per pinna (except in A. nigrescens); prickles spreading:

b Well developed leaves of mature shoots with 1-7 pinnae pairs:

c Calyx glabrous, rarely with occasional scattered hairs :

Leaflets 1-2 (rarely 3) pairs per pinna, obovate or obliquely-obovate to broadly-elliptic or

orbicular, (7)12-50 mm wide; leaves with 2-3(4) pinnae pairs; trunk and larger

branches usually with scattered irregularly shaped knobs 8. A. nigrescens

Leaflets 3-13 pairs per pinna, 1-5 mm wide; leaves with 1-6 pinnae pairs:

Leaflets 3-8 pairs per pinna, elliptic, broadly elliptic or somewhat ovate, usually broadest

at or below the middle, 2,5-5 mm wide; young branchlets dark grey- to brownish-

black; prickles strongly recurved; occurs in the eastern Transvaal. .. .7. A. welwitschii

Leaflets (4)6-13 pairs per pinna, linear to linear-oblong or obovate, sometimes slightly

falcate, 0,9-3, 5(5) mm wide; young branchlets not as above, prickles often spread-

ing laterally and almost at right angles to the stem; confined to S.W.A. :

Leaves with 1 or 2 pinnae pairs; shrub with several erect slender branches which tend

to droop apically or a slender tree with whip-like branches; young branchlets

white to reddish-brown or purple, often as though whitewashed over a purplish

background 5. A. robynsiana

Leaves with (2)3-6 pinnae pairs; slender tree branching from near the base, “broom-

like”; young branchlets olive- to reddish-brown; bark often papery. .6. A. montis-usti

cc Calyx sparingly to densely puberulous:

Calyx cupular, 0,75-1,25 mm long, red or purplish 10. A. galpinii

Calyx 1,3-4, 5 mm long, greenish-yellow to yellowish-white (sometimes with a distinct

pinkish tinge in A. burkei):

32

Mimosoideae

Leaflets (1)3-12 (rarely to 15) pairs per pinna, (1)2-13 mm wide, obovate, obovate-

oblong or oblanceolate to orbicular, seldom linear-oblong; bracts in very young

inflorescences projecting beyond the buds ; calyx 1 , 3-2,5 mm long, often tinged with

pink; stamen filaments 4-6 mm long 9. A. burkei

Leaflets (10)12-30 pairs per pinna, 0,75-1,6(2,5) mm wide, linear to linear-oblong,

often ± falcate; bracts not projecting beyond the buds; calyx 2-4,5 mm long,

greenish-yellow; stamen filaments 6-10 mm long:

Petiole (0,8)1 ,2-2, 5(4) cm long; petiolar gland 0,3-0, 7(1) mm long, usually slightly

raised or stalked; leaflets often ± falcate, mostly 5-10 mm long; le^-rhachis

usually glandular, with a gland at the junction of some of the pinnae pairs or the

top pinna pair only, occasionally eglandular; flowers sometimes produced before

the leaves 15. A. erubescens

Petiole 0,3-1 ,3 cm long; petiolar gland 0,8-2, 2 mm long, flattened, elliptic or oval;

leaflets straight, mostly <5 mm long; leaf-rhachis eglandular; flowers produced

after or with the leaves 14. A. fleckii

hb Well developed leaves of mature shoots with 8 or more pinnae pairs:

Calyx cupular, 0,75-1,25 mm long, red or purplish \0. A. galpinii

Calyx 1,3-4, 5 mm long, greenish-yellow to yellowish-white (sometimes with a distinct

pinkish tinge in A. burkei):

Petiolar gland large, 1,5-4 x 1,5-3 mm, usually slightly flattened, discoid or oblong;

petiole 0 , 5-4 cm long ; rhachis glandular between the top 3-1 6 pinnae pairs

11. A. polyacantha

Petiolar gland small to medium, 0,3-1, 5 x 0,1-0, 7 mm, rarely up to 2,2 mm long but

then rhachis eglandular and petiole 0,3-1, 3 cm long:

Leaf-rhachis eglandular; petiolar gland 0,8-2, 2 mm long; petiole 0,3-1, 3 cm long

14. A. fleckii

Leaf-rhachis glandular, with a gland at the junction of the top pinna pair only or at the

junction of all or some of the pinna pairs; petiolar gland 0,3-1 ,5 mm long; petiole

0,4-4 cm long:

Leaflets 4-15 (rarely to 19) pairs per pinna, linear-oblong or obovate to obovate-

oblong, 0,8-7 mm wide; pinnae 8-13 pairs per leaf 9. A. burkei

Leaflets 16-64 pairs per pinna, linear to linear-oblong, 0,5-2, 3(3, 8) mm wide; pinnae

8-38 pairs per leaf:

Leaf-rhachis (2,7)5-15(23) cm long; pinnae >4 mm apart (rarely less), giving the

leaf an “open” appearance; leaflets 0,7-2, 3(3, 8) mm wide 12. A. caffra

Leaf-rhachis 1 ,7-6,5(10) cm long; pinnae <4 mm apart, giving the leaf a compact

appearance; leaflets 0, 5-1,1 mm wide 13. A. hereroensis

aa Flowers in round heads or very rarely inflorescences greatly reduced, apparently capitate with only 2-4

flowers per head :

d Stipules not spinescent, plant armed with irregularly scattered recurved prickles :

Leaves with 1-6 pinnae pairs; leaflets 6-17 pairs per pinna, the lowest pair very much reduced and

bract-like, leaflets large, 5-15(23) mm long, (2)3-6(8) mm wide 16. ^4. kraussiam

Leaves with 8-30 pinnae pairs; leaflets 20-60 pairs per pinna, the lowest pair not reduced and bract-

like, leaflets much smaller, <5,5 mm long and <2 mm wide:

Leaflets 0,6-1, 2 mm wide, lower surface densely appressed-pubescent throughout or sometimes

on portion only, rarely leaflets entirely glabrous; petiole 0,5-3, 5 cm long; petiolar gland not

distinctly humped; young branchlets greyish-brown 17. A. brevispica

Leaflets 0,8-2 mm wide, glabrous apart from the appressed marginal cilia; petiole 2, 6-5, 5 cm

long; petiolar gland humped, usually situated immediately above the pulvinus; young branch-

lets olive-green to olive-brown 18. A. schweinfurthii

dd Stipules spinescent, in pairs at or near the nodes, spines either long and straight or short and strongly

recurved or hooked, “ant-galls” sometimes present:

Inflorescences greatly reduced, with 2-4 flowers per head; dwarf shrub; leaves with only 1 pinna pair

and 2-4 pairs of leaflets per pinna 44. A. redacta

Mimosoideae

33

Inflorescences with ± 35-200 flowers per head :

e Flowers bright- or golden-yellow :

Leaves bipinnate but the leaflets so tightly compressed laterally that the leaves appear simply

pinnate, each pinna resembling a single linear, crenulate, densely grey-puberulous leaflet;

leaflets 0,25-0,8 mm long, up to 0,5 mm wide; involucel apical 28. A. haematoxylon

Leaves bipinnate but the leaflets larger than above and quite distinct from one another, not

laterally compressed as above:

/Involucel apical, rarely slightly below the capitulum; leaflets usually with the lateral nerves

visible and somewhat raised beneath, rounded apically, (7)9-25 pairs per pinna:

Midrib and lateral nerves of leaflets visible and somewhat raised beneath; foliage light or

dark green; leaflets 3-11,5 x 0,75-2,5 mm, glabrous throughout or with marginal

cilia; leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and peduncles glabrous or sometimes sparingly pubescent :

Petiole without a gland on the upper side, but leaf-rhachis with a gland at the junction of

each pinna pair; leaves and peduncles glabrous, seldom sparingly pubescent; leaflets

4-11,5 X 0,7-2, 4 mm; spines stout, usually fused basally and often swollen into

enlarged “ant-galls” 1,5-2 x 2-2,5 cm, tapering apically; anthers glandular in bud

27. A. erioloba

Petiole with a small gland on the upper side; leaf-rhachis eglandular except for a gland at

the junction of the upper pinna pair; leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and peduncles sparingly

pubescent; leaflets 3-7 x 0,75-1,75 mm; spines slender, never forming “ant-galls”

anthers eglandular even in bud 48. A. farnesiana

Midriband lateral nerves of leaflets indistinct beneath; foliage greyish; leaflets 1-4 x 0,4-1 ,1

mm, sparingly to densely grey-puberulous; leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and peduncles

densely grey-puberulous 29. A. erioloba x A. haematoxylon

/f Involucel basal to over halfway up the peduncle, seldom up to 4/5ths way up the peduncle

but then the leaflets spinulose-mucronate apically; leaflets without raised lateral nerves

beneath (except in A. swazica which has (3)4-6(7) pairs of leaflets):

Bark on trunk and branches greenish-yellow or lemon, becoming powdery and flaking

minutely 31. A. xanthophloea

Bark not greenish-yellow or lemon ;

Leaflets glandular-punctate with conspicuous glands on the lower surface and on the

margins, the margins appearing crenulate-glandular 25. A. borleae

Leaflets eglandular on the surface and margins, or at most with a few inconspicuous glands

on the margin near the apex:

Well developed leaves with 12-27 pinnae pairs (reduced leaves with as few as 8 pinnae

pairs sometimes also present); leaflets 20-44 pairs per pinna, linear, up to 1 mm

wide; bark on trunk and branches usually corky 26. A. davyi

All leaves with less than 13 pinnae pairs; leaflets fewer than 25 pairs per pinna, up to 5,5

mm wide; bark not corky:

g Leaflets (at least mostly) spinulose-mucronate apically; pinnae 1-7 pairs per leaf;

leaflets 3-10 pairs per pinna; young branchlets often glutinous; small shrubs or

slender trees :

Young branchlets densely tomentose with spreading whitish hairs 0,75-2 mm

long 24. A. permixta

Young branchlets glabrous or occasionally very sparingly pubescent but hairs not

more than 0,5 mm long:

Involucel at or near the base of the peduncle; leaves usually with only 1 pinna

pair, rarely 2-3 pairs 22. A. nebrownii

Involucel at or above the middle of the peduncle; leaves with (1)2-6 pinnae

pairs:

Leaflets with lateral nerves conspicuous and somewhat raised on the lower

surface 22. A. swazica

Leaflets with lateral nerves inconspicuous on the lower surface:

Rhizomatous shrub 0,5-1, 2(2, 4) m high; leaflets 0,9-1, 5 mm wide, 3-9

pairs per pinna; spines slender, up to 1,5 mm in diameter basally

20. A. tenuispina

Small tree or slender shrub, not rhizomatous; leaflets 1 ,5-4,5 mm wide, 3-6

pairs per pinna; spines frequently enlarged and swollen basally; bark

peeling off in strips 2\. A. exuvialis

34

Mimosoideae

gg Leaflets not spinulose-mucronate apically; pinnae 2-13 pairs per leaf; leaflets 6-36

pairs per pinna; young branchlets not glutinous; robust shrubs or trees:

Young branchlets sparingly to densely pubescent, rarely subglabrous; leaflets

12-27(36) pairs per pinna, 0,5-1, 5 mm wide, linear-oblong; inflorescences

solitary or fascicled, usually terminal ; peduncle sparingly to densely pubescent ;

spines often deflexed; tree, usually with a somewhat flattened crown 30. A. nilotica

Young branchlets glabrous, rarely sparingly to densely pubescent; leaflets 6-15(22)

pairs per pinna, 1-5 mm wide, linear- to obovate-oblong; inflorescences fasci-

cled, sometimes forming a terminal raceme or panicle; peduncle glabrous,

rarely densely pubescent; shrub or tree, variable in habit 19. A. karroo

ee Flowers yellowish-white or cream, very rarely pale pink:

h Spines short and strongly recurved or hooked, often intermixed with some long straight spines

or some enlarged swollen “ant-galls”:

Pinnae 1-3(4) pairs per leaf; rhachides and rhachillae subglabrous or appressed-puberulous ;

leaflets 5-13 pairs per pinna, margins entirely glabrous or occasionally cilia present but

then appressed; “ant-galls” and usually long straight spines absent 35. A. reficiens

Pinnae (3)5-13 pairs per leaf; rhachides and rhachillae with spreading hairs; leaflets 6-26 pairs

per pinna, margins glabrous or with spreading cilia; “ant-galls” or long straight spines

sometimes present :

Corolla tube 1,2-2 mm long; stamens up to 4,5 mm long; leaf-rhachides 0,2-1 ,8 cm long;

rhachillae 0,3-1 ,4 cm long; leaflets 1-4 x 0,6-1 mm; spines slender, usually <1,5 mm

in diameter basally; “ant-galls” absent 33. A. tortilis

Corolla tube 1,8-3, 2 cm long; stamens up to 6,5 cm long; leaf-rhachides 1-4,2 cm long;

rhachillae 0,8-2, 8 cm long; leaflets (1 ,5)2-5(7) x 0,5-1 ,5(2) mm; spines usually 2-3 mm

in diameter basally; “ant-galls” sometimes present:

Greatly enlarged, swollen, ashen or whitish (often purplish when young) “ant-galls” or

long straight spines often present; hairs on the peduncle shorter than its diameter,

often ± appressed; shrub or large tree 34. A. luederitzH

“Ant-galls” and usually long straight spines absent; hairs on the peduncle equal to or

exceeding its diameter; low spreading shrub branching near the ground or sometimes

a tree 42. A. hebeclada

hh Spines straight or only slightly curved, never strongly recurved or hooked, long or short:

/Leaves with 1-14 pinnae pairs:

Involucel apical or in upper half of the peduncle; young branchlets, leaves and peduncles

usually densely golden or greyish pubescent; bark yellowish-brown, usually papery

and peeling off 4\. A. sieberana

Involucel basal or in lower third of the peduncle, very seldom more than halfway up the

peduncle but then peduncle and leaves not densely pubescent :

j Young branchlets glabrous or occasionally very sparingly puberulous:

Leaflets 0,5-1,25 mm wide; bark yellowish- or greyish-brown, flaking irregularly,

papery, often revealing a greenish inner layer; peduncles usually with conspicuous

sessile glands throughout; corolla usually pinkish-red 32. A. kirkii

Leaflets mostly 1,5-3, 5(8, 5) mm wide; bark not as above; peduncles eglandular or

glands present but inconspicuous; corolla not pinkish-red:

Leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and peduncles sparingly to densely pubescent. .37. A. robusta

Leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and peduncles glabrous:

Peduncle 1,2-5, 4 cm long; calyx 1,6-3 mm long; corolla 3, 2-4, 2 mm long;

leaves usually with 3-5(7) pinnae pairs; young branchlets thick and robust,

with well developed “cushions” at the nodes; spines typically not swollen

37. A. robusta

Peduncle 1 ,2-2(2, 5) cm long; calyx up to 1 ,5 mm long; corolla up to 2,5 mm long;

leaves usually with 2-3(5) pinnae pairs; young branchlets slender, “cushions”

poorly developed; spines typically slightly swollen and fused basally

38. A. grandicornuta

jj Young branchlets sparingly to densely pubescent:

Young branchlets with dense spreading villous hairs 1,5-3 mm long; hairs golden when

young but becoming greyish-white with age; peduncle 0,6-1 ,2 cm long; obconical

shrub branching from the base; leaflets 9-14 pairs per pinna; inflorescences some-

times produced before the leaves 43. zl. stuhlmannii

Mimosoideae

35

Hairs on young branchlets neither villous nor markedly golden, <1,5 mm long;

peduncle (0,5)1 ,2-5,2 cm long:

Bark yellowish-brown or greyish-brown, flaking irregularly, papery, often revealing a

greenish inner layer; leaflets 0,5-1,25 mm wide; peduncles usually with con-

spicuous sessile glands throughout; corolla usually pinkish-red 32. A. kirki

Bark not as above; leaflets (0,75)1-3,5 mm wide; peduncles eglandular or glands

present but inconspicuous; corolla not pinkish-red:

Leaves with (2)4-14 pinnae pairs; rhachillae usually <2,5 cm long; leaflets mostly

<1,5 mm wide; tree up to 10 m high or a shrub:

Epidermis of young branchlets often splitting and p>eeling away to reveal a

rusty-red inner layer; leaflets 12-26 pairs per pinna; tree with an irregularly

flattened crown, less frequently a shrub; occurs in the Transvaal, Swaziland

and Natal 36. A. gerrardii

Epidermis of young branchlets sometimes splitting but inner layer usually not

rusty-red; leaflets 7-18 pairs per pinna; low spreading shrub branching near

the ground or sometimes a tree; spines often slightly recurved apically;

occurs in S.W.A., Transvaal, O.F.S. and Cape 42. A. hebeclada

Leaves with 3-5 (rarely to 7) pinnae pairs; rhachillae usually 2-5,6 cm long; leaflets

(1 ,25)1,5-3,5 mm wide; tree to 20 m high with ascending branches. .37. A. robusta

a Well developed leaves with 15-44 pinnae pairs (reduced leaves with fewer pairs of pinnae

often also present):

Involucel apical or in upper half of the peduncle:

Calyx short, up to 1,2 mm long, shorter than the projecting part of the corolla; flowers

white or pale pink; young branchlets sparingly to densely puberulous. . . .39. A. arenarla

Calyx >1,5 mm long, longer than the projecting part of the corolla; flowers pale yellowish-

white; young branchlets usually densely golden-pubescent 41. A. sieberana

Involucel basal or in lower half of the peduncle:

Leaflets 24-48 pairs per pinna, 1,2-2, 8 x 0,4-0, 9 mm; pinnae 15-43 pairs per leaf; tree

or shrub 40. A. rehmanniana

Leaflets 6-15 pairs per pinna, 2, 5-5, 5 x 0,6-1, 5 mm; pinnae 15-19 pairs per leaf;

obconical shrub 43. A. stuhlmannii

Key based on vegetative and pod characters

a Stipules not spinescent, plants armed with recurved prickles:

b Prickles irregularly scattered along the internodes:

Leaves with 1-6 pinnae pairs; leaflets 6-17 pairs per pinna, the lowest pair very much reduced and

bract-like, leaflets large, 5-15(23) mm long, (2)3-6(8) mm wide; pods tardily dehiscent or indehi-

scent 16. A. kraussiana

Leaves with 8-30 pinnae pairs; leaflets 20-60 pairs per pinna, the lowest pair not reduced and bract-

like, leaflets much smaller, <5,5 mm long and <2 mm wide:

Pods reddish-brown to purplish, usually distinctly acuminate at both ends, brittle; areole of seed

a small central depression; stipules obliquely ovate, up to 12 mm long and 7 mm wide; petiolar

gland stalked 2. A. ataxacantha

Pods not as above; areole large, elliptic, conforming to the outline of the seed; stipules linear-oblong,

up to 5 X 2 mm; petiolar gland not stalked:

Leaflets 0,6-|-l,2 mm wide, lower surface densely appressed-pubescent throughout or sometimes

on portion only, rarely leaflets entirely glabrous; petiole 0,5-3, 5 cm long; petiolar gland not

distinctly humped; young branchlets greyish-brown; pods usually densely puberulous and

with numerous minute reddish glands, longitudinally dehiscent 17. A. brevispica

Leaflets 0,8-2 mm wide, glabrous apart from the appressed marginal cilia; petiole 2, 6-5, 5 cm

long; petiolar gland humped, usually situated immediately above the pulvinus; young

branchlets olive-green to olive-brown; pods glabrous, with minute glands, tardily dehiscent

or indehiscent 18. A. schweinfurthii

bb Prickles confined to near the nodes, very rarely and in addition a few casually and irregularly scattered

along the internodes:

Prickles in threes, the two laterals curved upwards and the central one down, or else the prickles

solitary, the two laterals being absent 1. A. senega!

36

Mimosoideae

Prickles in pairs near the nodes:

c Well developed leaves with 1-7 pinnae pairs:

d Leaflets 1-2 (rarely 3) pairs per pinna:

Pods olive- to yellowish-brown, 2, 5-8(9, 3) cm long, valves somewhat papery, with a con-

spicuous closely reticulate venation; prickles of each pair often lying almost parallel to

each other and not spreading; obconical shrub or small tree 4. A. mellifera

Pods dark brown or reddish-brown to blackish, (4)6-18 cm long, valves not papery, without a

closely reticulate venation; prickles spreading; usually a fairly large tree:

Leaflets >5,5 mm wide, asymmetric basally, obovate, obovate-orbicular to broadly obovate-

elliptic, usually sparingly to densely appressed-pubescent above and/or below:

Leaves with 2-3(4) pinnae pairs; leaflets (7)12-50 mm wide; remnant of calyx glabrous;

trunk and larger branches usually with scattered irregularly shaped knobs 8. A. nigrescens

Leaves with 2-7 pinnae pairs; leaflets 5,5-13 mm wide; remnant of calyx sparingly to

densely pubescent; trunk and large branches usually without knobs 9. A. burkei

Leaflets 2,5-5 mm wide, almost symmetric basally except for the terminal ones, elliptic or

broadly elliptic, sometimes somewhat ovate, usually glabrous throughout. .1. A. welwitschii

dd Leaflets 4-45 pairs per pinna:

Pods with a fine closely reticulate venation, yellowish-brown or brown, up to 1 , 8 cm wide

(rarely wider) and up to 13,5 cm long:

Leaves with 1 or 2 pinnae pairs; leaflets 1,2-2, 8(3, 5) mm wide; low shrub with several

slender erect branches which tend to droop apically or a slender tree; young branchlets

white to reddish-brown or purple, often as though whitewashed over a purplish back-

ground 5. A. robynsiana

Leaves with 3-7 pinnae pairs; leaflets 0,75-2(2,8) mm wide; much branched shrub or tree:

Petiole (0,8)1 ,2-2, 5(4) cm long; petiolar gland 0,3-0, 7(1) mm long, usually slightly raised

or stalked; leaflets often ± falcate, mostly 5-10 mm long; leaf-rhachis usually with a

gland at the junction of some of the pinnae pairs or the top pinna pair only, occasio-

nally eglandular 15. A. erubescens

Petiole 0,3-1, 3 cm long; petiolar gland 0,8-2, 2 mm long, flattened, elliptic or oval;

leaflets straight, mostly <5 mm long; leaf-rhachis eglandular 14. A. fleckii

Pods without a fine close reticulate venation, inconspicuously venose or venation coarse,

olive- or reddish- to purplish-brown or blackish, 1-3,5 cm wide and up to 28 cm long:

Pods 2, 3-3, 5 cm wide, 11,5-28 cm long, reddish to purplish-brown when mature, valves

thinly woody, brittle; leaflets 13^5 pairs per pinna \0. A. galpinii

Pods 1-2,4 cm wide, up to 11(16,9) cm long, brown or reddish-brown to blackish; leaflets

4-13(15) pairs per pinna:

Leaf-rhachides and rhachillae with spreading hairs; leaflets usually with marginal cilia

and often appressed-pubescent beneath, typically with a basal tuft of hairs to one side

of the midrib; leaflets 2-13 mm wide 9. A. burkei

Leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and leaflets glabrous throughout; leaflets 0,9-5 mm wide:

Leaflets 2,5-5 mm wide; elliptic or broadly elliptic, sometimes somewhat ovate; prickles

strongly recurved ; young branchlets dark grey or reddish-brown to blackish ; usually

a fairly large tree with a rounded or spreading crown; confined (in our area) to the

eastern Transvaal 7. A. welwitschii

Leaflets 0, 9-3(5) mm wide, linear-oblong to obovate, sometimes slightly falcate; prickles

± straight or very slightly curved, spreading laterally and almost at right angles to

the stem; young branchlets pale olive- to reddish-brown; slender tree branching

from near the base, “broom-like”; confined to S.W.A 6. A. montis-usti

cc Well developed leaves with 8 or more pinnae pairs:

Pods 2, 3-3, 5 cm wide, reddish- to purplish-brown when mature, valves thinly woody, brittle,

glabrous 10. A. galpinii

Pods 0,7-2, 2 cm wide (very rarely to 2,7 cm wide), yellowish-brown, brown or reddish-brown

to blackish :

Petiolar gland large, 1,5-4 x 1,5-3 mm, usually slightly flattened, discoid or oblong; petiole

0,5-4 cm long; rhachis with a gland at the junction of the top 3-16 pinnae pairs

11.4. polyacantha

Petiolar gland small to medium, 0,3-1, 5 x 0, 1-0,7 mm, rarely up to 2,2 mm long but then

rhachis eglandular and petiole 0,3-1, 3 cm long:

Mimosoideae

37

Leaf-rhachis eglandular; petiolar gland 0,8-2, 2 mm long; petiole 0,3-1, 3 cm long; pods

yellowish-brown or brown, with a fine closely reticulate venation 14. A.fleckii

Leaf-rhachis glandular, with a gland at the junction of each pinna pair, at the junction of

some or the top pinna pair only; petiolar gland 0,3-1, 5 mm long; petiole 0,4-4 cm

long:

Leaflets 4-15 (rarely up to 19) pairs per pinna; pinnae 8-13 pairs per leaf; leaflets linear-

oblong to obovate or obovate-oblong, 0,8-7 mm wide; pods dark brown or reddish-

brown to blackish, glabrous or almost so 9. A. burkei

Leaflets 18-64 pairs per pinna; pinnae 8-38 pairs per leaf; leaflets linear to linear-oblong,

0,5-2, 3(3, 8) mm wide; pods brown or olive-brown, usually puberulous, glandular;

Leaf-rhachis (2,7)5-15(23) cm long; pinnae >4 mm apart (rarely less), giving the leaf an

“open” appearance ; leaflets 0 , 7-2 , 3(3 , 8) mm wide ; pods 0 , 7-1 , 5 (rarely up to 2 , 7)

cm wide, margins usually entire 12. A. caffra

Leaf-rhachis 1,7-6,5(10) cm long; pinnae <4 mm apart, giving the leaf a compact

appearance; leaflets 0, 5-1,1 mm wide; pods 1,2-2, 3 cm wide, margins often

irregularly constricted between the seeds 13. 4. hereroensis

aa Stipules spinescent, spines in pairs at or near the nodes :

e Spines short and strongly recurved or hooked, usually intermixed with some long straight spines or

some enlarged swollen “ant-galls”:

Pods contorted or spirally twisted 33. 4. tortilis

Pods straight or almost so, not contorted or spirally twisted:

Valves of pods coriaceous, not markedly thickened, brown or reddish-brown, subglabrous to

finely puberulous, with fine longitudinal venation, dehiscent; pods pendulous:

Pods 0,9-1, 9 cm wide; pinnae (3)5-13 pairs per leaf; rhachides and rhachillae with spreading

hairs; leaflets 7-26 pairs per pinna, margins usually with spreading cilia; “ant-galls” sometimes

present 34. A. luederitzii

Pods 0, 6-1,1 cm wide; pinnae 1-3(4) pairs per leaf; rhachides and rhachillae sub^abrous to

appressed-puberulous ; leaflets 5-13 pairs per piima, margins glabrous, seldom cilia present

but then appressed; “ant-galls” absent 35. A. reficiens

Valves of pods markedly thickened, woody, yellowish- or greyish-brown, densely grey-tomentellous,

tardily dehiscent; pods usually held erect, sometimes pendulous 42. 4. hebeclada

ee Spines straight or only slightly curved, never strongly recurved or hooked, long or short:

Pods indehiscent and thin-valved (except sometimes for tubercles in the centre of the segments),

jointed and breaking up transversely, ± transversely or net-veined, glabrous except usually for

sessile glands ; bark on trunk usually yellow to green, sometimes grey or brown, powdery or papery

and peeling:

Segments of pods not tubercled, mostly longer than wide; bark on trunk and branches lemon-

coloured or greenish-yellow, becoming powdery and flaking minutely; bark of twigs soon

becoming greenish-yellow 31. A. xanthophloea

Segments of pods with a wart-like projection up to 4,5 mm high in the centre, mostly as wide as or

wider than long; bark on trunk grey or yellowish-brown, sometimes flaking to reveal a greenish

inner layer; bark of twigs grey-brown to plum-coloured 32. A. kirkii

Pods dehiscent or indehiscent, if indehiscent then the valves markedly thickened, woody or pulpy in

texture, not venose and glandular as above;

/Valves of pods markedly thickened, woody or pulpy in texture, pods indehiscent or slowly dehiscent:

Pods orange or chestnut- to reddish-brown, falcate or curled into a circular coil or variously

twisted, 1,4-4, 5 cm wide; petiolar gland absent; rhachis with a conspicuous gland at the

point of attachment of each pinna pair 1. A. albida

Pods not as above; petiolar gland usually present:

Pods distinctly monijiform or jointed, often irregularly so, each segment marked with a distinct

raised bump which corresponds to the seed inside, green when young, drying and becoming

black with age, straight or almost so 30. 4. nilotica

Pods not as above:

Pods glabrous or very sparingly pubescent :

Pods glabrous or very sparingly pubescent, flattened to oval in cross-section, 1 , 5-3 , 5 cm

wide, yellowish- or reddish-brown, not longitudinally striate; young branchlets

usually densely pubescent 41. A. sieberana

Pods glabrous, subterete and turgid, 0,9-1 ,5 cm in diameter, dark brown to blackish,

finely longitudinally striate; young branchlets glabrous or nearly so 48. A. farnesiana

38

Mimosoideae

Pods ± densely puberulous, pubescent, tomentellous or villous;

g Indumentum on pods short, the hairs < 1 mm long:

h Pods densely and continuously grey-tomentellous, often with numerous minute

reddish-brown glands scattered in amongst the hairs:

Pods falcate, semi-lunate, suborbicular or curled into an almost complete circle,

rarely straightish, usually persistently greyish, indehiscent, pendulous;

Leaves bipinnate but the leaflets so tightly compressed laterally that the leaves

appear simply pinnate, each pinna resembling a single linear, crenulate,

densely grey-puberulous leaflet; leaflets 0,25-0,8 mm long, up to 0,5 mm

wide; pods 0,6-1 ,4 cm wide 28. A. haematoxylon

Leaves bipinnate but the leaflets larger than above and quite distinct from one

another, not laterally compressed as above :

Pods (1 ,8)2, 5-5 cm wide; foliage dark green; pinnae 1-6 pairs per leaf; leaflets

4-11,5 mm long, glabrous or subglabrous, midrib and lateral nerves

visible and somewhat raised beneath; spines stout, usually fused basally

and often swollen into an enlarged “ant-gall” 1 ,5-2 x 2-2,5 cm, tapering

apically 27. A. erioloba

Pods 1,2-2, 3 cm wide; foliage greyish; pinnae 3-12 pairs per leaf; leaflets

1-4 mm long, sparingly to densely puberulous, midrib and lateral nerves

indistinct beneath; spines slender, “anf-galls” absent

29. A. erioloba x A. haematoxylon

Pods straight or almost so, yellowish-brown or brown, ultimately dehiscent, erect

or occasionally pendulous 42. /4. hebeclada

hh Pods not densely and continuously grey-tomentellous :

Pods pendulous, without longitudinal nervation ; indumentum on young branchlets,

leaves and pods usually golden; pinnae (4)8-30 pairs per leaf; leaflets 13-45

pairs per pinna; tree to 20 m high; bark usually yellowish-ljrown, papery

and peeling 41. A. sieberana

Pods erect or occasionally pendulous, often conspicuously longitudinally nerved;

indumentum not golden; pinnae (1)4-9(12) pairs per leaf; leaflets 7-18 pairs

per pinna; low spreading shrub branching near the ground and often forming

thickets, or a small tree; bark not as above 42. A. hebeclada

gg Indumentum on pods long, the hairs spreading, 2-4 mm long; indumentum on

branchlets spreading, golden, becoming greyish with age; obconical shrub to 3 m. . .

43. A. stuhlmannii

/f Valves of pods membranous to subcoriaceous or coriaceous, not markedly thickened, dehiscent:

I Well developed leaves of mature shoots with 13-45 pinnae pairs:

Leaflets glandular-punctate, with conspicuous glands on the lower surface and on the margins,

the margins appearing crenulate-glandular; pods ± falcate or curled into an almost com-

plete circle, ± moniliform and constricted between the seeds, glandular, viscid. .25. A. borleae

Leaflets not glandular-punctate; pods not as above:

Pods 0,5-0, 8 cm wide, straightish to falcate; young branchlets glabrous to densely puberu-

lous:

Pods yellowish-brown or sometimes reddish-brown, straightish to slightly falcate; bark

yellowish-brown, soft, corky; occurs in Transvaal, Swaziland and Natal. . . .26. A. davyi

Pods deep reddish-brown, arcuate or falcate; bark dark grey- or reddish-brown to black;

occurs in S.W.A 39. A. arenaria

Pods 1.2-2, 3 cm wide, ±s traight, margins flattened; young branchlets clothed with spreading

villous hairs 1-2,5 mm long, hairs golden when young but becoming greyish-white

with age 40. A. rehmanniana

a Well developed leaves of mature shoots with 1-12 (rarely 13) pinnae pairs:

Leaflets glandular-punctate, with conspicuous glands on the lower surface and on the margins,

the margins appearing crenulate-glandular; pods ± falcate orcurled into an almost complete

circle, ± moniliform and constricted between the seeds, glandular, viscid. . . .25. A. borleae

Leaflets not glandular-punctate, or at most with a few inconspicuous glands on the margin

near the apex:

j Leaflets (at least mostly) spinulose-mucronate apically; pinnae 1-7 pairs per leaf; leaflets

3-10 pairs per pinna; pods yellowish- to reddish-brown, up to 7,5(9) < 1 ,4 cm, valves

thin, usually glandular, viscid; small shrubs or slender trees:

Young branchlets densely tomentose with spreading whitish hairs 0,75-2 mm long

24. A. permixta

Mimosoideae

39

Young branchlets glabrous or occasionally very sparingly pubescent, but hairs not more

than 0,5 mm long:

Leaflets with lateral nerves conspicuous and somewhat raised on the lower surface

22. A. swazica

Leaflets with inconspicuous lateral nerves on the lower surface:

Rhizomatous shrub 0,5-1, 2(2, 4) m high; leaflets 0,9-1, 5 mm wide, 3-9 pairs per

pinna; spines slender, up to 1,5 mm in diameter basally 20. A. tenuispina

Small tree or slender shrub, not rhizomatous ; leaflets (0 , 8)1 , 5-4 , 5 mm wide, 3-6 pairs

per pinna; spines sometimes swollen basally:

Leaves usually with only 1 pinna pair, rarely 2-3 pairs; pods (0,6)0, 9-1 ,3 cm wide,

with numerous dark glands scattered over the surface; spines not swollen basally

23. A. nebrownii

Leaves with (l)2-4(6) pinna pairs; pods 0,4-0, 9 cm wide, eglandular or almost so;

spines frequently enlarged and swollen basally; bark peeling off in strips

2\. A. exuvialis

jj Leaflets not spinulose-mucronate apically; pinnae 1-12(13) pairs per leaf; leaflets 2-24

pairs per pinna; pods rarely viscid:

Pods glabrous or subglabrous:

Margins of pods usually entire, occasionally slightly constricted between some of the

seeds; valves thinly woody; seeds 6-11 x 5-8,5 mm; leaves with 2-5(6) pinnae

pairs :

Pods 0, 7-1,1 cm wide, falcate; leaves usually with 2-3 pinnae pairs, leaf-rhachides

glabrous; spines typically slightly swollen and fused basally; young branchlets

slender, “cushions” poorly developed at the nodes 38. A. grandicornuta

Pods 1 ,2-2, 4(3) cm wide, ± straight to falcate; leaves usually with 3-6 pinnae pairs;

leaf-rhachides glabrous to densely pubescent; spines not swollen; young branch-

lets robust, usually with well developed “cushions” at the nodes 37. A. robusta

Margins of pods invariably distinctly constricted between the seeds, regularly

or irregularly so, often ± moniliform, valves not thinly woody; seeds 3, 5-6, 5(9) x

2-5(7) mm; leaves with 2-13 pinnae pairs \9. A. karroo

Pods sparingly to densely grey-puberulous or -tomentellous :

Pods straight, 2, 6-3, 2 cm long; dwarf shrub up to 0,6 m high; leaves with 1 pinna

pair; 2-4 pairs of leaflets per pinna 44. redacta

Pods curved or falcate, longer than above; robust shrub or large tree; leaves with 3-12

pinnae pairs; > 4 pairs of leaflets per pinna:

Pods falcate; seeds ± quadrate, 9-12 x 5-7 mm; young branchlets with well developed

“cushions” at the nodes; usually a tree with an irregularly flattened crown

36. A. gerrardii

Pods slightly curved to ± falcate; seeds oblong-elliptic, up to 8 x 6 mm; “cushions”

on young branchlets poorly developed or absent; shrub or tree, crown often

irregularly rounded 19. A. karroo

Naturalized and cultivated exotic species

Leaves bipinnate:

Plant armed with paired stipular spines 48. A.farnesiana

Plant unarmed :

Leaflets large, mostly 2-6 cm long, 0,4-1 cm wide, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, often somewhat

falcate; leaves large, 30-40 cm long 60. A. data

Leaflets 1,5-15 mm long, < 2 mm wide; leaves smaller than above:

Leaves with 1-4 pinnae pairs:

Petiole and rhachis together < 2,5 cm long; pinnae crowded, glaucous; midrib ± central in the

leaflet or inconspicuous; inflorescence an axillary raceme or panicle, longer than the leaves

52. A. baileyana

Petiole and rhachis together > 3 cm long; pinnae neither crowded nor glaucous; midrib almost

marginal throughout the length of the leaflet, pubescent; inflorescences axillary, solitary,

paired or fascicled 61. A. visite

40

Mimosoideab

Leaves with (5)8-26 pinnae pairs :

Leaflets 1 , 5-5 , 5 mm long :

Leaf-rhachis with a gland at the junction of each pinna pair and usually also with additional

glands between the pinnae pairs; pods ± moniliform 49. A. mearnsii

Leaf-rhachis with a gland at the junction of all or most pairs of pinnae but not between the

pinnae pairs; pods not or only slightly moniliform 50. .4. dealbata

Leaflets 6-1 5 mm long :

Young branchlets prominently angled, sometimes with wing-like ridges 1-2 mm high; pinnae

up to 15 pairs per leaf; leaflets 6-15 x 0,3-0,75 mm, midrib ± central, glabrous; inflor-

escence an axillary raceme or panicle 51.4. decurrens

Young branchlets not prominently angled; pinnae up to 7 pairs per leaf; leaflets 6-9 x

0,8-1,25(2) mm, midrib almost marginal throughout its length and pubescent; inflor-

escences axillary, solitary, paired or fascicled 61. 4. visite

Leaves apparently simple, modified to phyllodes by dilation of the petiole and rhachis :

Plant armed with stipular spines 53. 4. armata

Plant unarmed :

Phyllodes each with one main longitudinal nerve :

Phyllodes < 4cm long, 0 , 5-2 cm wide, seldom up to 4 , 5 cm long but then <0,5 mm wide and linear-

oblong:

Phyllodes 2-5 mm wide, linear-oblong, the margins typically densely ciliate 64. A.fimbriata

Phyllodes 6-20 mm wide, not linear-oblong:

Young branchlets and phyllodes densely grey-pubescent, especially when young; phyllodes

ovate to elliptic or elliptic-oblong, mostly 10-20 mm wide; pods 1,5-2 cm wide

54. 4. podalyriifolia

Young branchlets and phyllodes glabrous; phyllodes obliquely obovate-lanceolate to ovate-

triangular, 6-11 mm wide; pods 5-7 mm wide 62. 4. cultriformis

Phyllodes 5 -22 cm long :

Phyllodes 1,5-3 mm wide 65. 4. adunca

Phyllodes > 5 mm wide :

Phyllodes ± straight or sometimes slightly falcate, linear-lanceolate to linear-oblong or oblan-

ceolate, mostly 0,6-1, 4 cm wide:

Flower-heads > 6,5 mm in diameter; peduncles 6-22 mm long; naturalized species. .SS.A.saligna

Flower-heads < 6 mm in diameter; peduncles 3-6 mm long; cultivated only. . . .63. 4. retinodes

Phyllodes distinctly falcate, obovate-lanceolate, mostly 1,3-3 cm wide 56. A. pycnantha

Phyllodes each with 2-7 or more longitudinal nerves :

Flowers in spikes :

Pods straight or slightly curved, glabrous; inflorescence axis glabrous or almost so; naturalized

species 57. 4. longifolia

Pods variously coiled or twisted, pubescent; inflorescence axis pubescent; cultivated only

66. 4. maidenii

Flowers in round heads:

Phyllodes < 4 mm wide:

Phyllodes green; inflorescences axillary, solitary or paired, rarely fascicled; pods 3-3,5 mm

wide, sparingly to densely pubescent, margins not winged. 67. 4. viscidula

Phyllodes greyish or glaucous; inflorescence a short axillary raceme; pods 8-18 mm wide; the

margins distinctly winged 68. 4. pendula

Phyllodes > 5 mm wide:

Phyllodes 0,6-2, 5 cm wide, green, longitudinal nerves conspicuous; pods falcate or variously

coiled or spirally twisted; margins not winged, naturalized species:

Flowers bright yellow; petals free; phyllodes usually ± straight, sometimes slightly falcate,

with anastomosing longitudinal venation between the main longitudinal nerves 58. 4. cyclops

Flowers pale yellowish-white; petals united to above the middle; phyllodes usually ± falcate,

sometimes ± straight, with conspicuous reticulate venation between the main longitudinal

nerves 59. 4. melanoxylon

Phyllodes 0,5-0, 9 cm wide, greyish or glaucous, longitudinal nerves not prominent; pods

straight or slightly curved, the margins distinctly winged; cultivated only 68. 4. pendula

Mimosoideae

41

FIG. 3. — Pods of spicate-flowered Acacia species, x j. 1, A. albida {Van der Schij ff \^25)\ 2, A. ataxacantha

{Ross 972); 3, A. Senegal var. leiorhachis {Verdoorn 2326); 4, A. Senegal var. rostrata {Ross 1632); 5, A.

mellifera subsp. detinens {Ross 1491); 6, A. robynsiana {De Winter & Hardy 8161); 7, A. montis-usti (£>e

Winter & Leistner 5841); 8, A. welwitschii subsp. delagoensis {Codd & Verdoorn 5480); 9, A. nigrescens

{Ross 1156); 10, A. burkei {Codd 4021); 11, A. galpinii {Galpin 14009); 12, A. polyacantlia subsp. campyla-

cantha {Codd 3024); 13, A. caffra {Edwards 2834); 14, A. hereroensis {De Winter 2344 A); 15, A. fleckii

{De Winter 3029); 16, A. erubescens {Ross 1504).

42

Mimosoideae

FIG. 4. — Pods of capitate-flowered Acacia species, x 17, A. kraussiana {Strey 6559); 18, A. brevispica subsp.

dregeana (Ross 766); 19, A. schweinfurthii (Ross 1022); 20, A. karroo (Ross 1617); 21, A. k^oo (Ross

1673); 22, A. tenuispina (Codd 6370); 23, A. exuvialis (Codd & Verdoorn 5467); 24, A. swazica (Codd &

De Winter 4970); 25, A. nebrownii (Codd 5824); 26, A. pcrmixta (Codd 5916); 27, A. borleae (Codd 4312);

28, A. davyi (Ross 264); 29, A. erioloba (Meeuse 10143); 30, A. haematoxylon (De Winter 3433); 31, A.

eriolobaxA. haematoxylon (Acocks 12689).

Mimosoideae

43

FIG. 5. — Pods of capitate-flowered Acacia species, x f . 32, A. nilotica (Ross 927) ; 33, A. xanthophloea (Lang sub

TRV 32250); 34, A. kirkii subsp. kirkii (De Winter & Leistner 5869); 35, A. tortilis subsp. heteracantha

(Ross 819); 36, A. luederitzii var. luederitzii (Acocks 18767); 37, A. luederitzii var. retinens (Edwards 3260);

38, A. reficiens subsp. reflciens (De Winter & Leistner 5911); 39, A. gerrardii var. gerrardii (Mogg 17309);

40, A. arenaria (De Winter & Leistner 5609); 41, A. robusta subsp. robusta (Marais 903); 42, A. robusta

subsp. clavigera (Ross 1021); 43, A. grandicornuta (Codd & Verdoorn 5493); 44, A. rehmanniana (Galpin

14008).

FIG. 6. — Pods of capitate-flowered Acacia species, x 45, A. sieberana var. woodii (Ross 1187); 46, A. hebe-

clada subsp. hebeclada {Morris 1044); 47, A. hebeclada subsp. chobiensis {Codd 7091); 48, A. hebeclada

subsp. tristis {De Winter & Leistner 5305); 49. A. stuhlmannii {Van der Schijff 5331 A); 50, A. redacta

{Werger ISIS).

1. Acacia albida Del., FI. Egypte Expl.

Planches : 286, t.52, fig. 3 (1813); DC., Prodr.

2 : 459 (1825); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 339 (1871);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 515

(1875); Engl, in Bot. Jahrb. 10 : 20 (1888);

Marloth in Trans. S. Afr. Phil. Soc. 5 : 271

(1893); Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 104

(1900); Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 54, t.34 (1909);

Dinter, FI. Deutsch-Sudwest-Afrika 74(1909);

Dinter, Veg. Veldkost Deutsch-Sudwest-

Afrikas 32 (1912); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw.

Afr. 3, 1 : 376, fig. 220 (1915); Glover in

Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 146, t.18/12 (1915);

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 825 (1930);

Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 335 (1932);

Ponninghaus in J.S.W. Afr. Sci. Soc. 6 : 12

(1933); Boss, Pflanzenleben Siidwestafrika’s

30 (1934); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 232

(1934); Stapleton, Common Transv. Trees 5

(1937); Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 391, 392

(1946); Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat.

Park 38, fig. 32 (1951); O. B. Miller in J.S.

Afr. Bot. 18 : 18 (1952); Young in Candollea

15 : 89 (1955); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 272 (1956);

Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 499 (1958);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 78, fig.

14/1 (1959); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

148, t. V, 31 (1961); F. White, For. FI. N.

Rhod. 82, fig. 17B, C(1962); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 272 (1965); Gomes &

Sousa, Dendrol. Mocamb. 1 : 232, t.36

(1966); Ross in Bol. Soc. Brot., S6r. 2, 40 : 187

(1966); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 7 (1967);

Wickens in Kew Bull. 23 : 181 (1969);

Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 63, t.l7 (1970); Ross,

Acacia Spp. Natal 20, fig. 1/1 (1971);

Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 126

(1972); Ross, FI. Natal 192 (1973); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 741 (1973); Schreiber

in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 11 : 115

(1973). Type: Egypt, above Philae, Nectovx

(MPU, holo.).

A. mossambicensis Bolle in Peters, Reise Mossamb.

Bot. 1 : 5 (1861). Type: Mozambique, Rios de Sena

and R. Chimazo, W. of Tete, Peters (B, ? syn. f).

Mimosoideae

45

Prosopis ? kirkii Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 332 (1871).

Type: Malawi, Shire River, Kirk (K, hole. !).

Faidherbia albida (Del.) A. Chev. in Rev. Bot. Appl.

Agric. Trop. 14 : 876 (1934); Aubr6v., FI. For. Soud.

Guin. 280, t.51/3, t.53/6 (1950); Gilbert & Boutique in

F.C.B. 3 : 169 (1952). Type as for Acacia albida Del.

Tree to 30 m high; trunk to 2 m diam.;

crown rounded, branches spreading and

frequently drooping to the ground in mature

trees, young plants often irregularly branched

and spindle-like. Bark dark brown to

greenish-grey or ashen, rough; young branch-

lets greenish-white or ashen, subglabrous to

pubescent. Stipules spinescent, in pairs, up to

3,2 cm long, straight or slightly curved,

greenish-white to light grey-brown, tips

often reddish-brown when young ; no prickles

below the stipules. Leaves : petiole 0 , 5-3 , 7 cm

long, adaxial gland absent; rhachis (1,3)

3-6(7, 5) cm long, subglabrous or puberulous,

with a single conspicuous gland at the

junction of each of the 2(3)-10 pairs of

pinnae; rhachillae (1 ,5)2, 5-5, 5(8, 9) cm

long ; leaflets grey-green, 6-23 pairs per pinna,

(2,5)4,5-9(13) X 0,75-3(5) mm, linear or

linear-oblong to slightly obovate-oblong,

apex rounded to subacute or mucronate,

margin with or without white ciliolate hairs,

glabrous or sparingly to densely appressed-

pubescent ab- and/or adaxially. Inflorescences

spicate, usually produced singly in the axil of

a leaf, collectively forming a terminal panicle

or raceme. Flowers yellowish-white to pale

cream, sessile or to 0,5(2) mm pedicellate;

spikes 3,5-15,7 cm long; peduncles (0,8)

2-4(6, 3) cm long, subglabrous to pubescent.

Calyx campanulate, glabrous to pubescent,

tube 0,5-1, 8 mm long, lobes 0,3-0, 7 mm

long. Corolla often a delicate pink inside

basally, tube 0,8-2, 5 mm long, lobes

divided almost to the base, up to 3 mm long,

glabrous to pubescent. Stamen-filaments 4-6

mm long, shortly connate basally for ± 1

mm; anthers 0,2-0, 4 mm across, eglandular

even in bud. Ovary 0,7-1, 4 mm long,

shortly stipitate, pilose; style glabrous or

subglabrous. Pods bright orange to reddish-

brown, falcate or curled into a circular coil

or variously twisted, indehiscent, thick,

6- 35 X (1 ,4)2-3, 5(4, 5) cm, glabrous or very

rarely puberulous. Seeds light to dark brown,

9-12 X 4-8 mm, elliptic-lenticular; areole

7- 9 X 4-6 mm, elliptic-lenticular.

Widespread in tropical and subtropical Africa

from Senegal, Gambia and Egypt southwards to

South West Africa, Botswana, the Transvaal and

Natal (Tongaland). Found usually on alluvial

floodplains, in riverine fringing vegetation, on the

margins of pans or swamps or, in more arid localities,

along dry watercourses or where a fairly high water

table exists.

S.W.A. — 1712 (Posto Velho): bank of Kunene

River, Story 5803. 1713 (Swartbooisdrift) : Ombazu,

51,2 km N. of Ohopoho on road to Swartbooisdrift,

De Winter & Leistner 5895. 1724 (Katima Mulilo):

Lisikili, 25 km E. of Katima Mulilo, Codd 7100. 1913

(Sesfontein) : near Sesfontein, Hall 497. 2014 (Wel-

witschia): bed of Ugab River at Sorris-Sorris, near

Brandberg, De Winter 3151. 2115 (Karibib): Usakos,

Pole Evans sub PRE 19303. 2216 (Otjimbingwe):

Kuiseb, Strey 2635. Grid ref. unknown: bed of the

Khan River, Pillans 5919 (BOL); Damaraland,

Marloth 1194 (BOL, GRA) — the labels on these two

specimens bear different localities in Damaraland.

TRANSVAAL. — 2230 (Messina): Messina, Pole

Evans sub PRE 13118. 2231 (Pafuri) : Kruger National

Park, Makuleka, Lang sub TR V 32262. 2329 (Pieters-

burg): 32 km N. of Pietersburg on Kalkbank road.

Story 1557. 2330 (Tzaneen): 80 km N. of Gravelotte

station, on bank of Great Letaba River, Galpin

13533 — the precise locality of this specimen is

uncertain because the Great Letaba River is only

32 km north of Gravelotte by road ; the Small Letaba

River, however, is ± 80 km north of Gravelotte.

2428 (Nylstroom): 14,4 km N.W. of Potgietersrust on

road to Zaaiplaats, Codd 4185. 2531 (Komatipoort) :

Lebombo flats near Swaziland border, Keet 1495.

Grid ref. unknown: northern Soutpansberg, Sand

River, Legat49; N.E. Soutpansberg, Nwanedzi River,

Pole Evans 191 ; junction of Crocodile and Magalak-

win rivers, Pole Evans 3968.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Usutu floodplain, Ross 699. 2732 (Ubombo):

9,6 km N. of Otoboteni, P.O. at Mfongozi, Codd

2085.

A. albida displays a number of unusual charac-

ters, some of which are peculiar to this species alone

amongst the African acacias. A. albida differs in

having eglandular petioles but a gland on the rhachis

at the junction of each pair of pinnae, stamen-

filaments which are shortly connate basally, large

anthers which are eglandular even when in bud, and

typically falcate or spirally coiled indehiscent pods.

However, each of these characters may be found in

other species of Acacia although in no other species

are all of these characters associated together.

Chevalier in Rev. Bot. Appl. Agric. Trop. 14 : 876

(1934) considered the species to be sufficiently distinct

from all others to transfer it to the monotypic genus

Faidherbia.

A. albida is not closely related to any of the other

African species and there are the above differences,

coupled with differences in pollen morphology and

seedling development, to suggest that the species

should be excluded from Acacia. However, although

differing from the other African acacias, A. albida

does nevertheless share many characters in common

with them. In deciding whether or not the species

should be excluded from Acacia, it depends upon

whether the emphasis is placed on the differences or on

the similarities. It may ultimately prove better to

transfer the species to Faidherbia.

46

Mimosoideae

Another unusual feature of A. albida is the

tendency for plants to sometimes shed their leaves at

the commencement of the rainy season and remain

leafless throughout the summer, finally producing new

leaves towards the beginning of the dry season.

A. albida, popularly known as the “ana tree” or

“anaboom”, is one of our largest acacias. A fine group

of trees north-west of Potgietersrust on the road to

Zaaiplaats in the Transvaal is protected under the

National and Historical Monuments Act. These

trees have been referred to as “Livingstone’s Trees”

but it seems very unlikely that Livingstone ever saw

them.

The pods of A. albida are regarded as a valuable

fodder and are relished by game and domestic stock.

In our area A. albida has the leaflets ± pubescent

on the surface and ± pubescent young branchlets,

inflorescence-axes, calyces and (often) corollas, thus

corresponding to Race B as defined by Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 79 (1959). Race A is not

known in our area.

2. Acacia ataxacantha DC., Prodr. 2 : 459

(1825); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 343 (1871);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 520

(1875); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 156

(1908); Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 147,

t.18/3 (1915); Bews, FI. Natal 114 (1921);

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 834 (1930);

Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 234 (1934); Codd,

Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 40, fig.

33a (1951); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B.

3 : 153 (1952); Torre in C.F.A. 2 ; 278 (1956);

Keay in F.W.T.A., ed. 2, 1 : 499 (1958);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 82,

fig. 14/5 (1959); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 270 (1965); Ross in Webbia

21 : 629 (1966); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 7

(1967); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 65, t.15/1

(1970); Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal 21, fig. 1/2

(1971); Flow. PI. Afr. 42 : t.l652 (1972);

Ross, FI. Natal 192 (1973); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 747 (1973); Schreiber in Mitt.

Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 11 : 116 (1973).

Syntypes: Senegal, Bade (G — DC) & Per-

rottet (G — DC).

A. eriadenia Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 5 : 98

(1846); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 283 (1862); Benth. in Trans.

Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 520 (1875); Schinz in M6m.

Herb. Boiss. 1 ; 108 (1900) (sphalm ariadenia); Burtt

Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 157 (1908); Glover in Ann.

Bolus Herb. 1 : 147 (1915); Dinter in Feddes Repert.

15 : 79 (1917); Bews, FI. Natal 114 (1921); Hutch.,

Botanist in S. Afr. 308 (1946). Type: Transvaal,

Crocodile River, Magaliesberg Burke 130 (K, holo.!;

BM!; PRE!; Z!). A. lugardiae N.E. Br. in Kew Bull.

1909 : 107 (1909); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 ; 834

(1930); O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 23 (1952).

Type: Botswana, Kwebe Hills, Mrs E. J. Lugard 195

(K, holo.!; GRA!; Zi). ? A. caffra var. rupestris Sim,

For. FI. P.E.Afr. 56, t.39B (1909). Type: Mozambique,

“on and below the Lebombo’s, in Maputa and

Marracuene, less common nearer Lourenco Mar-

ques”, Sim 6235 (whereabouts unknown). Sim’s

description and plate indicate that the prickles were

scattered along the stem as in the case of A. ataxa-

cantha-, in A. caffra the prickles are in pairs near the

nodes. Sim’s description of the pubescence, pod,

growth form and distribution suggest that he was

recognizing in var. rupestris the tree growth form of

A. ataxacantha. A. ataxacantha var. australis Burtt

Davy in Kew Bull. 1922 : 324 (1922); Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 834 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 335 (1932); O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 19

(1952); Young in Candollea 15 : 84 (1955); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 83 (1959); F. White, For.

FI. N.Rhod. 82, fig. 17A (1962); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S.Afr. 2 : 270 (1965). Type: Transvaal,

Letaba Distr., Magoebas Kloof, Houtboschberg,

Burtt Davy 5231 (K, holo.!; BOL!).

Scandent shrub up to 15 m high, often

with many stems arising from a common

base, a non-climbing shrub or occasionally

a tree up to 10 m high, crown often slightly

rounded in arborescent forms ; trunk to 0 , 5 m

diam. Bark pale to dark yellowish- or grey-

brown, rough, slightly fissured, sometimes

flaking; young branchlets pale yellowish- or

grey- to reddish-brown, sparingly to densely

pubescent, indumentum frequently slightly

golden. Stipules not spinescent, in pairs above

the nodes, obliquely ovate (rarely almost

linear), up to 12 X 7 mm, soon deciduous.

Prickles scattered along the internodes,

usually strongly recurved, reddish-brown to

purplish, often broad-based, up to 15 mm

long. Leaves-, petiole (0,4) 1-2(3, 4) cm long,

adaxial gland usually present (sometimes

two), variable in position, usually stalked, up

to 2 mm high; rhachis (2,3)6-12(16,5) cm

long, sparingly to densely pubescent, rarely

subglabrous, with or without recurved

prickles abaxially, a gland often present at the

junction of the top pair of pinna only or

between the top 1-5 and occasionally the

lowest 1-3 pairs; pinnae (6)8-20(29) pairs;

rhachillae ((),9)2,6-4,2(7,3) cm long; leaf-

lets 19-62 pairs per pinna, 2-6,9 x 0,5-1 ,3

mm, linear to linear-oblong, often slightly

falcate, apex obtuse to acute, margins with or

without ciliate hairs, glabrous abaxially or

appressed-pubescent with a tendency for an

apical and/or basal tuft. Inflorescences spicate,

fascicled or crowded into an irregular

terminal raceme, occasionally solitary.

Flowers yellowish-white, pedicellate or

appearing sessile; spikes 2,2-11,5 cm long;

peduncles 0,3-2, 5 cm long, sparingly to

densely pubescent. Calyx cupular, glabrous

Mimosoideae

47

FIG. 7. — Acacia albida. 1, flowering branch, x 2, part of leaf-rhachis showing gland, x 4; both from

Robinson 269; 3, juvenile shoot, x Lovemore 68; 4, flower, x 6; 5, flower opened out to show ovary,

X 8; 6, anthers, x 20, all from Robinson 269; 7, pod, x j, Meikle s.n. ; 8, seed, x 1 , Kirk s.n. Reproduced

by permission of the Editorial Board of Flora Zambesiaca.

48

Mimosoideae

to sparingly pubescent, usually as long as

corolla, tube 0,6-1, 7 mm long, lobes

0,2-0, 6 mm long. Corolla campanulate,

glabrous to sparingly pubescent, tube 1 ,4-2,2

mm long, lobes up to 0,8 mm long. Stamen-

filaments free, up to 6 mm long; anthers 0,15

mm across, with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary densely pubescent, 0,6-1 ,4 mm long,

on a stipe longer than itself. Pods reddish- or

purplish-brown, 5,3-20,4 x 0,9-2, 4 cm,

linear-oblong, straight, very acuminate at

both ends or merely acute, longitudinally

dehiscent, brittle, umbonate over the seeds,

glabrous or subglabrous. Seeds olive-brown,

subcircular-lenticular, 6-9 mm in diam.,

compressed; areole central, small, 2,5-3 mm

in diam., obscure.

Widespread in tropical and subtropical Africa

from Senegal in the west to the Sudan Republic in the

north-east, southwards to South West Africa,

Botswana, the Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal and the

Eastern Cape Province. Occurs in riverine fringing

vegetation, on forest margins, in forest clearings, as a

component of mesophytic scrub in shaded kloofs and

ravines, in dry river valley scrub and thornveld,

on boulder-strewn slopes or, occasionally, in open

grassland. Often forms dense impenetrable thickets.

S.W.A. — 1716 (Enana): 7 km S.E. of Oshandi, De

Winter & Giess 7025. 1719 (Runtu): 8 km W. of

Runtu on road to Kapako, De Winter 3737. 1819

(Karakuwisa) : Cigarette, E. of Karakuwisa, Maguire

2315 (K, NBG). 1820 (Tarikora): 16 km E. of Nyan-

gana mission station, De Winter 4199. 1917 (Tsumeb):

Farm Heidelberg, near Tsumeb, Walter 521 (M).

1918 (Grootfontein) : 8 km from Narugas, Merxmuller

& Giess 1777 (K, M). 1920 (Tsumkwe): western foot

of Aha mountains. Story 6374.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort) : northern

entrance to Wyllie’s Poort, Hutchinson 2062. 2230

(Messina): Sibasa, Van Warmelo sub PRE 5331 2 f 2.

2329 (Pietersburg) : Veekraal, near Woodbush, 57,6

km E. of Pietersburg, Mogg 14740. 2330 (Tzaneen):

Tzaneen, Rogers 12407 (BOL, GRA). 2427 (Thaba-

zimbi): Thabazimbi, Rogers 255 (GRA). 2428 (Nyl-

stroom): near Zandrivierspoort, near Vaalwater,

Smuts 376. 2429 (Zebediela): Chuniespoort, Van

Vuuren 1604. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest) : Vaalhoek, Rogers

25073. 2527 (Rustenburg): pass near Meerhof, Harte-

beespoort Dam, De Winter 7658. 2528 (Pretoria) : Pre-

toria, Grosvenor Square, Repton 2119 (K). 2529

(Witbank): Roossenekal, Morris 1179. 2530 (Lyden-

burg): near Lydenburg, Wilms 447 (BM,K). 2531

(Komatipoort): Kruger National Park, Shabin Kop,

Van der Schiiff 1240. 2627 (Potchefstroom) : Farm

Gladysvale, 14,4 km W. of Krugersdorp, Rodin

3869. 2629 (Bethal): N. of Amersfoort, Strey 7880.

2730 (Vryheid): 3,2 km from Brauschweig, Devenish

989.

SWAZILAND. — 2531 (Komatipoort): Piggs

Peak, Compton 30605. 2631 (Mbabane): Black

Umbeluzi valley, Compton 31867. 2731 (Louwsburg):

Hluti, Ross 1528 (NU).

NATAL. — 2730 (Vryheid) : 1 9 , 2 km from Natal Spa

on Paulpietersburg road, Ross 1245 (NH, NU). 2731

(Louwsburg): Nongoma, Ross 1076 (K, NH, NU).

2732 (Ubombo): 0,5 km from Ubombo on Mkuze-

Ubombo road, Ross 262 (K, NU). 2829 (Harrismith) :

Ladysmith, Ross 559 (K, NH, NU). 2830 (Dundee):

11,2 km from Muden on Weenen road, Ross 644

(K, NH, NU). 2831 (Nkandla): Eshowe forest,

Kotze 156. 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe Game

Reserve, Ward 2877. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Bisley,

near Pietermaritzburg, Ross 1603 (NH, NU). 2931

(Stanger) : below Bulwer farm, opposite confluence of

Nembe and Tugela Rivers, Ross 206 (NU). 3030

(Port Shepstone): Shelley Beach, Strey 7072. 3130

(Port Edward): 4,8 km from Port Edward on cliffs

above Umtamvuna River, Hilliard 1663 (NU).

CAPE. — Grid ref. unknown: between Umtata and

Port St. Johns, Bolus 8900 (BOL); between Umtata

and Umzimvubu, Drege 5552 (P).

Variety australis was held by Burtt Davy to

differ from typical A. ataxacantha in having larger

leaves with more numerous pinnae and leaflet pairs

and leaflets “thinly pilose with scattered, appressed

hairs, especially on the margins.” However, the

abundant material collected in recent years contains

so many intermediates between var. australis and

typical A. ataxacantha that it is no longer considered

desirable to uphold var. australis. Despite this, there

is an overall tendency for an increase in the degree of

pubescence of the young branchlets, leaf-rhachides,

leaflets and inflorescence-axes in the southern part

of the species range in Africa.

Mention must be made of some atypical speci-

mens from the Kaokoveld in South West Africa, for

example, De Winter & Leistner 5494, Merxmuller &

Giess 1409 (K, M) and Walter 1/260 (M). These

specimens differ from more typical A. ataxacantha in

our area in lacking stalked petiolar glands, in having

few pinnae pairs, glabrous or very sparingly pubescent

leaf-rhachides, and short inflorescences. It is thou^t

that these differences may be the response to drier

conditions or to some edaphic factor. For the present

it is not intended to accord these specimens any formal

taxonomic recognition.

A. ataxacantha has in the past often been

confused with A. caffra (Thunb.) Willd. A. caffra is

usually easily separated from A. ataxacantha in having

prickles in pairs near the nodes, linear stipules,

sessile petiolar glands, the calyx much longer in

proportion to the corolla, a glabrous shortly stipitate

ovary and brownish pods. Very occasionally A. caffra

may have a few scattered prickles in addition to the

normal paired prickles and then confusion is perhaps

possible. However, the other characters enumerated

above should enable the two species to be dis-

tinguished without much difficulty.

3. Acacia senega! (L.) Willd., Sp. PI.

4 : 1077 (1806) pro parte excl. syn. fere

omnibus; DC., Prodr. 2 : 459 (1825);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 516

(1875); Hutch. & Dalz. in F.W.T.A., ed. 1,

1 : 361 (1928) pro parte; Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 827 (1930) pro majore parte; Burtt

Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 337 (1932); Codd, Trees

Mimosoideae

49

& Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 50 (1951);

Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 149 (1952);

Young in Candollea 15 : 93 (1955); Torre in

C.F.A. 2 : 273 (1956); Keay in F.W.T.A.,

ed. 2, 1 : 498, fig. 159 (1958); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 92, fig. 14/17

(1959); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr

2 : 270 (1965); Ross in Bol. Soc. Brot., Ser.

2, 42 ; 207 (1968); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 79

(1970); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 745

(1973); Ross in Bothalia 11(4) : 449 (1975).

Type: Senegal, Herb. Adanson No. 16899

(P, neo.).

Mimosa Senegal L., Sp. PI. 1 : 521 (1753) excl. syn.

fere omnibus. Type uncertain, presumably a specimen

collected by Adanson in Senegal.

Shrub or tree up to 8 m high (in our

area) with a slightly rounded or flattened and

somewhat spreading crown, or a slender

spindly tree with irregular virgate branches.

Bark yellowish- or greyish-brown to purp-

lish-black, rough, often corky and flaking oflfor

smooth, papery and peeling oft' in strips;

young branchlets yellowish- or greyish-

brown to purplish-black, sometimes as

though whitewashed over a purplish back-

ground, smooth or rough and flaking

minutely or exfoliating to reveal a yellow

inner layer, glabrous to densely pubescent.

Stipules not spinescent, in pairs, linear, up to

5 mm long, soon deciduous. Prickles just

below the nodes, up to 9 mm long, typically

in threes, the central one hooked down-

wards and the two laterals curved upwards,

or else solitary, the laterals being absent.

Leaves', petiole 0,2-2 cm long, sparingly to

densely pubescent, rarely subglabrous, ad-

axial gland usually present, sometimes two,

variable in position, 0,5-0,75 mm in diam.;

rhachis 0,7-6, 9 cm long, sparingly to densely

pubescent, lower surface with or without

recurved prickles, with a gland at the junction

of the top 1-5 pinnae pairs, between each

pair or absent from some; pinnae (2)3-8(12)

pairs; rhachillae 0,5-2, 5 cm long, sparingly

to densely pubescent; leaflets 7-25 pairs per

pinna, 1-7 X 0,5-1 ,75 mm, linear to linear-

or elliptic-oblong, apex obtuse to subacute,

margins with or without cilia, sparingly

appressed-pubescent above and beneath or

entirely glabrous, lateral nerves invisible

beneath or sometimes ± prominent. Inflore-

scences spicate, solitary or fascicled. Flowers

yellowish-white, sessile; spikes 1,5-10 cm

long, axis glabrous to densely pubescent;

peduncle 0,1-2 cm long. Calyx sometimes

tinged with pink, glabrous to somewhat

pubescent, tube 0,9-2, 6 mm long, lobes

0,2-0, 8 mm long. Corolla glabrous or sub-

glabrous, tube 2-3,2 mm long, lobes up to

0,9 mm long. Stamen-filaments free, up to 7

mm long ; anthers 0 , 2-0 ,25 mm across, with a

deciduous apical gland. Ovary glabrous, very

shortly stipitate. Pods yellowish- or greyish-

brown to brown, 1,8-9, 5 X 1,2-3, 4 cm,

oblong, straight or almost so, longitudinally

dehiscent, venose, apex rounded to acuminate

or distinctly rostrate, sparingly to densely

appressed-pubescent or puberulous. Seeds

olive-brown to brown, 8-12 mm in diam.,

disubcircular-lenticular, compressed; central

areole 2,5-6 x 2,5-5 mm, impressed, horse-

shoe shaped.

Widespread in tropical Africa from Senegal in the

west to Ethiopia in the north-east, southwards to the

Transvaal, Swaziland and Natal. Four varieties are

at present recognized within A. Senegal, two of which

occur in our area.

Inflorescence axis sparingly to densely pube-

scent throughout; pods up to 3,4 cm wide,

usually rostrate or acuminate apically,

sparingly to densely pubescent or puberu-

lous, yellowish- or greyish-brown to brown;

a shrub branching from or near the base or a

tree with a slightly rounded or flattened and

somewhat spreading crown; fairly wide-

spread in South West Africa, the Transvaal,

Swaziland and Natal (a) var. rostrala

Inflorescence axis glabrous or sometimes with a

few basal hairs; pods up to 1,9 cm wide,

rounded to acute apically, sparingly puberu-

lous, yellowish to olive-brown; a slender

spindly tree with irregular virgate branches;

confined to the northern and eastern

Transvaal (b) var. leiorhachis

(a) var. rostrata Brenan in Kew Bull. 8 :

99 (1953); Young in Candollea 15 : 96

(1955); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr.

2 : 271 (1965); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 12

(1967); Ross in Bol. Soc. Brot. Ser. 2, 42 : 233

(1968); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 79 (1970); Ross,

Acacia Spp. Natal 39, fig. 1/6 (1971); Van

Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 160 (1972);

Ross, FI. Natal 193 (1973). Type: Transvaal,

Soutpansberg Distr., Dongola Reserve, Ver-

doorn 2264 (K, holo.!; PRE!).

A. spinosa Marloth & Engl, in Bot. Jahrb. 10 : 20

(1888), non A. spinosa E. Mey, Comm. 1 : 170(1836);

Dinter in Feddes Repert. 15 ; 81 (1917); O. B. Miller

in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 ; 24 (1952). Type: South West

Africa, Karibib Distr., near Usakos, Marloth 1257

(K!, PRE!, iso.). A. trispinosa Marloth & Engl.

50

Mimosoideae

[Marloth In Trans. S. Afr Phil. Soc. 5 : 269 (1893)

nom. nud.] ex Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 115

(1900) sphalm, non A. trispinosa Stokes in Bot. Mat.

Med. 3 : 168 (1812); Dinter, Deutsch-Sudwest-Afrika

73 (1909); Ponnighaus in J. S.W. Afr. Sci. Soc. 6 : 16

(1933). Type: South West Africa, near Usakos,

Marloth 1257 (K!, PRE!, iso.). A. rostrataSim, For.

FI. P.E.Afr. 55, t.37a (1909), non A. rostrata Humb. &

Bonpl. ex Willd., in L., Sp. PI. ed. 4, 4 ; 1060 (errore

typogr. 1054) (1806); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 827

(1930). Type: Mozambique, Lourenco Marques and

Maputo, Sim 6263 (whereabouts unknown, perhaps

destroyed). A. Senegal sensu Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 337 (1932) pro parte; Henkel, Woody PI. Natal

231 (1934); Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 664 (1946).

A. Senegal (L.) Willd. subsp. trispinosa (Stokes)

Roberty in Candollea 11 : 155 (1948) pro parte quoad

specim. Dinter 222. A. senega) var., Codd, Trees &

Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 51 (1951). A. Senegal sensu

Wild, S. Rhod. Bot. Diet. 49 (1953). A. volkii Sues-

seng. in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 2 : 40

(1954); Walter & Volk, Grundlagen Weidewirt-

schaft Sudwestafrika 211, t. 68a (1954). Type: South

West Africa, near Usakos, Marloth 1257 (K!, PRE!.

iso.).

Found in Angola, South West Africa, Botswana,

Rhodesia, Mozambique, the Transvaal, Swaziland

and Natal. It is quite probable that this variety has a

wider range than indicated here as several specimens

from Kenya and the Somali Republic, previously

referred to the rather heterogeneous var. kerensis

Schweinf., have pods similar to those of var. rostrata.

The possibility exists that rostrata is not the earliest

epithet available at varietal rank for this taxon (see

Bothalia 11 : 301,302, 1974). If this proves to be the

case then the name of this taxon will have to be

altered. The situation in north-eastern tropical Africa

needs clarifying. Occurs in woodland, bushveld,

thomveld and river valley scrub; often found on

alluvium.

S.W.A. — 1712 (Posto Velho): Etanga, De Winter &

Leistner 5445. 1715 (Ondangua): 40 km W. of

Ndola Store on road to Ombalantu, De Winter 3635.

2015 (Otjihorongo): 32 km W. of Outjo, Esterhuyse

449. 2016 (Otjiwarongo): Omatjenne, Keet 1681. 2115

(Karibib): Karibib, Dinter 6926. 2116 (Okahandja):

Okahandja, Dinter 222 (BM, E, GRA, K). 2117

(Otjosondu): Otjosondu, Seydel 4454 (K). 2215

(Trekkopje): farm Nudis, Seydel 437 (K). 2216

(Otjimbingwe) : farm Dustembrook, Wiss & Kinges

807. 2316 (Nauchas): Marienhof to Rehoboth,

Walter 181. 2416 (Maltahohe): Bullsport, Strey 2314.

2417 (Mariental): 49,6 km W. of Mariental on

Maltahohe road. Hardy 1952. 2418 (Stampriet):

21 km E.N.E. of Mariental on road to Witbooisvlei,

De Winter 3542. 2517 (Gibeon): Gibeon, Pearson

9207 (BOL, K).

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort) : 19,3 km

from Dongola Camp on Weipe Flats, Verdoorn 2262.

2327 (Ellisras): 6,4 km S. of Ellisras, Codd 8489.

2429 (Zeb^iela): 41 km from Zebediela on road to

Olifants River via Gompies, Story 1582. 2431 (Acorn-

hoek): Kruger National Park, 8,8 km E. of Skukuza

on Lower Sabie road, Codd & De Winter 5030.

2530 (Lydenburg): Schoemanskloof, Pole Evans sub

PRE 30008. 2531 (Komatipoort) : along main road

9,6 km W. of Malelane flat area, Buitendag 785.

2731 (Lxjuwsburg) : 1,6 km N. of Pongola River on

road to Gollel, Ross 1102 (K, NH, NU).

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Umtintegwa

(Sipofaneni road), Compton 27345. 2731 (Louws-

burg) : Hluti-Gollel, Pole Evans 3393 (2).

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Ward 2202. 2731 (Louwsburg): 19,2 km

N. of Nongoma, Acocks 11681. 2732 (Ubombo):

Mkuzi Game Reserve, Ross 1658 (NH, NU). 2831

(Nkandla): Umfolozi Game Reserve, western area,

Ross 970 (K, NH, NU). 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe

Game Reserve, Skead d Ward 17. 2931 (Stanger):

4,8 km S. of Mandini on old main road, Ross 1630

(NH, NU).

(b) var. leiorhachis Brenan in Kew Bull.

8 : 98 (1953); Young in Candollea 15 : 95

(1955); Boughey in J. S. Mr. Bot. 30 : 158

(1964) excl. syn.; Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Mr. 2 : 271 (1965); Ross & Brenan

in Kew Bull. 21 : 69 (1967); Ross in Bol. Soc.

Brot., Ser. 2, 42 : 231 (1968); Brenan in F.Z.

3, 1 : 80, t.15/5 (1970); Van Wyk, Trees

Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 158 (1972). Type:

Tanzania, Tanga Province, Pare District,

Same, Greenway 2192 (K, holo. !, EA).

A. circummarginata Chiov. in Ann. Bot., Roma

13 : 394 (1915); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 834

(1930); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 94,

fig. 14/18 (1959); Dale & Greenway, Kenya Trees &

Shrubs 286, fig. 58h (1961). Syntypes: Ethiopia,

Ogaden, Paoli 794, 913 bis, 920, 1010 (FII). A. Senegal

sensu Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 50

(1951). A. Senegal var. Senegal sensu Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 93 (1959) pro parte

quoad syn. A. Senegal var. leiorhachis. Acacia sp. 1,

White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 82 (1962).

Found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia,

Rhodesia, Mozambique and the northern and

eastern Transvaal. Occurs in thomveld, scrub and

woodland, sometimes with Colophospermum mopane.

TRANSVAAL.— 2229 (Waterpoort): Dongola

Reserve, Saker’s homestead, Hartjiesveld, Verdoorn

2326. 2230 (Messina): Messina, Legat 53 (K). 2329

(Pietersburg) : 5,6 km S. of P.O. Vivo, Codd 4320.

2331 (Phalaborwa) : Kruger National Park, near the

Gorge Camp, Codd 6190. 2429 (Zebediela): 15,2 km

E. of Chuniespoort on road to Burgersfort, Codd 1701 .

2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): 4,8 km S. of Burgersfort, Codd

6679. 2531 (Komatipoort): Malelane, Pole Evans sub

PRE 15768.

The specimen, Hutchinson 2141, cited as Acacia

seyal Del. in Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 327 (1946),

is in fact a specimen of A. Senegal. Unfortunately the

specimen is sterile and cannot be referred to either

of the above varieties with certainty.

4. Acacia mellifera (Vahl) Benth. in

Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 1 : 507 (1842); Oliv. in

F. T.A. 2 : 340 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 517 (1875); Harms in

Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Bed. 4 : 208, fig. 6

Mimosoideae

51

0906); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,

1 : 382, fig. 222 (1915); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 828 (1930); Brenan, Checklist Tang.

Terr. 329 (1949); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 273

(1956); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. :

84 (1959); in F.Z. 3, 1 : 67 (1970); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 751 (1973). Type:

Arabia, Surdad and elsewhere, Forskal (C,

holo.).

Much branched, dense, ±obconical

shrub or a tree to 6 m high. Bark grey-brown

to purplish-black, smooth or rough and

fissured; young branchlets olive- or reddish-

brown to greyish-brown or purplish-black,

with numerous somewhat transversely elon-

gated pale lenticels, glabrous or pubescent.

Stipules not spinescent, in pairs, linear,

1- 2,5 X 0,2-^, 8 mm, soon deciduous.

Prickles in pairs just below each node,

strongly recurved, often not spreading but

lying almost parallel to each other, up to 6

mm long, grey-brown to blackish. Leaves:

petiole 0,2- 1,2(2) cm long, glabrous or

pubescent, adaxial gland usually present,

variable in position, 0,2-0, 7 x 0,2-0, 6 mm;

rhachis (0,2)0, 5-2(4) cm long, glabrous to

pubescent, frequently with a gland at the

junction of the top 1-2 pinnae pairs; pinnae

2- 3, rarely 4 pairs; rhachillae 0,1-1, 6 cm

long; leaflets 1-2, rarely 3, pairs per pinna,

3,5-15(20) X 2-12 mm, very variable in

shape, obliquely obovate to obovate-elliptic

or -oblong, apex rounded to emarginate or

subacute and often apiculate, venose, gla-

brous or appressed-pubescent below, margins

with or without cilia. Inflorescences sub-

globose to ellipsoid but the axes clearly

elongate, or in elongated spikes, fascicled or

solitary. Flowers yellowish-white or cream,

buds often with a purplish tinge, on pedicels

(0,5)0,75-1,5 mm long; axes 0,15-3,5 cm

long; peduncles 0,3-1 ,4 cm long, glabrous or

pubescent. Calyx cupular, often tinged with

purple apically, glabrous or sometimes

slightly pubescent near the apices of the

lobes, tube 0,4-1 mm long, lobes very small,

up to 0,2 mm long. Corolla glabrous or

sometimes slightly pubescent near the apices

of the lobes, tube up to 2,5 mm long, lobes

to 1 ,4 mm long, often tinged with purple.

Stamen-filaments free, 4-6,5 mm long;

anthers 0,15-0,25 mm across, with a deci-

duous apical gland. Ovary up to 1,1 mm

long, glabrous, shortly stipitate.Po(/y greenish-

yellow to straw-coloured or brown, 2,5-8

(9,3) X 1,3-2, 5(3, 2) cm, oblong, straight,

rounded to acute, acuminate or sometimes

rostrate apically, longitudinally dehiscent,

chartaceous, venose, glabrous. Seeds 7-10 x

6-8 mm, subcircular-lenticular, compressed;

central areole small, 2-3 x 2-3 mm, horse-

shoe shaped.

Found in Arabia, in north-east Africa from Egypt,

the Sudan, Ethiopia southwards to South West

Africa, Botswana, the Transvaal, Orange Free State

and the Cape Province. Two subspecies are recognized

within A. mellifera, both of which occur in our area.

Leaves with normally 2 pinnae pairs; inflore-

scences ± elongate, the 0,4-1, 8 cm long

peduncles usually shorter than the 0,5-3 cm

long axes; leaf-rhachides, rhachillae and

leaflets glabrous; bark on young branchlets

chestnut- or reddish-brown . . (a) subsp. mellifera

Leaves with normally 3 (rarely 4) pinnae pairs;

inflorescences very short, ± subglobose to

ellipsoid, the 0, 4-1,1 cm long peduncles

usually longer than the very short 1,5-6, 5

mm long axes; leaf-rhachides and rhachillae

usually pubescent and leaflets usually with

cilia or sometimes appressed-pubescent

beneath ; bark on young branchlets olive- or

greyish-brown to purplish-black

(b) subsp. detineus

(a) subsp. mellifera.

Brenan in Kew Bull. 11 ; 191 (1956); in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 84 (1959);

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 10 (1967).

Mimosa mellifera Vahl, Symb. Bot. 2 : 103 (1791).

Type as above.

Inga mellifera (Vahl) Willd., Sp. PI. 4 ; 1006 (1806).

Type as above.

Acacia Senegal (L.) Willd. subsp. mellifera (Vahl)

Roberty in Candollea 11 : 153 (1948). Type as above.

Subsp. mellifera is found in Arabia, in north-east

Africa from Egypt, the Sudan, Ethiopia southwards

to Tanzania, and in Angola and South West Africa.

Within our area subsp. mellifera is found only in the

Kaokoveld in South West Africa. Occurs in dry

localities, often in broken mountainous country.

S.W.A.— 1712 (Posto Velho); 11 km S. of the

Kunene River at Otjinungua, De Winter & Leistner

5755\ on the Kunene at Otjinungua, Hartmann

mountains, De Winter & Leistner 5769; Kunene

Gorge, Davies, Thompson & Miller 103B.

Subsp. mellifera not infrequently produces

larger leaflets than any seen in subsp. detinens; it also

tends to be glabrous and the bark tends to be chest-

nut- or reddish-brown and smooth. In South West

Africa subsp. mellifera sometimes has rather slender

elongate branchlets which are often unarmed.

Over most of their ranges subsp. mellifera and

subsp. detinens occur exclusively and present no

difficulty in their recognition. However, in northern

South West Africa and in Angola (and again in

north-central Tanzania) they meet and in Tanzania

intermediates showing various combinations of

52

Mimosoideae

characters occur so that difficulty is sometimes

experienced in referring sj^imens to either sub-

species with certainty. Within our area, however, no

such difficulty is usually experienced.

(b) subsp. detineDS {Burch.) Brenan in

Kew Bull. 11 : 191 (1956); in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Mimos. : 85 (1959); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 159, t.38, 39 (1961);

F.. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 82, fig. 17D

(1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr.

2 : 274 (1965); Leistner, Mem. Bot. Surv. S.

Afr. 38 : 123, t.l6, 18, 21, 28, 33 (1967);

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 10 (1967); Brenan

in F.Z. 3, 1 : 67 (1970). Type: Cape Province,

Zand valley, Burchell 1628 (K, holo!, PRE,

fragm.!).

A. detinens Burch., Trav. 1 : 310 (1822); DC.,

Prodr. 2 : 456 (1825); Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot.

1 : 507 (1842); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 282 (1862); Benth. in

Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 517 (1875); Engl, in Bot.

Jahrb. 10 : 21 (1888); Marloth in Trans. S. Afr. Phil.

Soc. 5 : 268 (1889); Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss.

1 : 105 (1900); Harms in Warb., Kunene-Samb. Exped.

: 243 (1903); Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 210, t.59

(1907); Burn Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 157 (1908);

Dinter, Veg. Veldkost Deutsch-Sudwest-Afrikas 36

(1912); Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 147, t.18/2,

18/7 (1915); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 381

(1915); Dinter in Feddes Repert. 15 : 78 (1917); Pole

Evans in S. Afr. J. Sci. 17 : fig. 22 (1920); Marloth, FI.

S. Afr. 2 : 54, t.l8E (1925); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 828 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 ; 345 (1932);

Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 175, 179, 543, 631 (1946);

O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 20 (1952); Torre in

C.F.A. 2 ; 273, t.52B (1956); Story, Mem. Bot. Surv.

S. Afr. 30 : 22 (1958). Type as above. A.ferox Benth.

in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 5 : 97 (1846) pro parte quoad

fr. specim., nom. illegit., non A. ferox Mart. & Gal.

(1843); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 282 (1862) pro parte; Benth.

in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 ; 517 (1875) pro parte;

Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 157 (1908) pro parte;

N.E. Br. in Kew Bull. 1909 : 107 (1909) pro parte;

Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 151 (1915). Type:

Transvaal, Magaliesberg, Burke (K, holo.!). The

holotype of A.ferox is a mixed gathering consisting of

a vegetative twig of A. burkei and a fruiting specimen

of A. mellifera subsp. detinens. A. tenax Marloth in

Bot. Jahrb. 8 : 254 (1887). Type: South West Africa,

Otjimbingwe, Marloth 1258 (BOLI, PREI, iso.).

Subsp. detinens is found in Tanzania and south-

wards to Angola, South West Africa, Botswana, the

Transvaal, Orange Free State and northern Cape

Province. Occurs in dry thornveld, bushveld and

wooded grassland; frequently found on the Kalahari

sands.

S.W.A. — 1715 (Ondangua): Oshikango, Loeb 319.

1824 (Kachikau): near Linyanti, Killick & Leistner

3165. 1920 (Tsumkwe): Nama Pan, Story 5205. 2014

(Welwitschia): Franzfontein, Rodin 2744. 2116

(Okahandja): Okahandja, Dinter 268. 2117 (Otjo-

sondu): Quickborn, Bradfield 23. 2216 (Otjimbingwe):

farm Otjiseva, Wiss & Kinges 904. 2217 (Windhoek):

7 km N. of Windhoek, Codd 5774. 2316 (Nauchas):

between Gurumanas and Choaberib, Pearson 9599

(BOL, K). 2317 (Rehoboth): Uhlenhorst, farm Sib,

De Hoogh s.n. (K). 2416 (Maltahbhe): farm Bullsport,

Strey 2185. 2616 (Aus): top of ravine leading down to

Kuibis water station, Pearson 8001 (BOL, GRA).

2617 (Bethanie): Seeheim, Pillans 5853 (BOL). 2718

(Grunau): Great Karasberg, N.E. of Narudas Sud,

Pearson 8145 (BOL, K). 2818 (Warmbad): 25 km N.

of Warmbad, Pearson 4299 (BOL, K).

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort): Dongola

Reserve, Verdoorn 2274. 2327 (Ellisras): Moorddrift,

Leendertz 7328. 2329 (Pietersburg) : 4 km S.E. of

P.O. Vivo, Codd 4322. 2426 (Mochudi): Vleesch-

fontein, Gerstner 3130. 2427 (Thabazimbi) : Northam,

Van Nouhuys 30. 2428 (Nylstroom): Mosdene estate,

Naboomspruit, Galpin Ml 12. 2526 (Zeerust): Swart-

ruggens, Sutton 1198. 2527 (Rustenburg) : farm

Welgevonden, Mogg 14628. 2528 (Pretoria): Rus de

Winter, Gerstner 5536. 2725 (Bloemhof): from

Christiana to Fourteen Streams, Burtt Davy 1568h.

2726 (Odendaalsrus) : Greylingsdrif, Morris 1322.

O.F.S. — 2825 (Boshof): Smits Kraal, Burtt Davy

9935. 2924 (Hopetown): 22,4 km S.E. of Jacobsdal,

farm Waterval-Oost, Badenhorst 1. 2925 (Jagersfon-

tein): Fauresmith, Henrici 4606.

CAPE. — 2520 (Mata Mata): Kalahari Gemsbok

National Park, Bayip pan, Barnard 712. 2624 (Vry-

burg): Taungs, Pole Evans sub PRE 15832. 2122

(Olifantshoek): 56 km N.W. of Olifantshoek, Fock

sub KMG 8213. 2723 (Kuruman): Takoon, Burchell

2266 (K). 2820 (Kakamas): near Kakamas, Hutchin-

son 948 (BOL, K). 2821 (Upington): Upington,

Pillans 5879 (BOL). 2823 (Griekwastad) : 14,4 km

N. W. of Schmidtsdrif, Leistner & Joynt 2685. 2824

(Kimberley): Schmidtsdrif, Acocks 2404. 2923

(Douglas): Maselsfontein, E. Anderson 592 (GRA).

A. mellifera subsp. detinens, commonly known

as “Swart Haak”, often forms dense impenetrable

thickets.

5. Acacia robynsiana Merxm. & Schreiber

in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 27 : 268, t.7 (1957);

Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 276

(1965); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 11 (1967);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 758 (1973).

Type: South West Africa, Outjo Distr.,

Grootberg-Hang, Walter 1/\91 (M, holo.!).

Shrub with several erect slender branches

which tend to droop apically or a slender tree

to 8 m high with whip-like branches. Bark yel-

lowish to reddish-brown or purplish; young

branchlets whitish or grey- to reddish-brown

or purplish, sometimes as though white-

washed over a purplish background, glabrous

or subglabrous, with numerous somewhat

transversely elongated lenticels. Stipules not

spinescent, in pairs, linear, 1,8-3 mm long,

O, 2-0, 6 mm wide, soon deciduous. Prickles

in pairs near each node or often absent,

spreading laterally, straightish or slightly

recurved, up to 4,5 mm long, reddish-brown

to purplish-black. Leaves', petiole (0, 1)0,5-

1(1,2) cm long, glabrous or subglabrous;

Mimosoideae

53

rhachis 0-1,2 cm long, glabrous, a gland at

the junction of each pinna pair; pinnae 1 or 2

pairs; rhachillae 1,2-3, 5(4, 4) cm long,

glabrous; leaflets 6-13 pairs per pinna,

4-13,5 X 1,2-3, 5 mm, oblong or obovate-

oblong, often slightly to strongly falcate,

apex rounded, veins usually fairly conspicuous

beneath, completely glabrous. Inflorescences

spicate, solitary or fascicled. Flowers yel-

lowish-white, sessile or very shortly pedicel-

late ; spikes (0 , 6)3-5 cm long ; peduncles up to

0 , 5 cm long, glabrous. Calyx glabrous, tube

1,1-3 mm long, lobes up to 1,8 mm long.

Corolla glabrous, tube 2,8^ mm long, lobes

up to 2 mm long. Stamen-filaments free or

sometimes partially united basally, up to

10,5 mm long; anthers with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary 1,4-1, 8 mm long,

glabrous, on a stipe up to 2 mm long.

Pods pale to dark yellowish-brown, 3, 5-6, 8

X 1,4-2 cm, oblong, i straight, longitudi-

nally dehiscent, apex rounded to acute or

mucronate, venose, glabrous, sometimes

slightly umbonate over the seeds. Seeds

olive-brown, 8-10 X 8-10 mm, subcircular,

compressed ; central areole 1 , 5-2 , 5 X 2-3 , 5

mm, horse-shoe shaped.

Confined to South West Africa; found in a fairly

restricted area within the Outjo district and in the

Kaokoveld. Occurs in rocky ravines, kloofs and on

rocky ridges.

S.W.A. — 1813 (Ohopoho): 33,2 km from

Warmbad on road to Ombombo, De Winter &

Leistner 5827. 1914 (Kamanjab): Grootberg, Walter

2/191 (M). 2014 (Welwitschia): 145,6 km W. of

Welwitschia on road to Torra Bay, Giess & Van

Vuuren 1176', 155 km W. of Welwitschia on road to

Torra Bay, De Winter & Hardy 8161', Atsap, Wiss

1476a (M); Twyfelfontein, Wiss 1416b (M).

6. Acacia montis-usti Merxm. & Schreiber

in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 27 : 270, t.8 (1957);

Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 278

(1965); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 ; 10 (1967);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 757

(1973). Type: South West Africa, Brandberg,

Welwitsch-Tal, Von Wettstein 95 (M, holo. !).

Tree to 9 m high branching from near

the base, “broom-like”, crown flattened and

spreading or rounded ; trunk to 0 , 5 m in diam.

Bark olive- or yellowish- to reddish-brown or

purplish-black and smooth when young,

grey-brown to black, rough and fissured in

mature trees; young branchlets olive-or

reddish-brown, with numerous somewhat

transversely elongated cream or reddish-

brown lenticels, glabrous or subglabrous.

Stipules not spinescent, in pairs, linear, up to

3 mm long, 0,2-0, 8 mm wide, soon deci-

duous. Prickles in pairs near the nodes or

frequently absent (rarely a third prickle a

short distance below and between the two

lateral ones), spreading laterally, straightish

or slightly recurved, up to 8 mm long.

Leaves: petiole 0,6-2, 8 cm long, glabrous

or subglabrous, adaxial gland usually present,

often just below the lowest pinna pair,

slightly raised, 0,3-1, 5 x 0,3-1, 5 mm;

rhachis 0, 8-4(6, 8) cm long, glabrous or

subglabrous, lower surface usually without

recurved prickles, a small gland usually at the

junction of the top 1-2 pinnae pairs only,

occasionally between each pinna pair or

absent altogether; pinnae 2-6 pairs; rhachil-

lae 1,4^(6) cm long, glabrous or sub-

glabrous; leaflets 4-13 pairs per pinna,

5-14,6 X 0, 9-3(5) mm, linear-oblong to

obovate-oblong, often slightly falcate, apex

obtuse to acute, lateral nerves often fairly

conspicuous beneath, margins without cilia,

surfaces usually glabrous. Inflorescences

spicate, fascicled or solitary. Flowers yel-

lowish-white or pale cream, sessile; spikes

3-8,5 cm long; peduncles 0,2-1, 4 cm long,

glabrous or subglabrous. Calyx glabrous or

subglabrous, tube 1,1-1, 8 mm long, lobes

0,2-0, 8 mm long. Corolla glabrous or

occasionally minutely pubescent near the

apices of the lobes, tube 1,4-2, 3 mm long,

lobes 0,6-1, 2 mm long. Stamen-filaments

free, up to 8 mm long; anthers with a deci-

duous apical gland. Ovary up to 1,4 mm

long, shortly stipitate, glabrous. Pods olive-

or reddish-brown to blackish, 7,6-18 X

1,6-2, 4 cm, oblong, ±straight or slightly

curved, apex obtuse to subacute, longitudi-

nally dehiscent, slightly woody but brittle,

glabrous or subglabrous, margins con-

spicuously thickened. Seeds olive- to reddish-

brown, 10-13 X 8-12 mm, subcircular,

compressed; central areole 4-6 x 3-5 mm,

horse-shoe shaped.

Confined to South West Africa; found in a fairly

restricted area within the Omaruru and Outjo districts

and in the Kaokoveld. Occurs in rocky ravines,

kloofs and on rocky ridges.

S.W.A.— 1812 (Sanitatas); ravine near Nawantes,

Merxinitller & Giess 1436 (M). 1913 (Sesfontein) :

19,2 km from Warmbad on road to Ombombo,

De Winter & Leistner 5841', 30,4 km from Warmbad

on road to Ombombo, De Winter & Leistner 5834.

1914 (Kamanjab): Kaientes, Walter 7/256 (M).

2114 (Uis): Brandberg, Tsisab Valley, below the

54

Mimosoideae

White Lady, Nordenstam 2528 (M); Brandberg,

Tsisab valley, Merxmuller & Giess 1662 (M); Urschler

s. n. (M); fViss 1414 (M).

7. Acacia welwitschii Oliv. in F.T.A.

2 : 341 (1871): Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 30 : 517 (1875); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 829 (1930); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 274

(1956); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 78 (1970). Type:

Angola, Luanda District, Barra de Bengo,

entre Mutolo e Cacuaco, prox. de Quicuxe,

Welwitsch 1806 (LISU holo.; BM!, K!, P!).

subsp. delagoensis {Harms) Ross &

Brenan in Kew Bull. 21 : 67 (1967); Brenan in

F.Z. 3, 1 : 78 (1970); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger

Nat. Park 1: 133 (1972); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2: 755 (1973). Type: Mozam-

bique, Umbeluzi, Schlechter 1 1718 (B, holo.f;

BM!, Kl, Zl).

A. welwitschii Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 341 (1871) pro

parte quoad specim. Kirk; Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 55,

t. 37B (1909); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 829 (1930)

pro parte quoad specim. Rhodesia et Mozambique;

Wild, S. Rhod. Bot. Diet. 49 (1953). A. delagoensis

[Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 157 (1908) nom. nud. ;

Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 56 (1909) nom. nud.] Harms

in Bot. Jahrb. 51 : 367 (1914); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 337 (1932); Codd, Trees & Shrubs

Kruger Nat. Park 42, fig. 37c, d (1951); Young in

Candollea 15 : 117 (1955); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 278 (1965); Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol.

Moqamb. 1 : 234, t.38 (1966). Type as above.

Tree to 13 m high with a rounded,

flattened and somewhat spreading or irregu-

larly open crown. Bark yellowish- or grey-

to reddish-brown or blackish, rough, irregu-

larly fissured; young branchlets grey- to

reddish-brown or purplish, glabrous or

occasionally sparingly pubescent. Stipules

not spinescent, in pairs, ±linear, 1-3,5 x

0,3-0, 6 mm, glabrous, soon deciduous.

Prickles in pairs below the nodes, strongly

recurved, often broad-based, greyish-brown

to blackish, up to 9 mm long. Leaves; petiole

0,6-1 ,9(2,4) cm long, adaxial gland usually

present, variable in position, 0,3-0, 8 x

0,2-0, 5 mm; rhachis (0,9)1 ,2-4, 1(5,8) cm

long, glabrous or occasionally sparingly

pubescent, eglandular or with a gland at the

junction of the top pinna pair; pinnae 3-5

pairs; rhachillae 0,7-2, 3(3, 4) cm long,

glabrous or occasionally sparingly pubescent,

usually with a small gland at the junction of

the top few leaflet pairs or sometimes each

leaflet pair; leaflets 3-9 pairs per pinna,

5-9,5 X 2,5-5 mm, elliptic or broadly

elliptic, sometimes somewhat ovate, apex

rounded and often slightly emarginate, nearly

symmetrical basally, glabrous, veins rather

prominent beneath. Inflorescences spicate,

fascicled or solitary. Flowers yellowish-white,

sessile or almost so; spikes 2, 6-5, 6 cm long;

peduncles 0,5-1 ,2 cm long, glabrous or

occasionally sparingly pub^escent. Calyx

sometimes tinged with pink, glabrous, tube

0,9-1 ,4 mm long, lobes up to 0,9 mm long.

Corolla glabrous or occasionally with few

glandular hairs, tube 1 ,6-2,3 mm long, lobes

up to 1,1 mm long. Stamen-fllaments free,

up to 5,5 mm long; anthers ± 0,15 mm

across, with a deciduous apical gland. Ovary

to 1,3 mm long, glabrous, stipitate. Pods

grey- to reddish-brown, 5,2-12,2(16,6) x

1,4-2 cm, straight, linear-oblong, rounded

to ± acuminate apically, longitudinally dehi-

scent, coriaceous, venose, glabrous. Seeds

olive- to reddish-brown, 7-13 x 7-13,5 mm,

irregularly subcircular, compressed; central

areole 4-8 x 4-9 mm, horse-shoe shaped.

Found in Malawi, eastern Rhodesia, Mozam-

bique and the eastern Transvaal. Occurs in thornveld

and woodland.

TRANSVAAL. — 2431 (Acornhoek): Kruger

National Park, 12,8 km from Satara on Rabelais

road ( — BC), Van der Schijff 3293; Kruger National

Park, 32 km N.E. of Skukuza near Tshokwane

( — DD), Codd & Verdoorn 5480.

Subsp. welwitschii is known only from Angola.

The geographical ranges of subsp. welwitschii and

subsp. delagoensis are widely separated, and the

specimens of each have a markedly different and

distinctive “look”, yet the only satisfactory morpho-

logical difference between the two is in the length of

the inflorescence.

A. welwitschii subsp. delagoensis differs from

A. burkei in having a glabrous calyx and in being

glabrous in most of its parts. It differs from A.

nigrescens, which also has a glabrous calyx, in the

more numerous pairs of smaller leaflets.

8. Acacia nigrescens Oliv. in F.T.A.

2 : 340 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 30 : 517 (1875); Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr.

54, t.33B (1909); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw.

Afr. 3,1 : 384 (1915); Marloth, R S. Afr.

2 : fig. 31 (1925); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 829 (1930); Milne-Redhead in Kew Bull.

1937 : 417 (1937); Hutch., Botanist in S.

Afr. 370, 375, 538, 549 (1946); Codd, Trees &

Shrubs I^uger Nat. Park 47, figs. 40, 41, 42,

43c, d, e (1951); O. B. Miller in J.S. Afr. Bot.

18 : 23 (1952); Young in Candollea 15 : 119

(1955); Palgrave, Trees Cent. Afr. 250

(1956); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 274 (1956):

Schreiber in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen

2 : 284 (1957); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Mimos. : 85, fig. 14/9 (1959); Palmer &

Mimosoideae

55

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 161, t.viii, 40, 41, 42

(1961); Letty, Wild Flow. Transv. 153, t.77

fig. 1 & la (1962); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod.

82, fig. 17E (1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 274 (1965) pro parte excl. syn.

A. goetzei Harms pro parte; De Winter et al,

66 Transv. Trees 52 (1966); Schreiber in

F.S.W.A. 58 : 11 (1967); Ross in Bol. Soc.

Brot., S6r. 2, 42 ; 181 (1968); Brenanin F.Z.

3,1 ; 69, 1. 15/3 (1970); Ross, Acacia Spp.

Natal 35, fig. 1/5 (1971); Van Wyk, Trees

Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 147 (1972); Ross, FI.

Natal 193 (1973); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S.

Afr. 2 : 748 (1973). Type: Malawi, near

Mitonda, Shire River, Kirk s.n. (K, holo. !).

A. caffra sensu Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 345 (1871) pro

parte, tantum quoad specim. McCabe pro parte;

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 833 (1930) etiam pro parte

ut praec. A. nigrescens var. pollens Benth. in Trans.

Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 517 (1875); Young in Candollea

15 : 119, 1. 19/14 (1955). Type: Mozambique, near

Sena, Kirk 201 (K, holo.!). A. passargei Harms in

Passarge, Kalahari : 789 (1904); in Engl., Pflanzenw.

Afr. 3,1 : 384 (19'5). Type: Presumably from

Botswana, Passarge 22 (B, holo. t; BM drawing!).

A. pollens (Benth.) Rolfe in Kew Bull. 1907 : 361

(1907); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 159 (1908);

Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 145 (1915); Sim,

Native Timbers S. Afr. 35, t.35 & 36 (1921); Bak.f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 829 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 339, fig. 57 (1932); Stapleton, Common

Transvaal Trees 6 (1937). Type as for A. nigrescens var.

pollens. A. melli/era sensu Henkel, Woody PI. Natal

232 (1934), non (Vahl) Benth. A. nigrescens var.

nigrescens — Young in Candollea 15 ; 119 (1955).

Albizia lugardii N.E. Br. in Kew Bull. 1909 : 109

(1909). Type: Botswana, Ngamiland, Okavango

valley, Lugard 246 (K, holo. !).

Tree to 30 m high; crown rounded or

branches ascending and spreading slightly,

often cylindrical in young plants; trunk to

0,75 m in diam., typically beset with persis-

tent prickles arising from swollen knobs up

to 6,3 cm long. Bark yellowish-, grey- or

reddish-brown, sometimes almost black,

rough, fissured; young branchlets yellowish-,

grey- or reddish-brown to blackish, flaking

minutely, glabrous to pubescent. Stipules

not spinescent, in pairs, ± linear, 1-3 x

0,2-0, 6 mm, soon deciduous. Prickles in

pairs below the nodes, strongly recurved,

often broad-based, grey- to reddish-brown

or black, up to 7 mm long. Leaves: petiole

0,5-4, 3 cm long, glabrous to pubescent,

adaxial gland often absent, variable in

position, 0,3-0, 7 x 0,2-0, 5 mm; rhachis

0,8-10,2 cm long, glabrous to pubescent,

usually without a gland at the junction of

each pinna pair; pinnae 2-4 pairs; rhachillae

0,3-3, 7 cm long; leaflets 1-2(4) pairs per

pinna, (6,5)10-30(50) X (5,3)7-30(49,8)

mm, very variable in shape, obliquely obo-

vate-orbicular to broadly obovate-elliptic,

apex rounded and often emarginate, sub-

coriaceous, venose, glabrous above and below

or sparingly to densely appressed-pubescent

above and/or below. Inflorescences spicate,

fascicled, on short lateral branchlets, or

occasionally solitary, sometimes crowded

into a terminal raceme. Flowers yellowish-

white, sessile; spikes 1-10,2 cm long;

peduncles 0,3-2, 4 cm long, glabrous or sub-

glabrous, occasionally pubescent. Calyx often

tinged with pink or distinctly pinlash-red,

glabrous, tube 0,7-1,75 mm long, lobes

0,3-0, 8 mm long. Corolla glabrous, tube

1,5-2 mm long, lobes up to 0,75 mm long.

Stamen-fllaments free, up to 6 mm long;

anthers 0,1 mm across, with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary glaWus, 0,6-1, 5 mm

long, very shortly stipitate. Pods olive- or

dark-brown to blackish, 6,1-17,8 X 1,4-

2, 4(2, 7) cm, oblong, straight or nearly so,

acuminate apically, longitudinally dehiscent,

glabrous, coriaceous, brittle, scarcely venose.

Seeds olive to olive-brown, 10-13 X 10-13

mm, subcircular-lenticular, compressed;

areole 6-8 x 6-8 mm, horse-shoe shaped.

Found from Tanzania southwards to South

West Africa, Botswana, the Transvaal, Swaziland and

Natal (Zululand). Occurs on a variety of soil types in

woodland, wooded grassland and bushveld, some-

times near rivers and pans.

S.W.A. — 1720 (Sambio): between Sambio and

Masari, De Winter 4078. 1820 (Tarikora): Nyangana,

Maguire 1659.

TRANSVAAL.— 2229 (Waterpoort): northern

entrance to Wyllie’s Poort, De Winter 7749. 2230

(Messina): Messina, Rogers 21842. 2231 (Pafuri):

Kruger National Park, 8 km E. of Punda Milia, Codd

5385. 2329 (Pietersburg) : Vivo, 67,2 km W. of Louis

Trichardt, Schlieben 1363. 2330 (Tzaneen): Hans

Merensky Nature Reserve, Oates 29. 2331 (Phala-

borwa): Kruger National Park, Letaba Rest Camp,

Lang sub TRV 30939. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Strydom

Tunnel east, Strey 7896. 2431 (Acomhoek): between

Klaserie and Acomhoek, Rauh & Schlieben 9708.

2531 (Komatipoort) : 12 km N. of Barberton, Codd

1627. 2731 (Louwsburg): 1,6 km S. of Gollel on

Candover road, Ross 1554 (NH, NU).

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): Stegi district.

Ranches, Compton 27023. 2731 (Louwsburg): 32 km

from Gollel on Hluti road, Ross 1429 (K, NH, NU).

NATAL.— 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, western area, Ross 667 (NU). 2731 (Louws-

burg): Mkuzana River, ± 22 km from Magudu on

Nongoma road, Ross 1090 (K, NU). 2732 (Ubombo):

Mkuzi Game Reserve, Ward 2393. 2831 (Nkandla):

9,6 km N. of Mahlabatini, Acocks 11665.

56

Mimosoideae

A. nigrescens is usually an easily recognized

species on account of its 1-2 (rarely 3-4) pairs of

large leaflets and glabrous calyces. However, plants

are found with leaflets intermediate in size, shape

and number between those of A. nigrescens and those

of A. burkei Benth. As these plants have pubescent

calyces, their relationship appears to be with A. burkei

rather than with A. nigrescens and they are discussed

in more detail under A. burkei.

A. nigrescens is usually glabrous throughout, but

it is occasionally puberulous or even quite densely

pubescent. The characteristic raised knobs on the

trunk and the larger branches are variable in their

occurrence and are, at times, even absent. It is these

knobs which have given the species the common

names Knob-Thorn or Knoppiesdoring.

A. nigrescens sometimes flowers when quite

leafless and may then be difficult to distinguish from

A. galpinii which sometimes does the same. A.

galpinii may be distinguished by its shorter (0,75-

I, 25 mm long) usually ± puberulous calyx and by the

corolla-lobes which are usually puberulous outside.

In A. nigrescens the calyx is 1,5-2, 2 mm long and

glabrous, as are the corolla-lobes.

The wood of A. nigrescens is hard, heavy and

durable.

9. Acacia burkei Benth. in Hook., Lond.

J. Bot. 5 : 98 (1846); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 282

(1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond.

30 : 518 (1875) pro parte excl. specim. Meller

9 et A/rA:; Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 156

(1908) pro parte excl. specim. Meller 9;

Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 56 (1909) pro parte

excl. specim. Meller 9 et specim. Zambesia;

Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 146, t.18/4

(1915); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1922 : 325

(1922); Burtt Davy FI. Transv. 2 : 337, fig. 56

(1932); O. B. Miller, Checklist Bech. Prot.

17 (1948) pro parte excl. syn. A. mossambi-

censis; in J.S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 19 (1952) pro

parte ut praec.; Codd, Trees & Shrubs

Kruger Nat. Park 41, fig. 34b (1951); Young

in Candollea 15 : 115 (1955); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 150 (1961); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 280

(1965); De Winter et al, 66 Transv. Trees 42

(1966); Ross in Bol. Soc. Brot. S6r 2, 42 : 275

(1968); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 76 (1970);

Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal 24, fig. 1/4 (1971);

Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 129

(1972); Ross, FI. Natal 193 (1973): Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 753 (1973). Type:

Transvaal, Magaliesberg, Burke (K, holo.!;

BM!, PRE!).

A. ferox Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 5 : 97

(1846) pro parte, nom. illegit., non A. ferox Mart. &

Gal. (1843); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 282 (1862) pro parte;

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 517 (1875) pro

parte; Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 151 (19i5).

Type: Transvaal, Magaliesberg, Burke (K, holo.!).

The holotype of A. ferox is a mixed gathering con-

sisting of a vegetative twig of A. burkei and a fruiting

specimen of A. meltifera (Vahl) Benth. subsp. detinens

(Burch.) Brenan. A. mossambicensis sensu Henkel,

Woody PI. Natal 233 (1934); Henkel, Ecol. Hluhluwe

Game Res. 17, t.vi (1937); non Bolle in Peters, Reise

Mossamb. Bot. 1 : 5 (1861).

Tree to 27 m high with a rounded,

flattened and somewhat spreading or irregu-

larly open crown. Bark pale or dark greyish-

yellow to brown or almost black, rough,

irregularly fissured, flaking, often with persis-

tent prickles scattered over the surface;

young branchlets pale or dark greyish-

yellow or reddish-brown to black, flaking,

often minutely, subglabrous to densely

pubescent. Stipules not spinescent, in pairs,

it linear, 1-3,5 x 0,2-0, 6 mm, densely

pubescent, soon deciduous. Prickles in pairs

below the nodes, strongly recurved, often

broad-based, grey to reddish-brown or black,

3-9 mm long. Leaves: petiole (0, 4)1-2, 3(3, 5)

cm long, adaxial gland often present, variable

in position, 0,3-0, 8 mm in diam.; rhachis

(0)3, 4-7, 2(9, 1) cm long, subglabrous to

densely pubescent, abaxial surface usually

without recurved prickles, eglandular or with

a gland at the junction of the top pinna pair or

top 1-3 pairs; pinnae (1)3-13 pairs; rhachillae

0,6-5, 7 cm long, subglabrous to densely

pubescent; leaflets (1)4-19 pairs per pinna,

1,2-20,2 X 0,8-13,1 mm, very variable in

shape, linear to linear-oblong or obovate,

obovate-oblong to i orbicular, apex acute to

rounded, usually markedly asymmetric

basally, veins often prominent below, varying

from glabrous above and/or below to

sparingly or densely pubescent above and/or

below, typically pubescent and with a small

basal tuft of hairs on the lower surface.

Inflorescences spicate, fascicled, often crow-

ded into a terminal raceme, or occasionally

solitary. Flowers yellowish-white, sessile or

almost so; spikes 1,4-8,5(14,6) cm long;

peduncles 0,4-2 cm long, sparingly to

densely pubescent, rarely subglabrous. Calyx

campanulate, often tinged with pink or

distinctly pinkish-red, sparingly to densely

pubescent, tube 0,7-1, 6 mm long, lobes

0,4-1 ,1 mm long. Corolla often tinged with

pink or pinkish-red, glabrous or apices of

lobes sparingly pubescent, tube 1, 5-2,1 mm

long, lobes up to 1,2 mm long. Stamen-

filaments free, up to 6 mm long; anthers ±

0,15 mm across, with a deciduous apical

gland. Ovary to 1,6 mm long, glabrous.

Mimosoideae

57

shortly stipitate. Pods reddish- or purplish-

brown, 4,1-16,9 X 0,9-2, 4 cm, straight,

linear-oblong, ± acuminate to mucronate

apically, longitudinally dehiscent, coriaceous,

obscurely venose, glabrous or sparsely pube-

scent near the margins and stipe. Seeds olive-

to reddish-brown, subcircular-lenticular, 6-13

X 6-11 mm, compressed; central areole

4-8 X 3-8 mm, horse-shoe shaped.

Found in south-eastern Botswana, south'

eastern Rhodesia, the Transvaal, Mozambique,

Swaziland and Natal (almost confined to Zululand).

Occurs on a variety of soil types and on boulder

strewn slopes in dry river valley scrub, thornveld,

mixed woodland and in scrub.

TRANSVAAL.— 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National

Park, 8 km N.E. of Punda Milia, Codd & Dyer 4572.

2426 (Mochudi): 96 km N. of Zeerust, Louw 1503.

2427 (Thabazimbi): 18,7 km from Mabula on

Warmbad-Thabazimbi road, Ross 1499 (NH, NU).

2428 (Nylstroom): 7,3 km N. of Warmbad on Nyl-

stroom road, Ross 1494 (NH, NU). 2431 (Acornhoek):

Kruger National Park, 1 ,6 km E. of Skukuza, Codd &

Verdoorn 5486. 2527 (Rustenburg): near Hartebees-

poort Dam, 4,8 km W. of dam wall, De Winter 5954.

2528 (Pretoria): Pienaarsrivier, Bremekamp sub PRE

29161. 2529 (Witbank): hills on E. side of Loskopdam,

Mogg 17307. 2531 (Komatipoort): Kruger National

Park, Pretoriuskop, Van der Schijff 3894. 2731

(Louwsburg): Pongola settlement, Codd 10153.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): 17,6 km W. of

Stegi on road to Mbabane, Codd & Dyer 2864. 2731

(Louwsburg): 24 km from Gollel on Hluti road, Ross

1526 (K, NH, NU).

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, lower margins of Ndumu Hill, Tinley 898

(NU). 2731 (Louwsburg): between Candover and

Magudu, Strey 4789. 2732 (Ubombo): Mkuzi Game

Reserve, Ward 4444. 2831 (Nkandla): 1,6 km S. of

Enseleni River, 11,2 km N. of Empangeni, Ross 1364

(K, NH, NU). 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe Game

Reserve, near Hluhluwe River, Ward 1653. 2931

(Stanger): 4,8 km S. of Mandini on old main road.

Lower Tugela valley, Ross 1359 (K, NH, NU).

A. burkei is an extremely variable species,

particularly in leaflet size, shape and number, and

forms part of a taxonomically difficult complex of

species. Within our area A. burkei is most closely

related to A. nigrescens and to A. weiwitschii subsp.

delagoensis. However, it diflers from both species in

having a ± densely pubescent calyx.

In their typical forms A. nigrescens and A. burkei

are readily distinguishable: the former with its 1-2

(rarely 3 or 4) pairs of large leaflets and glabrous

calyces, and the latter with more numerous pairs

of smaller leaflets and pubescent calyces.

However, there are numerous plants with leaflets

intermediate in size, shape and in number between

those of A. nigrescens and those of A. burkei. Leaflet

size varies considerably and an entire range from

those the size of A. burkei to those the size of A.

nigrescens may occasionally be found on a single

plant. As these plants have pubescent calyces, their

relationship seems to be with A. burkei rather than

with A. nigrescens. Although distinct from A. nigresc-

ens in having pubescent calyces and bracts, the

superficial resemblance of some of these plants to A.

nigrescens is strengthened because they often grow

with, or in close proximity to, A. nigrescens.

The range of morphological variation within A.

burkei is often not readily apparent to a casual

collector, or even from an examination of material in

many herbaria. The extremes of the species look very

different yet when the range of variation is inspected,

it becomes clear that it is not possible to divide this

range of variation satisfactorily. It had been customary

in the past to distinguish loosely between “big leaflet”

and “small leaflet” plants of A. burkei, the former

typically having leaflets more than 3 mm wide and the

latter leaflets less than 3 mm wide. A detailed study

(Ross, I.C., 1968) revealed that the characters typify-

ing “big leaflet” and “small leaflet” plants varied

independently, certain combinations of characters

being commoner than others. Each combination,

however, is frequently modified by the substitution

of individual characters which show correlation, to

varying degrees of imperfection, with other characters.

Owing to the presence of so many intermediates and

the inability to divide this range of variation satis-

factorily, no infraspecific categories have been

recognized within A. burkei. A numerical study of the

species (Ross & Morris in Bothalia 10 : 437, 1971)

supported this view.

10. Acacia galpinii Burtt Davy in Kew

Bull. 1922 : 326 (1922); FI. Transv. 2 : 337

(1932); Steedman, Trees etc. S. Rhod. 13

(1933); Stapleton, Common Transvaal Trees 5

(1937); O. B. Miller, Checklist Bech. Prot. :

18 (1948); in J.S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 20 (1952);

Pardy in Rhod. Agric. J. 49 : 12 (1952);

Young in Candollea 15 : 97 (1955); Palgrave,

Trees Central Afr. 239 (1956); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 87 (1959); Palmer

& Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 151, t.l6, 30, 33

(1961); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 83, fig.

17F (1962); Brenan in Kew Bull. 17 : 164

(1963); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr.

2 : 280 (1965); De Winter et al, 66 Transv.

Trees 46 (1966); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1; 68

(1970); Ross in Bothalia 10 : 547 (1972);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 767

(1973). Type: Transvaal, banks of Bad-zyn-

loop River, Mosdene Estate, Naboomspruit,

19 Sept. 1920, Galpin 483 M (K, holo.!;

BM!, GRA!, PRE!).

A. caffra sensu Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 345 (1871)

tantum quoad specirn. McCabe pro parte; Bak.f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 833 (1930) etiam pro parte ut

praec. A. duicis sensu Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 233

(1934), non Marloth & Engl. A. Senegal sensu O. B.

Miller, Checklist Bech. Prot. 21 (1948).

Tree to 36 m high; trunk to 2 m diam.;

crown often rounded. Bark pale to dark

yellowish- or greyish-brown to blackish.

58

Mimosoideae

corky when young, rough, often longitudin-

ally fissured, sometimes with scattered persis-

tent prickles arising from swollen bases;

young branchlets yellowish- or olive-brown to

dark reddish-brown or purplish, glabrous or

subglabrous to pubescent. Stipules not spinesc-

ent, in pairs, 1-3,5 x 0,2-0, 8 mm, soon

deciduous. Prickles in pairs just below the

nodes, recurved or almost straight, often

broad-based, dark reddish-brown to black,

up to 1,2 cm long, rarely absent. Leaves:

petiole (0,6)1 ,4-3, 6(4, 8) cm long, adaxial

gland usually present, variable in position,

round or oval, 0,6-1, 5 x 0,4-1 mm;

rhachis (2,6)5,5-11(14,2) cm long, sub-

glabrous to pubescent, abaxial surface some-

times with recurved prickles, with a gland

at the junction of the top 1-6 pinnae pairs,

occasionally at the junction of all or nearly

all pinnae pairs or absent altogether; pinnae

(4)7-14 pairs; rhachillae (2, 5)3-6, 5(9,2) cm

long, glabrous to pubescent; leaflets 12-

35(45) pairs per pinna, (3)4-10(12) x 0,8-3

(3,8) mm, oblong to linear-oblong, the upper

sometimes obovate, often slightly falcate,

apex rounded to subacute, veins not very

prominent beneath, glabrous except for the

frequent presence of a small basal tuft of

hairs abaxially, rarely sparingly pubescent

beneath, margins with or without cilia.

Inflorescences spicate, fascicled or solitary,

often borne on short lateral shoots. Flowers

cream to yellowish-white, sessile; spikes

(3,2)5-10 cm long; peduncles 0,3-1, 3 cm

long, glabrous to sparingly or densely pu-

bescent. Calyx cupular, red or purple, 0,75-

1,25 mm long, ipuberulous or sometimes

subglabrous or glabrous. Corolla red or

purplish, subglabrous to puberulous, espec-

ially towards the apices of the lobes, tube up

to 1,6 mm long, lobes up to 1,4 mm long.

Stamen-filaments yellowish-white, free,

4-6 mm long; anthers 0,15-0,2 mm across,

with a deciduous apical gland. Ovary glabrous,

0,8-1 ,5 mm long, on a stipe up to 0,8 mm

long. Pods reddish- to purplish-brown, 11-28

X 2, 3-3, 5 cm, straight, apex acute to

mucronate, longitudinally dehiscent, valves

thinly woody but brittle, venose, slightly

umbonate over the seeds, glabrous or almost

so. Seeds olive-brown, subcircular-lenticular,

8-12(15) X 8-12,5 mm, compressed; central

areole 5-8 x 3,5-7 mm, horse-shoe shaped.

Found in central Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi,

Mozambique, Botswana, Rhodesia and the Transvaal.

Occurs in woodland or bushveld, frequently, but by

no means always, on river banks or where moisture is

available.

TRANSVAAL. — 2328 (Baltimore): Blauwberg,

along river near Leipsig, Strey & Schliebert 8575. 2329

(Pietersburg) : 49,6 km W. of Louis Trichardt, south

side of Soutpansberg range, Codd 4441. 2427 (Thaba-

zimbi): Thabazimbi, Dyer & Verdoorn 4218. 2428

(Nylstroom): banks of Bad-zyn-loop River, Mosdene

estate, Naboomspruit, 19 Sept. 1920, Galpin 483M.

2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Steelpoort, Smuts & Gillett

3521. 2526 (Zeerust): Leeuwfontein, Reyneke 416.

2528 (Pretoria): Rust de Winter, Codd 5598. 2529

(Witbank): 6,4 km E. of Groblersdal, Codd 2702.

Grid ref. unknown: Rustenburg Distr., Melle sub

PRE 29616.

A. galpinii, popularly known as the Monkey-

thorn or Apiesdoring, is one of our largest acacias.

The red or purple calyces and corollas are

unusual among the African species of Acacia.

A. galpinii sometimes flowers when leafless and

then specimens may be difficult to distinguish from

A. nigrescens in the same condition. The differences

between the two species are given under A. nigrescens.

11. Acacia polyacantha Willd., Sp. PI. 4 :

1079 (1806); DC., Prodr. 2 : 459 (1825);

Brenan in Kew Bull. 11 : 195 (1956); in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. ; 87 (1959); in

F.Z. 3,1 : 71 (1970). Type: Eastern India,

collector unknown. Herb Willdenow 19166

(B, holo., K, fragm. !, K, PRE, photo.).

subsp. campylacantha (Hochst. ex A.

Rich.) Brenan in Kew Bull. 11 : 195 (1956);

Palgrave, Trees Cent. Afr. 235 (1956); Keay

in F.W.T.A. ed.2,1 : 499 (1958); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 88, fig. 14/12

(1959); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 84

(1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr.

2 : 282 (1965); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 ; 71,

t.15/4, t.l8 (1970); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger

Nat. Park 1 : 153 (1972); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 765 (1973). Syntypes:

Ethiopia, Mai Dogale, Schimper 639 (BM!,

E!, FI!, Kl, PI, Zl); Dscheladscheranne

[Jelajeranne], Schimper 893 (BMI, El, FI!,

K!, P!, Z!).

A. campylacantha Hochst. ex A. Rich., Tent. FI.

Abyss. 1 : 242 (1847); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr.

3,1 : 385, fig. 223 (1915); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull.

1922 : 325 (1922); FI. Transv. 2 : 337 (1932); Bak.f.,

Ug. Trop. Afr. 3 : 831 (1930); Codd, Trees &

Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 42, fig. 35, 37e,f (1951);

O. B. Miller in J.S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 19 (1952); Young in

Candollea 15 : 99 (1955): Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 276

(1956); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 83, fig. 17H

(1962). Syntypes as above. A. catechu sensu Schweinf.

in Linnaea 35 : 363 (1867-8); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 344

(1871); Harms in Warb., Kunene-Samb. Exped. : 243

(1903); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 156 (1908);

Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 56 (1909), non (L.f.) Willd. A.

Mimosoideae

59

Acacia polyacantha subsp. caropylacantha. 1, flowering branch, • 2, gland on petiole, > 4; 3,

flowr, X 6; 4, flower, opened out to show ovary, x 6; 5, anthers, x 46, all from Lusaka Natural History

C/wo 172; 6, pods x 7, seed, ■ all from Gill Hand 199. Reproduced by permission of the Editorial

Board of Flora Zambesiaca.

60

Mimosoideae

caffra sensu Oiiv. in F.T.A. 2 : 345 (1871) pro parte

quoad specim. Angola; Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 833 (1930) quoad specim. Angola; Eyles in Trans.

Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 5 : 361 (1916). A. suma sensu

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 519 (1875) pro

parte, non sensu stricto. A. catechu (L.f.) Willd. subsp.

suma (Roxb.) Roberty var. campylacantha (Hochst. ex

A. Rich.) Roberty in Candollea 11 : 157 (1948).

Syntypes as above. A. caffra (Thunb.) Willd. var.

campylacantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Aubrev., FI.

Forest. Soudano-Guin. 272, t.53/4, 53/5 (1950);

Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 150 (1952). Syntypes

as above.

Tree to 15 m high; trunk to 0,6 m diam.,

often with persistent prickles up to 1 , 5 cm

long arising from swollen bases (knobs);

crown often somewhat flattened and spread-

ing. Bark pale to dark yellow or yellowish-

brown, fissured, flaking or peeling off to

reveal a whitish inner layer; young branch-

lets creamy-white to light grey-brown,

puberulous or pubescent, seldom sub-

glabrous. Stipules not spinescent, in pairs,

linear, 1,5-3, 5 x 0,2-0, 8 mm, soon

deciduous. Prickles in pairs just below each

node, occasionally absent, strongly recurved,

usually broad-based, 3-15 mm long, straw-

coloured to brown or blackish. Leaves:

petiole 0 , 5-4 cm long, adaxial gland variable

in position, often a short distance below the

lowest pinna pair, usually slightly flattened,

discoid or oblong, 1,5-4 x 1,5-3 mm;

rhachis 5,6-20 cm long, puberulous or

pubescent, rarely subglabrous, lower surface

often with recurved prickles up to 3 mm long,

a fairly large gland at the junction of the top

3-16 pinnae pairs; pinnae (6)14-35(45) pairs;

rhachillae 1 ,2-5, 5(7) cm long, puberulous or

pubescent, rarely subglabrous; leaflets 20-60

(68) pairs per pinna, 2-5(6) x 0,4-0, 9(1 ,25)

mm, linear to linear-triangular, apex sub-

acute to narrowly obtuse, usually pubescent

on the margins only, the midrib and some-

times a few small basal nerves visible below.

Inflorescences spicate, solitary or fascicled,

usually produced with the new leaves.

Flowers yellowish-white or cream, sessile or

nearly so; spikes 3-12 cm long; peduncles

0,5-3 cm long, puberulous to densely

tomentose, rarely subglabrous, often glan-

dular. Calyx puberulous or pubescent, rarely

subglabrous or puberulous on the lobes only,

tube 0,7-1, 8 mm long, lobes 0,2-0, 8 mm

long. Corolla subglabrous or puberulous,

often only the lobes puberulous, tube up to

2,5 mm long, lobes up to 1 mm long. Stamen-

fl laments free, up to 6 mm long; anthers ±

0 , 1 mm across, with a deciduous apical

gland. Ovary up to 1,2 mm long, glabrous,

shortly stipitate. Pods brown, 6,5-12(15) x

0,9-1 ,7(2) cm, oblong, straight or almost so,

usually acuminate apically, longitudinally

dehiscent, coriaceous, venose, glabrous or

subglabrous, rarely puberulous. Seeds sub-

circular to elliptic-lenticular, 7-9 X 6-8 mm,

compressed; central areole 3-4 x 2, 5-3, 5

mm, horse-shoe shaped, not impressed.

Widespread in tropical Africa from the Gambia

and Ethiopia southwards to the Transvaal. Occurs

usually on colluvial or alluvial loams or clays by

rivers and streams.

TRANSVAAL. — 2230 (Messina): 66,4 km from

Louis Trichardt on road to Punda Milia, Grobbelaar

699. 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National Park, M’basa,

Lang sub TRY 32219. 2329 (Pietersburg): 1,6 km E.

of Louis Trichardt, Codd 3024. 2330 (Tzaneen): Elim

( — AA), Obermeyer sub TRY 29295; Letaba River

(— CA), Strey 7935.

A. polyacantha subsp. campylacantha may be

distinguished from A. caffra in the field by its rela-

tively straight trunk and yellowish-brown flaking bark,

its large discoid petiolar glands and the tendency to a

flattened spreading crown.

A. polyacantha subsp. polyacantha, with prickles

straight or almost so, is known only from India and

(probably) Sri Lanka (Ceylon).

12. Acacia caffra {Thunb.) Willd., Sp. PI

4 : 1078 (1806); DC., Prodr. 2 : 459 (1825);

E. Mey., Comm. 1 : 169 (1836); Eckl. &

Zeyh., Enum. 260 (1836); Benth. in Hook.,

Lond. J. Bot. 1 : 509 (1842); Meisn. in

Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 2 : 105 (1843); Benth.

in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 5 : 98 (1846); Harv.

in F.C. 2 : 282 (1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 520 (1875); Marloth in

Trans. S. Afr. Phil. Soc. 5 : 269 (1889); Sim,

For. FI. Cape Col. 210, t.60 (1907) pro parte

excl. specim. Lake Ngami, Mossamedes,

Angola; Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908: 156

(1908) pro parte excl. specim. Lugard 93,

McCabe 29; Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb.

1 : 146, t.18/6 (1915); Harms in Engl.,

Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 387 (1915); Sim, Native

Timbers S. Afr. 32, t.34 (1921); Burtt Davy,

FI. Transv. 2 ; 337, fig. 55 (1932); Henkel,

Woody PI. Natal 232 (1934); Hutch.,

Botanist in S. Afr. 363, 366, 398 (1946);

Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 42

(1951); O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 19

(1952) pro parte excl. specim. Curson 173;

Young in Candollea 15 : 102 (1955); Brenan

in Kew Bull. 11 : 193 (1956); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. : 150, t.lV, 32 (1961);

Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 284

Mimosoideae

61

(1965); Ross in Ann. Natal Mus. 18 : 221

(1965); Ross & Gordon-Gray in Brittonia

18 : 267 (1966); De Winter et al, 66 Transv.

Trees 44 (1966); Ross in Webbia 22 : 203

(1967); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 ; 72 (1970);

Flow. PI. Afr. 40 : t.l586 (1970); Ross,

Acacia Spp. Natal 26, fig. 1/3 (1971); Van

Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 131 (1972);

Ross, FI. Natal 193 (1973); in Bothalia

11 : 127 (1973); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S.

Afr. 2 : 761 (1973). Type: Cape, Karoo near

Slang River, He^b. Willdenow 19163 (B,

holo., BOL, PRE, photo.).

Mimosa caffra Thunb., Prodr. 2 : 92 (1800);

FI. Cap., ed. Schult. 433 (1823). Type as above.

A.fallax E. Mey., Comm. 1 : 169 (1836); Meisn. in

HooL, Lond. J. Bot. 2 : 105 (1843). Syntypes: Cape,

Uitenhage Distr., Witrivier near Enon, Drege

(BM!, K!, P!); Peddie Distr., Keiskamma, Drege

(P!). A. caffra Willd. var. namaquensis Eckl. & Zeyh.,

Enum 260 (1836). Type: Cape, Clanwilliam Distr.,

Namaqualand, Olifants River, Clanwilliam, Ecklon &

Zeyher 1694 (BOL!, Kl). A. catechu sensu E. Mey.,

Comm. 1 : 170 (1836), non (L.f.) Willd. A. multijuga

Meisn. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 2 : 105 (1843). Type:

Natal, between Durban [Port Natal] and Tugela

River, Krauss 112 (BM, iso.!). A. caffra var. longa

Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 146 (1915). Syntypes:

Cape, Umtata Distr., Umtata, Convent of the Holy

Cross 233 (GRA!); King William’s Town Distr.,

King William’s Town, Sim 2137 (PRE!). A. caffra var.

tomentosa Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 146 (1915);

Bews, FI. Natal 114 (1921); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 337 (1932); Young in Candollea 15 : 107 (1955).

Type: Cape, Komgha Distr., hillsides near Komgha,

Oct. 1891, Flanagan 302 (BOL, lecto. !). A. caffra var.

transvaalensis Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 146

(1915). Type: Transvaal, Pretoria Distr., Wonder-

boompoort, near Pretoria, Rehmann 4603 (PRE,

lecto.!). A. mellei sensu O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot.

18 : 23 (1952) pro parte saltern quoad specim. Miller

B/950.

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, sub-

glabrous to densely tomentose, often glan-

dular. 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 de-

hiscent, coriaceous, umbonate over the seeds,

subglabrous or puberulous, seldom tomen-

tose, 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, horse-shoe

shaped.

Found in south-eastern Botswana, the Transvaal,

southern Mozambique, Swaziland, Natal and the

Cape Province. 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.

TRANSVAAL. — 2329 (Pietersburg): 28,8 km E.

of Pietersburg on Tzaneen road. Van Viiuren 1292.

2330 (Tzaneen): Westfalia Estate, Duiwelskloof,

Scheepers 1162. 2427 (Thabazimbi): 18,7 km from

Mabula store on Warmbad-Thabazimbi road, Ross

1500 (NH, NU). 2428 (Nylstroom): 7,4 km N. of

Warmbad on Nylstroom road, Ross 1495 (K, NH,

NU). 2429 (Zebediela): Chuniespoort, Obermeyer sub

PRE 34663. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Pilgrim’s Rest,

62

Mimosoideae

Bushbuck Ridge, Pritchard 46. 2526 (Zeerust):

Zeerust, Thode AMOS. 2527 (Rustenburg) : Rusten-

burg, Galpin 11643. 2528 (Pretoria): Plot 137, Willow-

glen, Pretoria, Letty 345. 2529 (Witbank): Loskop

Dam Nature Reserve, Mogg 30402. 2530 (Lydenburg) :

Schoemanskloof, Smuts 262. 2531 (Komatipoort) :

Kruger National Park, Lebombo Mountains, Croco-

dile Bridge section. Van der Schijff 3975. 2627 (Pot-

chefstroom): Potchefstroom, Potts sub NU 29058.

2628 (Johannesburg): Suikerbosrand, Mogg 18113

(SRGH). 2726 (Odendaalsrus) : Bezuidenhoudskraal,

Morris 1086. 2730 (Vryheid): ridge above Assegaai

River bridge on Moolman road, Galpin 9621.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Mpisi, Comp-

ton 28997. 2731 (Louwsburg): 16 km from Gollel on

Hluti road, Ross 1426 (K, NH, NU).

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Hill, Ross

655 (NH, NU). 2730 (Vryheid): road crossing on

Upper Blood River, on Kingsley-Viljoenspos road,

Edwards 2834. 2731 (Louwsburg): 22,4 km from

Nongoma on Magudu road, Ross 1086 (NU).

2723 (Ubombo): Lebombo Mountains, 9,6 km from

Jozini on road to Gwalaweni, Strey 8142. 2829

(Harrismith) : Oliviers Hoek Pass, Ross 143 (K, NH,

NU). 2830 (Dundee): 8 km from Dundee on Wasbank

road, Ross 787 (NH, NU). 2831 (Nkandla): Umfolozi

Game Reserve, Ross 926 (NH, NU). 2832 (Mtuba-

tuba): Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ward 1563. 2929

(Underberg): Estcourt Hill, 3,2 km S. of Estcourt,

Ross 121 (NU). 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Baynes

Drift, Ross 454. 2931 (Stanger): Lower Tugela valley,

below Bulwer farm, Edwards 1927. 3030 (Port

Shepstone): Uvongo, Ross 221 (K, NH, NU). 3130

(Port Edward): Port Edward, Ross 225 (NH, NU).

CAPE. — 2624 (Vryburg): Taungs, Breuckner 597.

3029 (Kokstad): bank of Umzimkulu River, near

Clydesdale, Tyson 2090. 3118 ( Vanrhynsdorp) : on the

Doom River, Drege s.n. (K, PRE). 3126 (Queens-

town): Queenstown, Taylor s.n. (GRA). 3128

(Umtata): Umtata River, Pegler 1603. 3129 (Port St.

Johns): Port St. Johns, G. Edwards 7892 (BM).

3218 (Clanwilliam): Olifants River, Clanwilliam,

Ecklon & Zeyher 1694 (BOL, K). 3226 (Fort Beau-

fort) : bank of Fish River, near bridge on Fort Beau-

fort road. Dyer 1178. 3227 (Stutterheim) : Prospect

farm, near Komgha, Flanagan 302. 3228 (Butter-

worth): Kentani, Pegler 49. 3322 (Qudtshoorn) :

Oudtshoorn, Burtt Davy 12624. 3325 (Port Elizabeth):

Bethelsdorp, near Uitenhage, Burchell 4400 (BOL,

GRA, K, P); on the banks of the Zwartkop and

Sundays Rivers, Ecklon & Zeyher 460 (BM, BOL,

E, FI, GRA, K, TCD). 3326 (Grahamstown) : bank of

Kowie River, R. Verdoorn 5.

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 arrange-

ment of the inflorescences and the degree of pube-

scence 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.

However, mention must be made of some

specimens from the Potgietersrust, Rustenburg and

Waterberg districts of the western Transvaal, for

example, Codd 3741, 3996, 4005, 4424, Meeuse

10142, 10144. The variation in leaflet size in these

specimens is greater, and leaflets sometimes attain a

larger size, than ever recorded in A. caffra in other

parts of its distributional range. There is, however, a

gradient in leaflet size from A. caffra to the largest

leaflets on these specimens. The pods of these speci-

mens differ in being broader than is usual for A. caffra

and in frequently having irregularly constricted

margins. The plants appear to represent a local

variant of A. caffra but it has not been possible to

establish whether they represent the response to some

edaphic or other environmental condition, or whether

they are the result of past introgression with an

unknown parent which is now absent from the area.

As no suitable means has been found of distinguishing

these specimens from A. caffra, they are included in

A. caffra.

The differences between A. caffra and A. ataxa-

cantha and between A. caffra and A. hereroensis are

given under A. ataxacantha and A. hereroensis

respectively. Specimens of A. caffra in Namaqualand

show a definite approach to specimens of A. here-

roensis.

The wood of A. caffra is heavy and close-

grained with a yellowish-white sapwood and a dark

brown to blackish heart- wood. Although of no

commercial value, it makes good fence poles and is an

excellent firewood. The Zulu name of A. caffra is “um

Thole”.

13. Acacia hereroensis Engl, in Bot.

Jahrb. 10 : 20 (1888); Schinz in Mem. Herb.

Boiss. 1 : 112 (1900); Harms in Engl.,

Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 388 (1915); Dinter in

Feddes Repert. 15 : 80 (1917); Bak. f.. Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 835 (1930); O. B. Miller,

Checklist Bech. Prot. 19 (1948); Ross in J.

S. Afr. Bot. 31 : 220 (1965); in Webbia

22 : 213 (1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

58 :9 (1967);BrenaninF.Z. 3,1 : 73 (1970);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 761 (1973).

Type: South West Africa, Otjimbingwe,

Mar loth 1331 (B, holo.f; GRA, pro parte!;

PRE!).

A. gansbergensis Schinz in M6m. Herb. Boiss.

1 : 108 (1900); Dinter in Feddes Repert. 15 : 79

(1917); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 833 (1930). Type:

South West Africa, Gansberg, Fleck 437a (Z, holo.l).

A. caffra sensu Schinz in Mdm. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 105

(1900) pro parte quoad specim. Fleck 494a; sensu

F. Bol. et al in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1:15 (1914), non

(Thunb.) Willd. A. mellei Verdoorn in Flow. PI. S.

Mimosoideae

63

Afr. 22 ; t.860 (1942); O. B. Miller, Checklist Bech.

Prot. 20 (1948); in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 23 (1952) pro

parte saltern excl. specim. Miller B/950; Young in

Candollea 15 : 109 (1955); Brenan in Kew Bull.

11 : 197 (1956); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr

2 : 286 (1965). Type: Transvaal, Pretoria Distr.,

Zwartkop, 9,6 km S. of Pretoria, Melle sub PRE

26514 (PRE, holo.!; FHO!, K!).

Shrub or tree to 10 m high; trunk to

0,35 m in diam.; branches usually ascending.

Bark pale to dark greyish-brown or brown,

rough; young branchlets grey- or reddish-

brown, densely puberulous to pubescent,

frequently with minute reddish glands scat-

tered in amongst the pubescence. Stipules

not spinescent, in pairs, linear, l,8-3,8x

0,2-0, 7 mm, soon deciduous. Prickles in

pairs just below the nodes, usually strongly

recurved, sometimes straightish, often broad-

based, up to 8 mm long. Leaves: petiole

0,3-1, 3(2, 2) cm long, adaxial gland usually

present, variable in position, slightly raised

or occasionally stalked, 0, 4-1,1 x 0, 1-0,4

mm; rhachis 1,7-6(10) cm long, puberulous

to densely pubescent, abaxial surface often

with scattered recurved prickles up to 2 mm

long, with a gland at the junction of the

top 1-3(7) pinnae pairs and occasionally

between the lowest 1-3 pairs; pinnae 8-14(26)

pairs; rhachillae (0,5) 1-2, 4(3, 4) cm long,

puberulous to densely pubescent; leaflets

grey-green, (16)20-36(48) pairs per pinna,

1-4 X (0,25)0,5-1,1 mm, linear to linear-

oblong, apex rounded to subacute, glabrous

or sparingly to densely appressed-pubescent

below, margins with or without spreading

cilia. Inflorescences spicate, solitary, fascicled

or crowded into an irregular terminal

panicle. Flowers yellowish-white, sessile;

spikes (2, 2)3-7, 4(8, 6) cm long; peduncles

0,3-2, 8 cm long, puberulous to densely

pubescent, often glandular. Calyx densely

puberulous to pubescent, tube 1-2 mm long,

lobes 0, 4-1,1 mm long. Corolla subglabrous

or appressed-pubescent especially towards

the apices of the lobes, tube up to 3,4 mm

long, lobes up to 1,1 mm long. Stamen-

fllaments free, up to 7,5 mm long; anthers ±

0,15 mm across, with a deciduous apical

gland. Ovary 0,7-1, 5 mm long, glabrous,

shortly stipitate. Pods olive- to reddish-brown

or brown, (5)6-11(14) x (0,9)1, 2-2, 3 cm,

straight, acute to distinctly acuminate

apically, longitudinally dehiscent, margins

entire or frequently irregularly constricted

between the seeds, umbonate over the seeds.

coriaceous, puberulous to densely pubescent,

with numerous minute scattered reddish-

brown glands. Seeds olive- to light brown,

subcircular, 7-10 x 5-10 mm, compressed;

central areole up to 4 x 3 mm, horse-shoe

shaped.

Found in South West Africa, south-eastern

Botswana, the western Transvaal, western Orange

Free State and the northern Cape Province. Occurs in

dry habitats; in grassland, woodland, thornveld, on

rocky slopes and flats or, in drier areas, along shallow

watercourses. In the Transvaal A. hereroensis is

frequently associated with dolomite formations.

S.W.A. — 1917 (Tsumeb): 17,6 km from Otavr on

road to Grootfontein, Tolken & Hardy 927. 1918

(Grootfontein): 16 km N. of Grootfontein on road to

Abenab Mine, De Winter 3700. 2017 (Waterberg);

Waterberg plateau. Boss sub TRV 35004. 2116

(Okahandja): Waldau, Dinter 370. 2215 (Trekkopje):

farm Wilsonfontein, Hdlbich 1308. 2216 (Otjim-

bingwe): Auuanis, Khomas Hochland, Merxmuller &

Giess 1773. 2217 (Windhoek): 8 km E. of Windhoek,

Codd 5801. 2718 (Grunau): rocky banks of ravines in

Great Karasberg, Pearson 8072. Grid ref. unknown:

Gansberg, Fleck 437a (Z).

TRANSVAAL.— 2425 (Gaberones): Lekkerlach,

Louw 604. 2526 (Zeerust): Swartruggens, Sutton 908,

2527 (Rustenburg): farm Welgevonden, Phillips &

Mogg 14647. 2528 (Pretoria): Pretoria, west end,

Zeiler St. canal, Repton 2743. 2626 (Klerksdorp): 64

km S. of Lichtenburg on road to Ottosdal, Morris

1118.

O.F.S. — 2925 (Jagersfontein) : Fauresmith veld

Reserve, Henrici 4367.

CAPE. — 2525 (Mafeking): Mafeking Golf Course,

O. B. Miller B/499. 2625 (Delareyville): 30,4 km

from Setlagodi on road to Mafeking, Codd 1323. 2723

(Kuruman): Takoon, Gerstner 6299.

A. hereroensis is extremely closely related to A.

caffra. It differs from A. caffra in the usually shorter

and smaller leaves with more crowded pinnae pairs.

These shorter leaves of A. hereroensis often tend to be

held erect and do not droop as readily as the longer

leaves of A. caffra. A. hereroensis has a more westerly

distributional range than A. caffra although in the

western Transvaal and south-eastern Botswana their

ranges do overlap. However, in parts of the western

Transvaal where the two species grow in close

proximity, each species may usually be distinguished

in the field without difficulty.

In view of the differences in distribution, and the

ability of the two taxa to maintain their identity when

they grow in proximity, it seems preferable to continue

to recognize A. hereroensis and A. caffra as distinct

species.

14. Acacia fleckii Schinz in Mem. Herb.

Boiss. 1 : 1 08 .(1900); Dinter in Feddes Repert.

15 : 79 (1917); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 832

(1930); O. B. Miller, Checklist Bech. Prot.

18 (1948); Brenan in Kew Bull. 11 : 197

(1956); Torre in C. F. A. 2 : 277, t.54 (1956);

Story in Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 30 : 22

64

Mimosoideae

(1958); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 84, fig.l7i

(1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr.

2 ; 285 (1965); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 8

(1967); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 74 (1970);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 758 (1973).

Type: Botswana, Ghanzi [Chansis], Fleck

412a (Z, holo.!).

A. cinerea Schinz in Verb. Bot. Ver. Prov. Bran-

denb. 30 : 240 (1888), nom. illegit., non A. cinerea

Spreng. (1826); Dinter in Feddes Repert. 15 : 78

(1917); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 832 (1930); O. B.

Miller, Checklist Bech. Prot. 17 (1948); in J. S. Afr.

Bot. 18 : 19 (1952). Type: South West Africa,

Amboland, “Omatope”, Schinz 252 (Z, holo.!). A.

catechu sensu Harms in Warb., Kunene-Samb.

Exped. 243 (1903), non (L.f.) Willd. A. caffra sensu

N. E. Br. in Kew Bull. 1909 : 107 (1909) pro parte

quoad specim. Lugard 93. A. caffra var. tomentosa

sensu Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 833 (1930) pro parte

quoad specim. Lugard 93 \ O. B. Miller, Checklist Bech.

Prot. 17 (1948); in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 19 (1952)

saltern quoad specim. Curson 173. A. catechu subsp.

suma (Roxb.) Roberty var. baumii Roberty in Can-

dollea 11 : 157 (1948). Type: Angola, Cubango

District, bank of the Cubango River, near Kalolo,

Baum 438 (G, holo.; BM!, El, Ki, Z!).

Shrub, often with many stems, or a tree

to 7 m high ; crown rounded or flattened and

spreading. Bark pale to dark yellowish- or

greyish-brown, rough, the outer layer papery

and flaking off; young branchlets pale

yellowish or grey to greyish-brown,

puberulous to pubescent, with few to many

small reddish glands intermixed. Stipules

not spinescent, in pairs, linear, 2-4,5 X 0,2-

O, 8 mm, soon deciduous. Prickles in pairs

below the nodes, usually strongly recurved,

broad-based, grey-brown to reddish-brown

or purplish, up to 1 cm long. Leaves: petiole

0,3- 1(1, 3) cm long, adaxial gland variable

in position, elliptic or discoid, 0, 8-2,2 X

0,4-1 , 1 mm, reddish-brown to black; rhachis

(0,7)1 ,8-5, 6(7, 5) cm long, puberulous to

densely pubescent, with few small reddish

glands intermixed, without a conspicuous

gland at the junction of any of the pinnae

pairs; pinnae (4)8-16(20) pairs; rhachillae

0,7-2, 9 cm long, puberulous to densely

pubescent; leaflets 9-28(35) pairs per pinna,

2-5(6, 5) X 0,5-1, 2(1, 6) mm, linear-oblong,

straight or almost so, apex rounded to

obtuse or subacute, veins often prominent

beneath at first but becoming obscure with

age, glabrous or sparingly to densely appres-

sed-pubescent below, margins usually with

spreading cilia. Inflorescences spicate, solitary

or paired, sometimes forming a terminal

panicle. Flowers yellowish-white, sessile;

spikes (1 ,8)2, 6-5, 4(6, 5) cm long; peduncles

0,6-2, 4 cm long, puberulous to densely

pubescent. Calyx often oUve-green, puberu-

lous to densely pubescent, sometimes sub-

glabrous, tube 1,3-2, 5 mm long, lobes

0,6-1, 2 mm long. Corolla glabrous or

slightly puberulous, especially towards the

apices of the lobes, tube up to 3,2 mm long,

lobes up to 1,4 mm long. Stamen-filaments

free, up to 9 mm long; anthers 0,2-0,25 mm

across, with a deciduous apical gland. Ovary

0. 7.1, 5 mm long, glabrous or puberulous,

stipitate. Pods fawn to dark brown, 4-13,5 x

1,1 -2(2, 3) cm, linear-oblong, straight,

rounded to acute or sometimes rostrate

apically, longitudinally dehiscent, venose,

coriaceous, puberulous to subglabrous, with

numerous small reddish glands. Seeds olive-

brown, subcircular, 8-12,5 x 8-12 mm,

compressed; areole 1-4 x 1-3 mm, horse-

shoe shaped.

Found in Angola, South West Africa, Botswana,

Zambia, Rhodesia and the western Transvaal.

Occurs in drier types of mixed deciduous woodland,

thicket, bushland and scrub, sometimes on sandy

flats adjacent to rivers. Frequent on Kalahari sand.

S.W.A. — 1719 (Runtu): 12,8 km E. of Runtu,

De Winter 3778. 1721 (Mbambi); 31,4 km E. of

Nyangana Mission station, De Winter & Marias 4870.

1724 (Katima Mulilo): Katima Mulilo, bank of

Zambezi River, Killick & Leistner 3090. 1819 (Kara-

kuwisa): near Karakuwisa, Marsh sub PRE 29609.

1821 (Andara): Andara, Merxmuller & Giess 1357.

1916 (Gobaub): farm Lazy Spade, 48 km N.E. of

Outjo, De Winter 3029. 1920 (Tsumkwe); Tsumkwe,

251,2 km E. of Grootfontein, Story 6209. 2017

(Waterberg): Okakarara, Waterberg, Liebenberg 4755.

2219 (Sandfontein): farm Gemsbokfontein, near

Botswana border, Merxmuller 1 179. Grid ref.

unknown: between Otjiwarongo and Otavi, Werder-

mann & Oberdieck 2345.

TRANSVAAL. — 2326 (Mahalapye): BufTelsdrif,

Vahrmeijer 1291. 2327 (Ellisras): 4 km N. of Ons

Hoop Post Office, beside the Mogol River, Codd

8483. 2526 (Zeerust): 1,6 km S. of Nietverdiend Post

Office, Acocks 19184.

A. fleckii is closely related to A. erubescens

Welw. ex Oliv. and the two species are often confused.

A. fleckii differs from A. erubescens in having:

1. shorter petioles 0,3-1 cm long, occasionally to

1,3 cm; in A. erubescens the petioles are nor-

mally 1,3-2, 5 cm long. Occasionally petioles

shorter or longer than these dimensions occur

but then the extremes usually occur on shoots with

at least some petioles of more usual length;

2. a larger pctiolar gland which is elliptic to discoid,

0,8-2, 2 mm long; in A. erube.icens the gland is

often slightly raised and is 0,3-1 mm long. As the

dimensions for the two species overlap, gland size

is a less useful character;

Mimosoideae

65

3. the leaf-rhachis without a gland at the junction of

any of the pinnae pairs; in^. erubescens a gland is

usually present at the junction of some of the

pinnae pairs or between the top pair only;

4. (4)8-20 pinnae pairs; A. erubescens has only 3-7

pinnae pairs;

5. straight, smaller leaflets; in A. erubescens the

leaflets are usually somewhat falcate and larger.

The above characters usually enable the two

species to be readily distinguished. Another useful

character is the tendency for A. fleckii to produce its

inflorescences with or after the new leaves while A.

erubescens often flowers when leafless.

15. Acacia erubescens Welw. ex Oliv. in

F.T.A. 2 : 343 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond, 30 : 518 (1875); Harms in Engl.,

Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 385 (1915); Bak.f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 830 (1930) ;0. B. Miller in

J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 20 (1952); Young in Can-

dollea 15 : 111 (1955); Torre in C.F.A. 2 ; 276,

t.53B (1956); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.

-Mimos. ; 88, fig. 14/13 (1959); F. White,

For. FI. N. Rhod. 83, fig. 17G (1962);

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 ; 7 (1967); Brenan

in F.Z. 3,1 : 73 (1970); Van Wyk, Trees

Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 135 (1972); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 757 (1973); Schreiber

in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 11 : 116

(1973). Type; Angola, Mocamedes District,

between Bumbo and Bruco, Welwitsch 1826

(LISU holo., BM!, K!)

A. caffra Willd. var. pechuelii Kuntze in Jahrb. K.

Bot. Gart. Mus. Berl. 4 : 264 (1886). Type: South

West Africa, Hereroland, Pechuel-Loesche (? B,

holo. t). dulcis Marloth & Engl, in Bot. Jahrb.

10 : 24 (1888); Marloth in Trans. S. Afr. Phil. Soc.

5 : 269 (1889); Schinz in M6m. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 107

(1900); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 388

(1915); Dinter in Feddes Repert. 15 : 79 (1917);

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 830 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 337 (1932); Codd, Trees & Shrubs

Kruger Nat. Park 42, fig. 37a, b (1951): O. B. Miller in

J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 20 (1952); Gilbert & Boutique in

F.C.B. 3 : 151 (1952); Story, Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr.

30 : 22 (1958); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr.

2 : 282 (1965). Type: South West Africa, Karibib

Distr., Usakos, Marloth 1259 (B, holo. f; BOL!,

GRAl, PRE!). A. longipetiolata Schinz in Mdm. Herb.

Boiss. 1 : 114 (1900). Syntypes: South West Africa,

Hereroland, Fleck 491 (Z!); Kuiseb Fleck 492a (Z!),

Fleck 493a (?Z). A. aff. trispinosa sensu Schinz in

M6m. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 1 16 (1900). The specimen which

Schinz referred to, namely, Luderitz 122 from Herero-

land, is in the University of Zurich herbarium. TTiis

specimen is without leaves or fruits but is clearly

referable to A. erubescens. However, it is as well to

point out here that there is more than one Luderitz

specimen from Hereroland with the collector’s

number 122 in the University of Zurich herbarium.

Another specimen of Luderitz \22 is A. karroo Hayne.

A. sp. sensu Schinz in M6m. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 116

(1900). A. kwebensis N.E. Br. in Kew Bull. 1909 : 108

(1909). Type: Botswana, Kwebe Hills, Mrs. E. J.

Lugard 24 (K, holo.!).

Shrub, often with many stems, or a tree

to 10 m high; trunk to 0,3 diam.; crown

often flattened and spreading somewhat.

Bark pale to dark yellowish- or greyish-

brown, rough, the outer layer papery and

flaking or peeling olf; young branchlets

yellowish- or greyish-brown to purplish,

puberulous to pubescent, sometimes glabrous,

indumentum usually slightly golden. Stipules

not spinescent, in pairs, linear, 2-4,2 X

0,2-0, 8 mm, soon deciduous. Prickles in

pairs below the nodes (very rarely in threes

but then all three prickles point downward),

usually strongly recurved, broad-based, grey-

brown to blackish, up to 7 mm long. Leaves:

petiole (0,7)1 ,3-2, 5(4) cm long, adaxial

gland present or absent, variable in position,

often slightly raised, 0,3-0, 7(1) X 0, 1-0,5

mm; rhachis (1)1 ,5-2, 7(5) cm long, usually

puberulous to densely pubescent, glands

variable, either at the junction of some of the

pinnae pairs, between the top pair only or

sometimes absent; pinnae 3-7 pairs; rhachil-

lae (1)1 ,2-3(3, 9) cm long, usually puberulous

to densely pubescent; leaflets 10-27 pairs per

pinna, 3-7,5(10) x (0,75)1-1,6(2,8) mm,

obliquely oblong, often slightly falcate or

the upper somewhat obovate, apex usually

oblique, acute or subacute, sometimes ±

rounded, veins often prominent beneath at

first but becoming obscure with age, glabrous

below or occasionally sparingly pubescent,

margins with or without cilia. Inflorescences

spicate, fascicled or crowded into an irregular

terminal panicle, sometimes solitary. Flowers

yellowish- white, sessile; spikes ( 1,8)2, 2-

4,5(6) cm long, peduncles (0,6) 1,2-2, 5 cm

long, pubescent. Calyx campanulate, puberu-

lous to densely pubescent, tube 1-2,2 mm

long, lobes 0 , 6-1 , 8 mm long. Corolla tubular,

appressed-pubescent, especially towards apices

of lobes,tube up to 3 mm long, lobes up to 1 , 5

mm long. Stamen-filaments free, up to 8 mm

long ;anthers 0 , 2-0 , 25 mm across, with a deci-

duous apical gland. Ovary 0,5-1 ,9 mm long,

glabrous, sessile or shortly stipitate. Po^

fawn to dark brown, 3-13 x 1,1-1, 8(2, 3)

cm, linear-oblong, straight, rounded to acute

or acuminate apically, longitudinally dehis-

cent, venose, coriaceous, subglabrous except

for pubescence on the margins and stipe,

glands absent or few and inconspicuous.

66

Mimosoideae

Seeds olive-brown, usually subcircular, 7-11

X 7-11 mm, compressed; areole 1-3 x 2-4,5

mm, horse-shoe shaped.

Found in Zaire, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi,

Rhodesia, Mozambique, Angola, South West Africa,

Botswana and the Transvaal. Occurs in drier types of

mixed deciduous woodland or scrub, often on rocky

outcrops, in open bush on sand or along the sandy

banks of dry watercourses.

S.W.A. — 1713 (Swartbooisdrif): 17,6 km W. of

Otjiwero, sandy course of Okahalalana Ndjala River,

De Winter & Leistner 5405. 1718 (Kuring-Kuru) : 12

km E. of Kuring-Kuru on road to Runtu, De Winter

3950. 1719 (Runtu): 4,8 km S. of Runtu, De Winter

3775. 1821 (Andara): road from Andara to Bagani,

Merxmuller & Giess 1994. 1917 (Tsumeb): ±11 km

N. of Tsumeb, Basson 41. 1918 (Grootfontein) :

Kalkfontein, Liebenberg 4897. 2016 (Otjiwarongo):

Omatjenne, Liebenberg 4825 . 2115 (Karibib): Usakos,

Marloth 1259. 2117 (Otjosondu): Quickbom flats,

Bradfield 22. 2216 (Otjimbingwe) : farm Otjiseva, near

Teufelsbach, Kinges & Wiss 788 (PRE) pro parte. 2217

(Windhoek): near Windhoek, Codd 5797.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 ( Waterpoort) : Dongola

reserve, Pole Evans 3532. 2230 (Messina); Messina,

Gerstner 5711. 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National Park,

near Punda Milia, Codd & Dyer 4528. 2328 (Balti-

more): farm Koppermyn, 128 km N.N.W. of Pot-

gietersrust, Galpin 9218. 2426 (Mochudi): 96 km N.

of Zeerust, Louw 1499. 2427 (Thabazimbi): Thaba-

zimbi. Dyer & Verdoorn 4219. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest) :

12 km S. of Olifants River bridge on Acomhoek-

Leydsdorp road, Codd 1668. 2527 (Rustenburg) : farm

Welgevonden, Mogg 14635. 2528 (Pretoria): near

Flinks Drift on Pienaars River flats. Smuts 356.

In A. erubescens the inflorescences are often

produced when the plants are leafless. The flowers are

usually sweet-smelling.

The differences between A. erubescens and A.

fleckii are given under A. fleckii.

16. Acacia kraussiana Meisn. ex Benth.

in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 1 : 515 (1842);

Meisn. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 2 : 103

(1843); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 283 (1862); Benth.

in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 530 (1875);

Wood & Evans, Natal Plants 3,2 : t.245

(1901); Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 147,

t.18/8 (1915); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw.

Afr. 3,1 : 390 (1915); Bews, FI. Natal 114

(1921); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 235 (1934);

Brenan & Exell in Bol. Soc. Brot. S6r.

2,31 : 103, t.l fig. C (1957); Mogg in Macnae

& Kalk, Nat. Hist. Inhaca Island 9, 145

(1958); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 80, t.l9C(1970);

Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal 33, fig. 2/11 (1971);

FI. Natal 193 (1973). Type: Natal, Umlaas

River, Durban [Port Natal], Krauss 198 (K,

holo.I; BMl, FI!, OXFI, PRE I, TCDI, Zl).

Scandent shrub or climber to 15 m high.

Bark pale to dark greyish-brown or black;

young branchlets grey-brown, usually pube-

rulous and inconspicuously glandular but

sometimes pubescent, angular, often hexa-

gonal, some branchlets usually modified into

tendrils. Stipules not spinescent, in pairs,

± linear, up to 4,5 mm long and 1,1 mm

wide, soon deciduous. Prickles irregularly

scattered along the internodes, up to 2 mm

long, occasionally minute and apparently

absent, recurved, arising from longitudinal

bands along the stem which are usually

concolorous with the intervening lenticellate

bands. Leaves: petiole 0,8-2, 7 cm long,

subglabrous to densely puberulous, adaxial

gland usually immediately above the pulvinus,

raised, up to 2,8 mm long; rhachis 2-6,2 cm

long, subglabrous to densely puberulous or

pubescent, lower surface usually with

scattered recurved prickles up to 3 mm long,

a small gland usually at the junction of the

top pinna pair only; pinnae (1)3-6 pairs;

rhachillae 0, 9-5(6, 9) cm long, subglabrous to

densely puberulous; leaflets 6-17 pairs per

pinna, 5-15(23) x (2)3-6(8) mm, linear-

oblong to obovate-oblong, often slightly

falcate, the lowest pair very much reduced

and bract-like, apex acute or shortly

mucronate, midrib excentric basally, lateral

veins conspicuous beneath, glabrous or

nearly so, rarely puberulous or pubescent,

marginal cilia usually absent. Inflorescences

capitate, forming a terminal panicle. Flowers

yellowish-white, very shortly pedicellate;

peduncles 0,7-2, 8 cm long, densely puberu-

lous or pubescent. Calyx glalirous to sparingly

or densely puberulous, tube 1,6-2, 2 mm

long, lobes 0,6- 1,1 mm long. Corolla

glabrous, tube 2, 6-4, 2 mm long, lobes

0,5-1, 5 mm long. Stamen-fllaments free, up

to 8,5 mm long; anthers with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary pilose, up to 2 mm long,

on a stipe longer than itself. Pods pale or

dark brown, 5,9-16,2 x (0,9)1, 4-2, 5 cm,

linear-oblong, subcoriaceous, markedly um-

bonate over the seeds, sometimes irregularly

constricted between some of the seeds, venose,

tardily longitudinally dehiscent or at times

indehiscent, apex rounded to mucronate,

margins not strongly thickened, mostly

glabrous or subglabrous and with minute

reddish glands, especially when young. Seeds

olive or dark-brown to blackish, 5 , 5-9 X 4-6

mm, ellipsoid, somewhat compressed; areole

4-7 X 2,5-4 mm.

Mimosoideae

67

Found in Natal and Mozambique. Essentially a

coastal species and usually found below 1 10 m, often

growing near the shore. Occurs on forest margins, in

forest clearings, in scrub, bushland and, in Tongaland,

in dry sand forest. Often forms fairly dense impene-

trable thickets.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Matini forest, Tinley 944 (NH, NU). 2731

(Louwsburg): between Vryheid and Nongoma, Pole

Evans 3581. 2732 (Ubombo): False Bay Park, Ross

2328. 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe Game Reserve,

Ward 3965. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Isipingo, Acocks

10873. 2931 (Stanger): Hawaan forest, S. bank of

Umhianga River, Ross & Moll 2261. 3030 (Port

Shepstone) : Doonside, Galpin 9534.

A. kraussiana is a very distinct species which is

readily distinguished by its few pinnae pairs and large

leaflets from both of the other Acacia species with

scattered recurved prickles and capitate inflorescences

occurring in our area. However, A. kraussiana is

sometimes confused with Entada spicata (E. Mey.)

Druce. E. spicata differs in having a spicate inflore-

scence and pods in which the valves at maturity (but

not the margins) split transversely into one-seeded

segments, the segments falling away from the margins

which persist as a continuous but empty frame. Unlike

A. kraussiana in which the lowest pair of leaflets on

each pinna are bract-like, the lowest pair of leaflets in

E. spicata are well developed.

A specimen of A. kraussiana, Mrs. Hutton 106

(BM, GRA), carries the locality “Shafton, Howick,

Natal”. As A. kraussiana is not known to occur more

than a few kilometres inland from the coast south of

the Tugela River, it seems unlikely that this specimen

was collected near Howick. Perhaps the label does not

belong with the specimen.

17. Acacia brevispica Harms in Notizbl.

Hot. Gart. Berl. 8 : 370 (1923); Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 853 (1930); Brenan, Checklist

Tang. Terr. 332 (1949); Brenan & Exell in

C.F.A. 2 : 287 (1956); in Bol. Soc. Brot.,

S6r. 2, 31 : 108, t.l fig. B (1957); Brenan in

F. T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 96, fig. 15/22

(1959); in Kew Bull. 21 ; 477 (1968); in F.Z.

3,1 : 81 (1970); Ross in Bothalia 10 : 419

(1971). Type: Tanzania, Lushoto District,

Kitivo, Holst 606 (B, holo.f).

subsp. dregeana (Benth.) Brenan in Kew

Bull. 21 : 479 (1968); in F.Z. 3,1: 81 (1970);

Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal 22, fig. 2/10 (1971);

in Bothalia 10 : 419 (1971); FI. Natal 193

(1973). Type: Cape, Pondoland, Drege s.n.

(K, holo.!; P!).

A. pennata var. dregeana Benth. in Hook., Lond. J.

Bot. 1 : 516 (1842). Type as above. A. pennata sensu

E. Mey., Comm. 1 : 169 (1836); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 283

(1862) pro parte quoad specim. Drege; Glover in Ann.

Bolus Herb. 1 : 147 (1915) pro parte quoad specim.

Wood 4469, excl. ref. Wood & Evans, Natal PI. 3,

2 : t.244 (ISiOl); Bews, FI. Natal 1 14 (1921) pro parte;

Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 234 (1934) pro parte, non

(L.) Willd. sensu stricto. A. brevispica sensu Brenan &

Exell in Bol. Soc. Brot., S6r. 2, 31 : 114 (1957) quoad

pi. Mozamb., Natal, Cape. A. brevispica var. dregeana

(Benth.) Ross Sc Gordon-Gray in Brittonia 18 : 63

(1966). Type as above.

Scandent shrub up to 12 m high, a non-

climbing shrub or sometimes a smalt tree to

3 m high; young branchlets grey-brown, very

shortly puberulous or rarely glabrous, with

numerous minute reddish glands. Stipules

not spinescent, in pairs, ± linear, up to

4,5 mm long, 0,3-1, 2 mm wide, soon

deciduous. Prickles scattered along the inter-

nodes, recurved or spreading, arising from

longitudinal bands which are usually paler

than the intervening lenticellate bands, 0,5-

4 mm long. Leaves: petiole 0,5-3, 5 cm

long, adaxial gland often present, variable in

position; rhachis 3,2-10 cm long, shortly

puberulous to subglabrous, with or without

recurved prickles abaxially, a gland often

present at the junction of the top 1-3 pinnae

pairs; pinnae 5-20 pairs; rhachillae 1,4-3, 8

cm long; leaflets 24-62 pairs per pinna, 2,5-

5 X 0,5-1 (1,2) mm, linear-oblong, lower

surface usually appressed-pubescent through-

out, at times on portion of surface only or

occasionally leaflet entirely glabrous, margins

usually with short inconspicuous cilia, some-

times absent. Inflorescences capitate, on

axillary peduncles, racemosely arranged or

aggregated into an irregular terminal panicle.

Flowers yellowish-white, sessile or very shortly

pedicellate; peduncles 1-2,5 cm long,

puberulous, with numerous minute reddish

glands. Calyx campanulate, puberulous to

almost glabrous, tube 0,7-1 ,8 mm long, lobes

0,3-0, 8 mm long. Corolla campanulate, tube

up to 2,5 mm long, lobes up to 1 mm long.

Stamen-filaments free, up to 4 mm long;

anthers with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary densely pubescent, up to 1,2 mm long,

on a stipe longer than itself. Pods brown,

5,7-15(21) X (1,1)1, 8-2, 8 cm, oblong to

linear-oblong, straight or almost so, rarely

slightly falcate, longitudinally dehiscent, sub-

coriaceous to coriaceous, umbonate over the

seeds, usually densely puberulous and with

numerous minute reddish glands. Seeds

olive-brown, 8-12 x 6-10 mm, elliptic, com-

pressed ; areole 6-8 x 3-5 mm.

Occurs in southern Mozambique, the eastern

Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal and the eastern Cape

(Pondoland). Found in dry thornveld and in dry river

valley scrub; often forms dense impenetrable thickets.

68

Mimosoideae

TRANSVAAL.— 2431 (Acomhoek): Kruger

National Park, Munweni River, Brynard & Pienaar

4327.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane); Stegi Hill,

Compton 28418. 2731 (Louwsburg) : Ingwavuma

Poort, Compton 28629.

NATAL. — 2731 (Louwsburg): 1 km from Pongola

bridge on Magudu road, Edwards 3187. 2732

(Ubombo): ± 5 km S. of Pongola Poort, Ward 3917.

2829 (Harrismith): Estcourt Pasture Research Station,

Acocks 9893. 2830 (Dundee) : 4 , 8 km from Weenen on

Estcourt road, Ross 766 (K, NH, NU). 2831

(Nkandla): Unifolozi Game Reserve, bank of White

Umfolozi River, Ross 2029. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg) :

Ashburton, near Pietermaritzburg, Ross 443. 2931

(Stanger) : Lower Tugela valley, opposite confluence of

Nembe and Tugela Rivers, Inwards 3045.

CAPE.— 3128 (Umtata): Mqanduli, Pegler 559

(GRA). 3129 (Port St. Johns): Msikaba drift, Strey

8478. Grid ref. unknown: Pondoland, Drege s.n

(K, P); Umzimvubu, 1450 m, Schlechter 6429 (GRA)‘

♦

Typical A. brevispica is widespread in tropical

Africa, but occurs nowhere closer to our area than

Angola and central Tanzania. In tropical Africa

typical A. brevispica is relatively uniform and no

difficulty is experienced in distinguishing it from

A. schweinfurthii. A. brevispica subsp. dregeana,

however, is characteristically very variable and in our

area it bridges many of the discontinuities which

exist between typical A. brevispica and A. schwein-

furthii in the tropics. Consequently difficulty is some-

times experienced in distinguishing specimens of A.

brevispica subsp. dregeana from A. schweinfurthii.

A. schweinfurthii var. schweinfurthii differs from

A. brevispica subsp. dregeana in having:

1 . typically longer petioles (1,5)2, 6-5 , 5 cm long ;

2. a distinctly humped petiolar gland situated

immediately above the pulvinus, sometimes

two glands are present or, on occasions, the gland

is ab^nt;

3. leaflets usually larger, 2,5-8 x 0,8-2 mm;

4. leaflets glabrous on the lower surface apart from

appress^ marginal cilia. In A. brevispica subsp.

dregeana when the lower leaflet surface is entirely

glabrous the marginal cilia are usually lacking too

so that the leaflets are completely devoid of hairs ;

5. pods glabrous or almost so except for the glands;

lacking the dense puberulence of A. brevispica

subsp. dregeana.

There is an overlap in petiole length and in

leaflet width between A. brevispica subsp. dregeana

and A. schweinfurthii var. schweinfurthii, but in

combination the above characters usually enable

A. schweinfurthii var. schweinfurthii to be disting-

uished from subsp. dregeana. Certainly, most speci-

mens can be readily sorted. Some specimens do,

however, undoubtedly create difficulties and it is

sometimes debatable whether they are robust speci-

mens of A. brevispica subsp. dregeana or depauperate

specimens of A. schweinfurthii. Ross 874 (NU) from 3

km S. of Mandini in the Lower Tugela valley is

difficult to place as it has long petioles and the

general facies of A. schweinfurthii, but the petiolar

glands are not humped, the leaflets are appressed

pubescent beneath and the pods are± densely puberu-

lous. The specimen seems best regarded as a robust

specimen of A. brevispica subsp. dregeana.

Ross 7M (NU) from the Weenen district of Natal

is unusual in that some of the pinnae are themselves

bipinnate.

True A. pennata (L.) Willd. does not occur in

Africa, but until fairly recently the name was used

in a wide sense to cover A. brevispica, A. schweinfurthii

and several other species which occur in tropical and

subtropical Africa.

18. Acacia schweinfurthii Brenan & Exell

in Bol. Soc. Brot., Ser. 2, 31 : 128, t.l

fig. E (1957); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Mimos. : 99, fig. 15/27 (1959); White, For. FI.

N. Rhod. 84 (1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 286 (1965); Brenan in Kew

Bull. 21 : 477 (1968); in F.Z. 3,1 ; 83, t.l9

fig. E (1970); Palmer &. Pitman, Trees S.

Afr. 2:813 (1973). Type: the Sudan, Gubbiki,

Schweinfurth 2206 (BM, holo.!; K!, P!, Z!).

A. brevispica Harms var. schweinfurthii (Brenan &

Exell) Ross & Gordon-Gray in Brittonia 18 : 62

(1966). Type as above.

var. schweinfurthii.

Brenan & Exell l.c. : 130 (1957); Brenan

in F.T.E.A. Legum-Mimos. : 99 (1959); in

F.Z. 3,1 : 83 (1970); Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal

38, fig.2/9 (1971); in Bothalia 10 : 419 (1971);

FI. Natal 193 (1973).

A. pennata sensu Harv. in F.C. 2 : 283 (1862) pro

parte quoad specim. Gueinzius; Wood & Evans, Natal

Plants 3, 2 : t.244 (1901); Bews, FI. Natal 114 (1921)

pro parte; Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 147 (1915)

pro parte quoad ref. Wood & Evans Natal Plants

t.244; Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 234 (1934) pro

parte; Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 308, 390, 468, 664

(1946); Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 48

(1951), non (L.) Willd. sensu stricto.

Scandent shrub up to 12 m high or a

non-climbing shrub to 3 m high; young

branchlets olive-green to olive-brown or

grey-brown, puberulous when young but

often becoming glabrous, with numerous

minute reddish glands. Stipules not

spinescent, in pairs, ± linear, up to 5 mm

long, up to 1,2 mm wide, soon deciduous.

Prickles irregularly scattered along the inter-

nodes, recurved or spreading, arising from

longitudinal bands which are often darker

than the intervening lenticellate bands, 1-

4,5 mm long. Leaves: petiole (1,5)2, 6-5, 5

cm long, with a humped gland 1-2 x

0,5-1 mm usually situated immediately

above the pulvinus, sometimes two glands

present or gland absent; rhachis (3)6-16 cm

long, sparingly to densely puberulous, with

Mimosoideae

69

or without recurved prickles abaxially, a

gland often present at the junction of the

top 1-2 pinnae pairs; pinnae (5)9-17 pairs;

rhachillae (1, 8)3-7, 6 cm long, sparingly to

densely puberulous; leaflets 17-60 pairs per

pinna, 2,5-8 x (0, 8)1-2 mm, linear or

linear-oblong, midrib nearer one margin

basally, margins with whitish ± conspicuous

appressed cilia, invariably glabrous beneath

except for the marginal cilia. Inflorescences

capitate, on axillary peduncles, usually

arranged in ± pyramidal panicles. Flowers

yellowish-white, sessile or very shortly

pedicellate; peduncles 0, 5-2,4 cm long,

sparingly to densely puberulous, with

numerous, minute reddish glands. Calyx

puberulous or rarely subglabrous, tube 1-

1,8 mm long, lobes up to 0,8 mm long.

Corolla subglabrous to puberulous, especially

towards the apices of the lobes, tube up to

2,2 mm long, lobes up to 0,8 mm long.

Stamen-fllaments free, up to 5 mm long;

anthers with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary densely pubescent, up to 1,5 mm long,

on a stipe longer than itself. Pods olive-brown

to brown, 8-18 x 1,4-2, 5 cm, oblong,

straight or almost so, tardily longitudinally

dehiscent or at times indehiscent, coriaceous

or subcoriaceous, ± transversely plicate and

umbonate over the seeds, glabrous or almost

so, usually with numerous minute reddish

glands, especially towards the margins and

stipe. Seeds dark reddish-brown, 8-12 x

6-8 mm, elliptic, compressed; areole 6-8 x

3-5 mm.

Found from the Sudan southwards to the

Transvaal and Natal. Occurs most frequently in

riverine fringing vegetation where it usually forms

dense impenetrable thickets; also occurs in woodland,

scrub and on forest margins away from rivers.

TRANSVAAL.— 2229 (Waterpoort) : Wyllie’s

Poort, Hutchinson 2095. 2230 (Messina) : Nwanedzi,

[Vanetzi] River, Gerstner 6083. 2328 (Baltimore):

Wagon Drift, Mogalakwena [Magalakwin] River,

Hutchinson 2674. 2330 (Tzaneen): 80 km N. or

Gravelotte station, on bank of Great Letaba River,

Galpin 13532 — ^the precise locality of this specimen is

uncertain because the Great Letaba River is only 32

km N. of Gravelotte by road; the Small Letaba River,

however, is ± 80 km N. of Gravelotte. 2331 (Phala-

borwa): Kruger National Park, Letaba, Lang s.n.

2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Blyde River Poort, Van der

Schijff 5933. 2431 (Acornhoek): Kruger National

Park, near Skukuza Camp, Codd & De Winter 5113.

2531 (Komatipoort) : Crocodile River Poort, Rogers

22233.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, near Banzi Pan, Ross 697 (K, NH, NU). 2732

(Ubombo): Mkuzi bridge, 3 km N. of Mkuze on

Candover road, Ross 1022 (K, NH, NU). 2831

(Nkandla) : Umfolozi Game Reserve, Matshamshlope,

Downing 561 (NH, NU). 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe

Game Reserve, Ward 1835. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg):

Durban district, Clairmont, Wood 8022 (E, GRA).

2931 (Stanger): 40 km from Kranskop on Mapumulo

valley road, Moll 921. Grid ref. uncertain: Durban

[Port Natal], Gueinzius s.n. (K, TCD).

Difficulty is sometimes experienced in distin-

guishing specimens of A. schweinfurthii var. schwein-

furthii from specimens of A. brevispicas\x\>sp. dregeana.

The main differences between these two species are

discussed under A. brevispica subsp. dregeana.

So far only var. schweinfurthii has been recorded

from our area. Variety sericea Brenan & Exell differs

from var. schweinfurthii in having the leaflets ±

appressed silky-pubescent beneath. Var. sericea is

known from relatively few gatherings in Tanzania,

Zambia, Rhodesia and Mozambique.

The specimen, Ross 874, discussed under A.

brevispica subsp. dregeana differs from var. sericea in

havingrb densely puberulous pods.

True A. pennata (L.) Willd. does not occur in

Africa, but until fairly recently the name was used

in a wide sense to cover A. schweinfurthii, A. brevispica

and several other species which occur in tropical and

subtropical Africa. Often A. schweinfurthii is likely

to be the species referred to, but there is usually no

certainty.

19. Acacia karroo Hayne, Arzneyk.

Gebr. Gewachse 10 : t.33 (1827); Glover in

Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 150, t.18/10 (1915);

Bews, FI. Natal 115 (1921): Burtt Davy in

Kew Bull. 1922 ; 328 (1922); Marloth, FI.

S. Afr. 2 : 51, t.l8A, 21 (1925); Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 843 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 346 (1932); Steedman, Trees etc.

S. Rhod. 13 (1933); Henkel, Woody PI.

Natal 229 (1934); Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr.

138, 260, 411, 472, 512, 543, 547, 550, 552,

664 (1946); Gerstn. in J.S. Afr. Bot. 14 : 19

(1948); Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat.

Park 44, fig. 38h & i (1951); O. B. Miller in

J.S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 22 (1952); Story, Mem.

Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 27 : 26 (1952); Verdoom in

Bothalia 6 : 409 (1954); Flow. PI. S. Afr. 31 :

t.l220 (1956); Palgrave, Trees Cent. Afr. 242

(1956); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

157, t.36, 37 (1961); F. White, For. FI. N.

Rhod. 85, fig. 18D (1962); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 298 (1965); De

Winter et al, 66 Transv. Trees 50 (1966);

Leistner, Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 38 : 123

(1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 9 (1967);

Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 87, t.15/7 (1970); Ross

in Bothalia 10(2) : 385 (1971); Acacia Spp.

Natal 30, fig. 2/14, 2/15 (1971); in Bothalia

10(3) : 427 (1971); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger

Nat. Park 1 : 142 (1972); Ross, FI. N&tal

70

Mimosoideae

193 (1973); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 ; 795 (1973); Ross in Bothalia 11(4) : 445

(1975). Type: Cape Province, precise locality

unknown. Herb. Willdenow 19184 fol. 2 (B,

lecto.; PRE, photo.).

Mimosa nilotica sensu Burm. f.. Prodr. FI. Cap. 27

(1768), non L. M. capensis Burm. f., Prodr. FI. Cap.

31 [sphalm 27] (1768) pro parte. M. leucacantha Jacq.,

Hort. Schoenbr. 3 : 75, t.393 (1798), non Acacia

leucacantha Bert, ex Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3 : 144 (1826).

M. nilotica Thunb., FI. Cap. ed. Schult. 432 (1823),

non L. M. eburnea sensu Boj., Hort. Maurit. 115

(1837), non L.

A. horrida Willd., Sp. PI. 4 : 1082 (1806) pro parte

quoad fig. Jacq.; sensu auct. mult. : E. Mey., Comm.

1 : 166 (1836); Eckl. & Zeyh., Enum. 260 (1836);

Meisn. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 2 : 103 (1843); Pappe,

Silv. Cap. 14 (1853); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 281 (1862);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 507 (1875);

Engl, in Bot. Jahrb. 10 : 23 (1888); Marloth in Trans.

S. Afr. Phil. Soc. 5 : 270 (1889); Fourcade, Report on

Natal Forests 106 (1889); Schinz in Mem. Herb.

Boiss. 1 : 113 (1900); Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 211, t.61

(1907); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 158 (1908);

Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 57 (1909); Dinter, Veg.

Veldkost Deutsch-Sudwest-Afrikas 36 (1912); Harms

in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 364 (1915); Dinter in

Feddes Repert. 15 : 80 (1917); Hutch., Botanist in S.

Afr. 541, 542 (1946). A. reticulata (L.) Willd., Sp. PI.

4 : 1056 (1806) pro parte, nom. rejec.; Willd., Enum.

Hort. Berol. 1051 (1809) pro parte. A. capensis (Burm.

f.) Burch., Trav. 1 : 114, 189 (1822); Sw., Hort. Britt.

1 : 103 (1826); Colla in Mem. Acad. Torin 35 : 175

(1831); Zeyher & Burke in Hook., Lond. J. Bot.

5 : 111, 113, 116, 119, 120, 125 (1846). A. hirtella E.

Mey., Comm. 1 : 167 (1836); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 281

(1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 513

(1875);* Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 150, t.19/21

(1915); Bews, FI. Natal 115 (1921). Type: Natal

between Umkomaas [Omcomas] and Umlazi

[Omblas], Drege (K!, P! iso). A. natalitia E. Mey.,

Comm. 1 : 167 (1836); Meisn. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot.

2 : 103 (1843); Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 5 : 97

(1846) quoad specim. Krauss 66; Harv. in F.C. 2 : 281

(1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 508

* non Sim in Agric. J. 19 (1900); For. FI. Cape Col.

211, t.59 (1907). Sim was apparently referring to A.

sieberana DC. var. woodii (Burtt Davy) Keay &

Brenan as evidenced by his description of the bark as

“yellowish white flaky” and of the pod as “4 inches

long, |-1 inch wide, solid, indehiscent, tomentose”.

However, /4. sieberana var. woodii seldom has only 4

pinnae pairs as described by Sim and the involucel is

in the upper half of the peduncle or apical and not in

the lower third as illustrated by Sim in t.59. Sim

described the inflorescence as “light yellow or nearly

white” which is in contrast to the bright yellow

Inflorescence of A. karroo. A. robusta Burch., however,

which often has only 4 pinnae pairs, has a whitish

inflorescence and has the involucel in the lower third

of the peduncle so it appears as though Sim’s descrip-

tion of A. hirtella may possibly have been taken from

A. sieberana var. woodii and from A. robusta.

Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 57, t.35A (1909), was clearly

referring to A. robusta.

(1875); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 159 (1908;)

Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 57 (1909); Glover in Ann.

Bolus Herb. 1 : 150, t.19/18 (1915); Bews, FI. Natal

1 15 (1921); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1922 : 329 (1922);

FI. Transv. 2 : 347 (1932); Gerstn. in J. S. Afr. Bot.

14 : 22 (1948). Syntypes: Natal, Durban [Port Natal]

and Umgeni, 91,44 m alt., Drege (K!, P!); Cape,

Port St. Johns Distr., between Umgazana [Omga-

ziana] and Umzimvubu [Omsamwubo], Drege (P!).

A. hirtella Willd. var. inermis Walp. in Linnaea

13 : 542 (1839). Type: Cape Province, without

locality, Mund (whereabouts unknown). There is a

Mund specimen in the Kew Herbarium, but, as the

flowering branchlets are armed with spines it is

assumed that it cannot be an iso type of var. inermis.

As flowering twigs of A. karroo are fairly often

devoid of spines, no justification is seen for upholding

var. inermis. A. sp. nov. sensu Schinz in Mem. Herb.

Boiss. 1 : 116 (1900). A. seyal sensu Sim., For. FI.

P.E. Afr. 57, t.35B (1909), non Del. A. horrida var.

transvaalensis Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 158

(1908). Syntypes: Transvaal, Pretoria Distr., Groen-

kloof, near Pretoria, Burtt Davy 2468 (BOL!, FHO!,

K!, PRE!); Arcadia, Pretoria, Burtt Davy 2807

(FHO!, K!, PRE!). A. karroo var. transvaalensis

(Burtt Davy) Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1922 : 328

(1922); FI. Transv. 2 : 347 (1932). Types as for A.

horrida var. transvaalensis. A. inconflagrabilis Gerstn.

in J. S. Afr. Bot. 14 : 24 (1948). Syntypes: Natal,

Nongoma Distr., Nongoma township, Gerstner 4562

(K!, NBG!, NH!, PRE!); Gerstner 4635 (NBG!,

NH!, PRE!); Gerstner 4637 (NBG!); Gerstner 5258

(whereabouts unknown).

Shrub, often several stemmed, or a tree to

22 m high, sometimes very slender, spindle-

like, and sparsely branched; crown rounded,

often irregularly so, or flattened; trunk to

0,75 m diam. Bark dark brown, reddish-

brown, brownish-black to black, rough,

often fissured, or white to pale greyish-white

or greyish-brown and smooth, the latter often

with scattered persistent paired spines ; young

branchlets reddish- to purplish- or blackish-

brown, often flaking to expose a rusty-red

inner layer, sometimes white to yellowish- or

greyish-brown and smooth, glabrous or

sometimes sparingly to densely pubescent,

eglandular or with small inconspicuous

reddish sessile glands. Stipules spinescent, in

pairs, usually 0,4-7(10) cm long, sometimes

greatly elongated to 25 cm long, the latter

usually slightly inflated and up to ± 1 cm

in diam., remaining distinct to the base and

not confluent, straight or sometimes ±

deflexed, whitish or the same colour as the

stem, entire plant frequently exceedingly

spinescent; other prickles absent. Leaves',

petiole 0,5-1, 8 cm long, adaxial gland

usually present, variable in position, usually

rounded or oval, up to 1,5 X 1,5 mm;

rhachis (0)1-4, 6(9) cm long, glabrous or

MiMOSOroEAE

71

sometimes sparingly to densely pubescent,

with a yellowish- or reddish-brown to black

gland at the junction of each of the top 1-3

pinna pairs, between every pinna pair or

absent from some; pinnae (1)2-6(13) pairs;

rhachillae (1)1 ,5-3, 8(7, 2) cm long, glabrous

or sometimes densely pubescent; leaflets

5-15(27) pairs per pinna, (2,8)3,5-8(12,5) x

1-2, 5(5) mm, linear, linear-oblong to

obovate-oblong, eglandular, apex rounded to

subacute but not spinulose-mucronate,

usually glabrous but sometimes fairly densely

pubescent beneath, margins usually without

cilia but sometimes spreading cilia present.

Inflorescences capitate, on axillary peduncles,

fascicled or sometimes solitary, forming

terminal racemes, sometimes on lateral

axillary branchlets, the entire inflorescence

forming an irregular terminal panicle.

Flowers bright yellow, sessile; peduncles

0,7-2, 4(4) cm long, glaljrous or occasionally

densely pubescent, sometimes glandular; in-

volucel I way up the peduncle (when the

flowers are young the involucel often appears

apical, but as the peduncle lengthens the

involucel soon assumes its true position),

± 2 mm long. Calyx glabrous throughout or

apices of lobes sparingly or sometimes ±

densely pubescent, tube 1,2-1, 8 mm long,

lobes up to 0,5 mm long. Corolla glabrous

or almost so, tube 1,5-2, 3 mm long, lobes

up to 0,8 mm long, reflexed. Stamen-filaments

free, up to 5 mm long; anthers with a

deciduous apical gland. Ovary glabrous, up

to 1,5 mm long. Pods yellowish- or reddish-

brown to brown, (4)5-10,5(21) x 0,5-

0, 7(1,1) cm, linear, slightly to strongly

fdcate or sometimes straightish, usually con-

stricted between the seeds, often distinctly

moniliform, apex rounded to acuminate,

sometimes attenuate at both ends, longi-

tudinally dehiscent, usually longitudinally

venose, mostly glabrous but at times

densely tomentellous, sometimes incon-

spicuously glandular. Seeds olive-brown or

brown, (3, 5)4, 5-6, 5(9) x (2)3-4(7) mm,

elliptic or lenticular, sometimes ± quadrate,

compressed ; areole 3-5 , 5(7) x 2-3 , 5(4 , 5) mm .

Found in southern Angola, Botswana, Zambia,

Rhodesia, Malawi, Mozambique and throughout our

area. A. karroo is the most widespread Acacia in

southern Africa and it occupies a diverse range of

habitats including dry thornveld, river valley scrub,

bushveld, woodland, grassland, the banks of dry

watercourses, riverbanks, coastal dunes and coastal

scrub.

S.W.A. — 1917 (Tsumeb): Gaub, Mrs Borle 36. 1918

(Grootfontein) ; Magistrates office, Grootfontein,

Le Roux 240. 2017 (Waterberg): Waterberg plateau.

Boss sub TRV 35006. 2117 (Otjosondu): farm Hum-

melshain, 97,6 km W.S.W. of Steinhausen, De Winter

2422. 2216 (Otjimbingwe): Windhoek Swakop River

at farm Otjiseva, Wiss & Kinges 746. 221 7 (Windhoek):

near Windhoek, Codd 5798. 2218 (Gobabis): Breiten-

berg, Seydel 2483. 2316 (Nauchas): Nauchas Moun-

tains, Keet 1687. 2416 (Maltahohe): Bullspoort, base

of Naukloof Mountains, Rodin 3948. 2616 (Aus):

Kuibis, Van Son sub TRV 31818. 2618 (Keetmans-

hoop): Keetmanshoop, Rogers 29787 (GRA, K).

2718 (Grunau): farm Noachabeb, Great Karas

Mountains, Ortendahl 337 (UPS). 2817 (Vioolsdrif);

farm Aussenkehr, Ortendahl 297 (UPS).

TRANSVAAL.— 2229 (Waterpoort): Wyllie’s

Poort, Strey 7939. 2230 (Messina): Tshipise, Gerstner

6225. 2326 (Mahalapye) : Buffelsdrif, Vahrmeijer 1285.

2329 (Pietersburg) : Louis Trichardt, Gerstner 5800.

2330 (Tzaneen): Westfalia Estate, Duiwelskloof,

banks of Merensky Dam, Scheepers 1095. 2428

(Nylstroom): 1,6 km S. of Warmbaths, Codd 2880.

2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Abel Erasmus Forest Reserve,

Schlieben & Strey 8416. 2431 (Acomhoek): Bushbuck

Ridge, Pritchard 24. 2526 (Zwrust): Zeerust, Thode

A1403. 2527 (Rustenburg) : Skeerpoort, Prosser 1171.

2528 (Pretoria): Fountains valley, Pretoria, Verdoorn

595. 2529 (Witbank): Laersdrif, 10 km from Stoffberg

on Roossenekal road, Ross 2090. 2530 (Lydenburg):

6,4 km N. of Lydenburg, Young A451. 2531 (Komati-

poort) : near Sheba siding, Co^ 9536. 2626 (Klerks-

dorp): Hendriksrus, Morris 1151. 2627 (Potchef-

stroom): Boskop, Louw 592. 2628 (Johannesburg):

Heidelberg, Thode A1314. 2629 (Bethal): N. of

Amersfoort, Strey 7881. 2725 (Bloemhof): Boskuil,

Sutton 120. 2726 (Odendaalsrus) : Kommandodrif,

banks of Vaal River, Morris 1048. 2730 (Vryheid):

Oliemyne, 28,8 km from Wakkerstroom on Piet

Retief road, Devenish 327.

O.F.S. — 2726 (Odendaalsrus) : Bothaville, Goossens

1193. 2727 (Kroonstad): ± 10 km N. of JUoonstad,

Scheepers 1344. 2827 (Senekal): Allemanskraal,

Rycroft 2737 (NBG). 2924 (Hopetown): Luckhoff,

C. A. Smith 5324. 2925 (Jagersfontein) : near Faure-

smith at the Garings drift on the Luckhoff road,

C. A. Smith 5278. 2926 (Bloemfontein): Bloemfontein,

Sim s.n.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Palata, Comp-

ton 30816. 2632 (Bela Vista): Abercom Pont, eastern

border of Swaziland over Usutu River, Codd & Dyer

2860.

NATAL. — 2730 (Vryheid): road crossing on Upper

Blood River on Kingsley-Viljoenspos road, Edwards

2836. 2731 (Louwsburg): Nongoma commonage.

Ward 3036. 2732 (Ubombo): Mpangazi Lake, Strey

4960. 2829 (Harrismith) : Oliviershoek Pass, Ross 538

(NH, NU). 2830 (Dundee): 8 km from Dundee on

Wasbank road, Ross 1258 (NH, NU). 2831 (Nkandla) :

4,8 km N. of Empangeni, Codd 9642. 2832 (Mtuba-

tuba): Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ward 2146. 2929

(Underberg): Estcourt Hill, 1,6 km S. of Estcourt,

Ross 745 (NH, NU). 2930 (Pietermaritzburg):

Bisley, near Pietermaritzburg, Ross 1602. 2931

(Stanger): Inyoni, Gerstner 4526. 3030 (Port Shep-

stone): Uvongo, Ross 802. 3130 (Port Edward): Port

Edward, Ross 806.

72

Mimosoideae

LESOTHO. — 2828 (Bethlehem): Leribe, Dieterlen

185 (NH).

CAPE.— 2524 (Vergelee): 9,6 km W. of Tshidila-

molomo, banks of Setlagodi River, Leistner 558. 2624

(Vryburg) : near Taungs, Rodin 3418. 2723 (Kuruman) :

near Kuruman, Gerstner 6280. 2816 (Oranjemund) :

S. bank of Orange River at Arris Drift, Pillans 5260

(BOL). 2817 (Vioolsdrif): Kuboos, Pillans 5399

(BOL, K). 2823 (Griekwastad) : Klaarwater, Griqua-

town, Burchell 1953-1 (BOL, GRA, K). 2824 (Kim-

berley): Barkly West, Breuckner 54. 2922 (Prieska):

Prieska, Bryant J172. 2923 (Douglas): Maselsfontein,

E. Anderson 633 (GRA). 3025 (Colesberg): Orange

River, S. bank. Barker 8852 (NBG). 3118 (Van-

rhynsdorp): Doom River, ± 1,6 km S. of Klawer,

Wilnum 237 (BOL.) 3125 (Steynsburg): Ebenezer

Weir, De Wet’s farm, Vlekpoort River, Archibald

3201. 3126 (Queenstown) : 25 , 6 km N. of Queenstown,

De Winter 8357. 3129 (Port St. Johns): Mbotyi, Strey

8602. 3222 (Beaufort West): Acacia, /. G. Ross 1.

3224 (Graaff-Reinet): near Graaff-Reinet, H. Bolus

374 (BOL). 3225 (Somerset East) : Bergzebra National

Park, Brynard 168. 3226 (Fort Beaufort): Alice,

Barker 898 (BOL, NBG). 3227 (Stutterheim) : 9,6 km

from Berlin on road to East London, Comins 1436.

3228 (Butterworth): ± 5 km from coast on Mr Miles’

farm, adjacent to Kei River, Dyer 4502. 3318 (Cape

Town) : Langrietvlei, 8 km from Hopefield, Letty 340.

3319 (Worcester): Robertson, Garside 61 (K). 3320

(Montagu): Cogmans Kloof, Barker 8839 (NBG).

3321 (Ladismith): near eastern foot of Bosluiskloof

Pass, Edwards 3365. 3322 (Oudtshoom): between

Calitzdorp and Oudtshoom, Barker 506 (l^G). 3323

(Willowmore): between Uniondale and Georgida,

Fourcade 4512 (K). 3324 (Steytlerville) : Armmands-

vriend, Baviaanskloof, Bayliss 3811 (NBG). 3325

(Port Elizabeth): near the Swartkop River, and on

hills of Addo, Ecklon & Zeyher 605 (GRA, SAM).

3326 (Grahamstown) : between Southwell and Port

Alfred, Strey 10372. 3327 (Peddie): East London,

Batten sub NBG 69945.

A. karroo, the Sweet Thom or Soetdoring, is

apparently one of the least exacting Acacia species in

regard to habitat preference and has therefore been

able to inhabit a diverse range of habitats. Con-

sequently, A. karroo is an exceedingly variable species.

There is strong evidence that the variation within A.

karroo is regional; plants in various parts of the

species geographical range often having a different

“look”. This variation is considered in more detail in

Bothalia 10(2) : 385-402 and in Bothalia 10(3) : 427-

430 (1971).

“Typical” A. karroo grows in the Karoo and in

the drier parts of the Cape Province as a shmb or

relatively small tree with dark rough bark, usually

(l)2-3(5) pinnae pairs per leaf, and 6-12 pairs of

leaflets per pinna which are 4-8 x 1,5-2, 5 mm. A

narrow fringe of larger trees often occurs along the

banks of rivers and these frequently enable the course

of a river to be detected from afar.

Apart from the “typical” form of A. karroo, a

number of other entities are recognizable within the

species. Some of the more important are enumerated

below:

1 . The white-barked trees or shrubs with short spines,

4-7(13) pinnae pairs per leaf and 12-18(27) pairs

of smaller, narrower leaflets per pinna (A. natalitia)

which are found chiefly in the eastern Cape, Natal,

Swaziland and the eastern Transvaal. A. hirtella

from the Natal coast is similar but differs in

having pubescent young branchlets, leaves, leaflets

and p^uncles.

2. The small slender shrubs up to 1 m high found

in the eastern Cape in the vicinity of the Kei River

mouth. A very local entity of which Dyer 4502 is a

typical specimen.

3. The “fire-resistant” shrubs found in the Nongoma

district of Zululand {A. inconflagrabilis).

4. The slender, sparingly branched trees up to 6 m

high found in Zululand, particularly in the

Hluhluwe and Umfolozi Game Reserves and in the

corridor linking the two reserves (popularly

termed “spindle A. karroo"). A “spindle” growth

form also occurs near the Loskop Dam in the

Transvaal. The plants typically have bright

reddish-brown minutely flaking bark, glaucous

foliage, large flattened ± discoid petiolar glands

and a large gland at the junction of each or almost

every pinna pair. Ward 2123 and Codd 9616 will

serve to establish the identity of this entity.

5. The large trees with greyish-white bark, long

spines up to 25 cm long and long moniliform pods

found along the Zululand coast from about the

mouth of the Tugela River and northwards to

Mozambique. Plants are confined to a fairly

narrow belt along the coast which is sometimes

only a few kilometres wide. Plants grow on the

coastal plain, among the coast dunes, in the

mouths of many river estuaries, for example, the

Amatikulu and around the shore of the fresh

water Lake Sibayi. The plants, which usually form

very dense pure stands and are often dominant to

the exclusion of other trees, often act as pioneers in

stabilising loose sand dunes, especially in disturbed

areas and in patches of regenerating coast dune

forest. Unlike in “typical” A. karroo, the paired

spines often persist on the trunk in these plants.

Gerstner 4526 and Strey 4960 will serve to establish

the identity of these plants.

6. On the Transvaal highveld from Pretoria east-

wards there appears to be a local tendency for the

production of a sparse indumentum on the young

branchlets, leaves, peduncles and pods (A. karroo

var. transvaalensis). However, occasionally this

tendency is so extreme, for example, at Steelpoort,

as to alter the general appearance of the plants

completely. Indeed, the latter, for example Codd

6702 and Ross 2089, 2094, bear a strong superficial

resemblance to A. gerrardii. The differences

between these plants and A. gerrardii are given

under the latter. These pubescent Transvaal

specimens also differ in many respects from the

pubescent specimens of A. karroo found on the

Natal south coast.

7. On the Springbok Flats north of Pretoria small

shrubby plants occur which often can be dis-

tinguished from A. tenuispina only with difficulty.

Some of the plants have a similar growth form to

A. tenuispina but as they lack spinulose-mucronate

leaflet apices and glandular pods they are referred

to A. karroo. It has been suggested by some

collectors that the plants may be hybrids between

A. karroo and A. tenuispina. Burtt Davy 4075

and Codd 1040 are examples of this entity.

Mimosoideae

73

Within tlie species numerous biotypes are

recognizable, each of which varies independently but

usually within certain limits, the limits of each failing

within the range of variation that is accepted as A.

karroo. The extremes of each of the variants are

usually quite distinctive and naturally it is these

extremes that attract immediate attention. However,

it is found that the extremes of each variant are linked

to the “central A. karroo gene-pool” by numerous and

varied intermediate stages that become progressively

less and less distinct until a stage is reached where it is

difficult to assign a specimen to a particular entity

with any degree of certainty. It therefore becomes

difficult to delimit each entity clearly. Consequently, it

seems preferable to regard A. karroo as an inherently

variable species in which no formal infraspecific

categories are recognized rather than to fragment the

species into a number of somewhat arbitrary infra-

specific taxa.

A. karroo has the ability to encroach rapidly into

grassland grazing areas, particularly in over-grazed

areas, and is consequently considered a serious

menace in parts of its range. Attempts to eradicate

plants by chopping often result in a vigorous coppice

growth.

A good quality gum is exuded from the stems

and was at one time exported as “Cape Gum”.

A tendency of A. karroo, shared also by A. nilotica

(L.) Willd. ex Del. and sometimes also by A. davyi

N.E. Br., is for a few flowers to develop in the in-

volucel on the peduncle, sometimes giving the

appearance of a smaller secondary capitulum below

the main one. The flowers in this secondary capitulum

in A. karroo often develop before those in the main

capitulum. Most of these flowers appear to be sterile,

but this needs further investigation.

Of all the indigenous Acacia species, A. karroo

appears to be subjected to the severest attacks by the

wattle bagworm, Kotochalia junodii (Heyl.). The degree

of infestation is often sufficient to kill fairly large trees.

20. Acacia tenoispina Verdoorn in

Bothalia 6 : 156, fig. 5 (1951); Brenan in

F.Z. 3,1 : 90 (1970); Ross in Bothalia

10 : 351 (1971). Type: Transvaal, Hoogbult

Farm, Naboomspruit, Galpin 475 M (PRE,

holo.!; K!).

A. permixta var. glabra Burtt Davy in Kew Bull.

1922 : 330 (1922); FI. Transv. 2 : 340 (1932); Hutch.,

Botanist in S. Afr. 664 (1946). Type as above.

Stoloniferous slender shrub 0, 3-1(2) m

high, many stemmed and often forming dense

thickets; young branchlets grey- or reddish-

brown to purplish-black, with numerous

small scattered glands, often glutinous,

glabrous or subglabrous. Stipules spinescent,

in pairs, 0,4-5, 6 cm long, straight or slightly

deflexed, slender, whitish, glabrous; other

prickles absent. Leaves: petiole 0,2- 1,1 cm

long, glabrous or subglabrous, adaxial gland

absent; rhachis 0-3,8 cm long, glabrous or

subglabrous, with a sessile to shortly stipitate

gland at the junction of the top 1-2 pinnae

pairs or of the only pair of pinna, otherwise

with small scattered glands; pinnae 1-6 pairs;

rhachillae 0,3-1 ,8 cm long, glabrous or sub-

glabrous, usually with small scattered glands ;

leaflets (3)4-9 pairs per pinna, (2, 1)3-4, 8 X

0,8-1, 5 mm, linear or linear-oblong to

obovate-oblong, glabrous, entire, eglandular,

lateral nerves invisible beneath, apex

spinulose-mucronate. Inflorescences capitate,

on axillary peduncles, solitary or fascicled,

scattered along shoots of the current or

previous season. Flowers bright yellow,

sessile or very shortly pedicellate; peduncles

0,8-3 cm long, glabrous or subglabrous,

sparingly to densely glandular; involucel at

or above the middle of the peduncle, 1-2 mm

long. Calyx glabrous, tube 1,4-1, 8 mm

long, lobes up to 0,5 mm long. Corolla

glabrous, tube 1,9-2, 8 mm long, lobes up

to 1 mm long, often reflexed. Stamen-

fllaments free, up to 5 mm long; anthers

with a deciduous apical gland. Ovary shortly

stipitate, glabrous, up to 2 mm long. Pods

pale to dark yellowish- or chestnut-brown,

1, 9-4(7, 4) X 0,4-0, 8 cm, slightly to strongly

falcate, longitudinally dehiscent, venose, not

or only slightly constricted between the seeds,

with numerous dark sessile pustular glands

scattered over the surface, slightly glutinous.

Seeds olive to olive-brown, 4-7 x 3 , 5-5 mm,

elliptic, compressed; areole 2-4 x 1 , 5-3 mm.

Found in south-eastern Botswana and the

western Transvaal. Forms extensive low thickets,

usually on black cotton soil.

TRANSVAAL.— 2328 (Baltimore): near Villa

Nora, Acocks 8819. 2426 (Mochudi): 12,8 km S.W.

of Rooibokkraal, Codd 8655. 2427 (Thabazimbi) :

Rooiberg, Mogg s.n. 2428 (Nylstroom): Mosdene,

Naboomspruit, farm Doornshoek, Galpin M54I. 2527

(Rustenburg) : 8 km N.E. of P.O. Bospoort on road to

Beestekraal, Codd 6370. 2528 (Pretoria): 16 km N. of

Pienaars River station, 3,2 km E. of turning to

Mackenzie, Codd 850.

On the Springbok Flats north of Pretoria small

shrubby plants occur which often can be distinguished

from A. tenuispina only with some difficulty. Some of

the plants have a similar growth form to A. tenuispina,

but, as they lack the spinulose-mucronate leaflet

apices and glandular pods, they are referred to A.

karroo. It has been suggested by some collectors that

the plants may be hybrids between A. karroo and

A. tenuispina.

21. Acacia exuvialis Verdoorn in

Bothalia 6 : 154, fig. 2 (1951); Codd. Trees &

Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park : 52 (1951); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 288

(1965); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 90 (1970); Ross

74

Mimosoideae

in Bothalia 10 : 351 (1971); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 791 (1973). Type:

Transvaal, Nelspruit Distr., Kruger National

Park, 25,6 km W. of Skukuza, Codd &

Verdoorn 5464 (PRE, holo.!).

Many stemmed shrub or small tree with

slender ascending branches to 5 m high.

Bark pale to dark yellowish- or greyish-

brown, often oily in appearance, peeling in

long strips; young branchlets reddish-brown

to purplish-black, sometimes flaking, with

some scattered inconspicuous dark sessile

glands, often glutinous, glabrous or sub-

^abrous. Stipules spinescent, in pairs, 0,4-

7,7 cm long, straight or ± deflexed,

sometimes slightly enlarged and swollen,

whitish, glabrous; other prickles absent.

Leaves: petiole (0,3)0, 8-1 ,5(2,4) cm long,

adaxial gland usually absent; rhachis

(0)0, 7-2, 4(4, 7) cm long, glabrous or sub-

glabrous, with a small sessile to shortly

stipitate gland at the junction of each pinna

pair, otherwise eglandular or with a few

scattered inconspicuous glands; pinnae

( 1 )2-4(6) pairs ; rhachillae 0 , 6-2(3 , 3) cm long,

^abrous or subglabrous; leaflets 3-6 pairs

iwr pinna, (2,4)4-7(10) X 1, 5-3(4, 5) mm,

linear-oblong to ovate- or obovate-oblong,

margins entire, eglandular or almost so,

glabrous, lateral nerves inconspicuous

beneath, apex ± spinulose-mucronate. Inflor-

escences capitate, on axillary peduncles,

solitary or fascicled along shoots of the

current or previous season. Flowers bright

yellow, sessile; peduncles (1 ,3)2-3(3,9) cm

long, glabrous or subglabrous, glandular;

involucel at or above the middle of the

peduncle, 2-4 mm long. Calyx glabrous or

subglabrous, tube 1,2-1, 8 mm long, lobes

up to 0,6 mm long. Corolla glabrous, tube

1.5- 2, 5 mm long, lobes up to 0,7 mm long,

often reflexed. Stamen-fllaments free, up to

4,5 mm long; anthers with a deciduous apical

gland. Ovary shortly stipitate, up to 1,8 mm

long, glabrous. Pods pale to dark yellowish-

or reddish-brown, 1,5-3, 6(6, 5) X 0,4-0, 9

cm, slightly to strongly falcate, somewhat

torulose, subcoriaceous, venose, longitudi-

nally dehiscent, eglandular or with few

scattered glands, slightly glutinous, glabrous.

Seeds olive-green to olive-brown, 5-8 x

3.5- 6 mm, elliptic, compressed; areole

3-5 X 2,5-3 mm.

Found in south-eastern Rhodesia and the eastern

Transvaal. Occurs in mixed deciduous bush or

woodland, often with Colophospermum mopane.

TRANSVAAL.— 2331 (Phalaborwa): Kruger

National Park, 5,6 km N.W. of Shingwedzi Camp,

Codd & De Winter 5568. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): 3,2

km S. of Steelpoort, Morris 1183. 2431 (Acomhoek):

Klaserie, Strey 7902. 2531 (Komatipoort) : Kruger

National Park, 15,2 km S. of Skukuza, Codd &

Verdoorn 5502.

22. Acacia swazica Burtt Davy in Kew

Bull. 1922 : 332 (1922); FI. Transv. 2 : 342

(1932); Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 365, 370

(1946); Verdoorn in Bothalia 6 : 156, fig. 6

(1951); Codd, Trees and Shrubs Kruger Nat.

Park 51 (1951); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 290 (1965); Brenan in F.Z.

3,1 : 92 (1970); Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal 41,

fig. 2/18 (1971); in Bothalia 10 : 351 (1971);

FI. Natal 193 (1973); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 793 (1973). Type: Swaziland,

near Manzini [Bremersdorp], Burtt Davy 3045

(PRE, holo.!, K, fragm.l; BM, iso.!).

A. glandulifera sensu Burtt Davy in Kew Bull.

1908 : 158 (1908) pro parte quoad specim. Burtt Davy

3045, prope Bremersdorp, Swaziland; Henkel,

Woody PI. Natal 228 (1934), non Schinz sensu

stricto. A. nebrownii sensu Burtt Davy in Kew Bull.

1921 : 50 (1921) pro parte quoad Burtt Davy 3045,

prope Bremersdorp, Swaziland, non Burtt Davy sensu

stricto.

Slender shrub, often several stemmed, or

small slender tree with short ascending

branches up to 3 m high. Bark grey- to

yellowish- or reddish-brown, sometimes

flaking to reveal a yellowish inner layer;

young branchlets grey- or reddish-brown to

purplish, sometimes flaking minutely,

glabrous except for scattered conspicuous

reddish sessile pustular glands, often gluti-

nous. Stipules spinescent, in pairs, 0,6-7, 4

cm long, straight or slightly deflexed, slender,

whitish, glabrous; other prickles absent.

Leaves: petiole 0,3- 1,9 cm long, glabrous

or subglabrous, adaxial gland absent; rhachis

0- 1 ,8(4,4) cm long, glabrous or subglabrous,

often with a small sessile to shortly stipitate

gland at the junction of each pinna pair,

otherwise with small scattered glands ; pinnae

1- 3(5) pairs; rhachillae 0,6-2, 9 cm long,

glabrous, usually with small scattered glands ;

leaflets 3-7(9) pairs per pinna, (2)4-9(13) X

(1)1 ,5-5, 1 mm, lanceolate to obovate-oblong

or broadly obovate, glabrous, margins entire,

eglandular or with few very inconspicuous

glands towards the apex, lateral nerves ±

prominent and conspicuous beneath, apex

Mimosoideae

75

spinulose-mucronate. Inflorescences capitate,

on axillary peduncles, solitary or fascicled

along shoots of the current or previous

season. Flowers bright yellow, sessile or very

shortly pedicellate; peduncles 1,4-4, 7 cm

long, glabrous or subglabrous, sparingly to

densely glandular; involucel at or above the

middle of the peduncle, large, 2-5 mm long.

Calyx glabrous, tube 1,4-1, 8 mm long,

lobes up to 0,5 mm long. Corolla glabrous,

tube 1,8-2, 6 mm long, lobes up to 0,6 mm

long. Stamen-fllaments free, up to 4,8 mm

long; anthers with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary shortly stipitate, glabrous, up to

1,8 mm long. Pods pale to dark yellowish-

or chestnut-b^rown, (1, 5)2-6 x 0,7-1, 2 cm,

slightly to strongly falcate, subcoriaceous,

venose, longitudinally dehiscent, with

numerous conspicuous dark sessile pustular

glands, slightly glutinous, glabrous. Seeds

olive to olive-brown, 4-7 x 4-6 mm, elliptic

to subcircular, compressed; areole 2,5-4 x

2,5-4 mm.

Found in southern Mozambique, the eastern

Transvaal, Swaziland and the north-western corner of

Tongaland in the vicinity of Ndumu. Occurs in dry

bushveld and mixed scrub, usually on boulder strewn

slopes or in rocky situations.

TRANSVAAL. — 2531 (Komatipoort) : Kruger

National Park, 1 km S.E. of Pretorius Kop ( — Afi),

Codd 5682\ 8 km E. of Kaapmuiden ( — CB), Buiten-

dag 783; I^bombo Flats, 24 km S. of Komatipoort

(— DB), Strey 4025.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane); near Manzini

[Bremersdorp] ( — AD), Burn Davy 3045; Tulwane

( — BQ, Compton 31932; Grand Valley ( — CD),

Compton 29518. 2731 (Louwsburg): near Gollel,

Rodin 421 1 (K).

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): 4,8 km S. of Aber-

com Pont on road to Ndumu, Ross 1920.

A. swazica may sometimes be confused with

A. exuvialis. However, A. swazica differs from A.

exuvialis, and from all of the other species in the

complex with glandular glutinous pods, by the

conspicuous venation on the lower leaflet surfaces.

23. Acacia nebrownii Burtt Davy in Kew

Bull. 1921 : 50 (1921) pro parte excl. specim.

Burtt Davy 3045, Swaziland, et Burtt Davy

5230, Potgietersrust, Transvaal; Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 851 (1930); O. B. Miller,

Checklist Bech. Prot. 20 (1948); in J. S.

Afr. Bot. 18 ; 23 (1952); Verdoorn in Bothalia

6 : 156, fig. 4 (1951); Schreiber in Mitt.

Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 2 : 284 (1957);

Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 289

(1965); Leistner, Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr.

38 : 123 (1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

58 : 10 (1967); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 92,

t.15/9 (1970); Ross in Bothalia 10 : 351

(1971); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 793 (1973). Syntypes; Botswana, Kwebe

Hills, Mrs. E. J. Lugard 14 (K!) and 16 (K!).

A. glandulifera Schinz in M6m. Herb. Boiss. 1:111

(1900) nom. illegit., non A. glandulifera S. Wats, in

Proc. Am. Acad. 25 : 147 (1890); Burtt Davy in Kew

Bull. 1908 : 158 (1908) pro parte quoad Mrs. E. J.

Lugard 14 & 16, excl. specim. Burtt Davy 3045 & 5230;

Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 149, t.18/9 (1915);

Dinter in Feddes Repert. 15 : 79 (1917). Syntypes:

South West Africa, Great Namaqualand, Fleck 484a

(Z!); Hereroland, Tsoachaub, Fleck 480a (Z!). A.

rogersii Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1922 : 331 (1922); in

FI. Transv. 2 ; 342 (1932); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 851 (1930); O. B. Miller, Checklist Bech. Prot. 21

(1948). Type: Transvaal, Soutpansberg Distr.,

Messina, Rogers 21843 (PRE, holo.!; K!, NH!, Z!).

A. walteri Suesseng. in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml.

Munchen 1 : 333 (1953). Syntypes as for A. glanduli-

fera Schinz.

Many stemmed shrub with slender

ascending branches or occasionally a slender

tree to 4 m high. Bark reddish-brown to

purplish-black; young branchlets yellowish-

or reddish-brown to purplish, sometimes as

though whitewashed over a purple back-

ground, with numerous dark sessile pustular

glands, sometimes glutinous, glabrous or

subglabrous. Stipules spinescent, in pairs,

0,5-7 cm long, straight or slightly arcuate

and deflexed, slender, whitish, tips usually

reddish-brown ; other prickles absent. Leaves:

petiole 0,3-1, 4 cm long, glabrous or sub-

glabrous; rhachis 0-0,9 cm long, glabrous or

subglabrous, a shortly columnar gland at the

junction of the pinna pair; pinnae mostly 1

pair, rarely 3 pairs; rhachillae 0,5- 1,4 cm

long, glabrous or subglabrous, glandular;

leaflets 3-5 pairs per pinna, 2, 1-5,7 x

0, 9-3(4) mm, linear-oblong to obovate or

ovate, eglandular or with some small pale

inconspicuous glands on the margin and

sometimes the surface, glabrous, margins

entire, apex usually shortly mucronate,

lateral nerves inconspicuous beneath. In-

florescences capitate, on axillary peduncles,

solitary or fascicled. Flowers bright yellow,

sessile; peduncles 0, 6-2,4 cm long, glabrous

or subglabrous, glandular; involucel basal

or up to i-way up the peduncle. Calyx

glabrous, tube 1-1,6 mm long, lobes up to

0,6 mm long. Corolla glabrous, tube 1,8-2, 5

mm long, lobes up to 0,8 mm long, often

reflexed. Stamen-fllaments free, up to 5,5 mm

long; anthers with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary shortly stipitate, up to 1,8 mm long,

76

Mimosoideae

glabrous. Pods pale to dark yellowish-brown

or chestnut, 2-4(5, 6) x 0,6-1, 3 cm, slightly

to strongly falcate, not or scarcely constricted

between the seeds, with numerous con-

spicuous dark sessile pustular glands scat-

tered over the surface, otherwise glabrous,

longitudinally dehiscent, venose, apex obtuse,

acute or mucronate. Seeds olive to olive-

brown, 6-10 X 5-7 mm, elliptic, compressed;

areole 4-6 x 2, 5-3, 5 mm.

Found in South West Africa, Botswana, the

western portion of Rhodesia and north of the Sout-

pansberg in the Transvaal. Occurs in low lying sandy

flats, around pans or along river banks; in dry bush,

thomveld or woodland, sometimes with Colo-

phospermum mopane. Frequently forms thickets.

S.W.A. — 1914 (ICamanjab): Kamanjab, Story 5649.

2218 (Gobabis): 24 km W. of Gobabis, Codd 5824.

2416 (Maltahohe): farm Bullsport, Bullsport flats,

Strey 2018. 2717 (Chamaites): Holoog, common on

plateau and banks of Great Fish River, Pearson 9814

(K). 2718 (Grunau): 18,4 km S.S.E. of Narubis,

Acocks 15563. Grid ref. unknown: Grootfontein

District, farm Kumkauas, Kinges 2850; between

Keetmanshoop and Aus, Gerstner 6291; Gurinaris,

Pearson 9256 (K); without locality, Keet 1677.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort) : farm Little

Muck 604, Dongola area, Codd 4326; farm “Zoutpan

193”, Obermeyer, Schweickerdt & Verdoorn 60.

2230 (Messina): Messina, Pole Evans 2037.

24. Acacia permixta Burtt Davy in Kew

Bull. 1922 ; 330 (1922) pro parte excl. var.

glabra; FI. Transv. 2 : 340 (1932); Verdoorn

in Bothalia 6 ; 155, fig. 3 (1951); Von Breiten-

bach. Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 289 (1965);

Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 91 (1970); Ross in

Bothalia 10 : 351 (1971); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 791 (1973). Type; Transvaal,

Potgietersrust, Burtt Davy 5230 (PRE, holo.!,

K, fragm. !).

A. glandulifera sensu Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 :

158 (1908) pro parte quoad specim. Burtt Davy 5230,

Potgietersrust, non Schinz. A. nebrownli sensu Burtt

Davy in Kew Bull. 1921 : 50 (1921) pro parte quoad

specim. Burtt Davy 5230, Potgietersrust, non Burtt

Davy sensu stricto.

Many stemmed shrub or a small tree

up to 4 m high with slender weakly ascending

branches. Bark pale to dark chestnut or

reddish-brown; young branchlets sparingly

to densely hairy or tomentose with spreading

grey to whitish hairs 0,75-2 mm long among

which some conspicuous reddish sessile

glands are scattered, epidermis sometimes

splitting to reveal a reddish-brown inner

layer. Stipules spinescent, in pairs, up to 6,5

cm long, straight or often slightly deflexed,

slender, whitish, tips often reddish-brown;

other prickles absent. Leaves; petiole 0,3-1 ,7

cm long, sparingly to densely clothed with

spreading hairs, adaxial gland absent; rhachis

0-4,2 cm long, sparingly to densely clothed

with spreading hairs, with scattered con-

spicuous sessile reddish glands, a small

raised columnar gland at the junction of the

top 1-3 pinnae pairs or absent; pinnae 1-5(7)

pairs; rhachillae 0,4-2, 8 cm long, with

irregularly scattered sessile reddish glands in

amongst the spreading pubescence; leaflets

3-10 pairs per pinna, 2,2-7 x 0, 9-2(2, 9)

mm, linear- to obovate-oblong or obovate,

eglandular or sometimes with a few glands

on the margins towards the apex but margins

not crenulate, glabrous or sometimes

sparingly pubescent below, margins with

few to many spreading cilia, lateral nerves

inconspicuous beneath, at least some leaflets

spinulose-mucronate apically. Inflorescences

capitate, on axillary peduncles, solitary or

fascicled. Flowers bright yellow, sessile;

peduncles 1, 2-3(4, 2) cm long, sparingly to

densely clothed with spreading hairs, with

scattered sessile reddish glands; involucel at

or above the middle of the peduncle, 2, 5-3, 5

mm long. Calyx glabrous or sparingly

pubescent especially on apices of the lobes,

tube 1,4-2, 2 mm long, lobes up to 0,7 mm

long. Corolla glabrous or subglabrous, tube

2-3,2 mm long, lobes up to 0,9 mm long.

Stamen-fllaments free, up to 5 mm long;

anthers with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary up to 1,8 mm long, shortly stipitate,

glabrous. Pods pale to dark yellowish- or

reddish-brown, (2)2, 7-5(8, 9) x 0,6-1, 4 cm,

slightly to strongly falcate, not or scarcely

constricted between the seeds, with few to

many conspicuous dark reddish-brown ±

raised glands scattered over the surface,

otherwise glabrous or subglabrous, longitudi-

nally dehiscent, venose, apex obtuse, acute

or sometimes mucronate. Seeds olive to

olive-brown, 5-8 X 4-6,5 mm, subcircular

to elliptic, compressed; areole 2-4 x 1 ,5-2,5

mm.

Found in south-western Rhodesia and the

western Transvaal. Occurs in woodland, thorn scrub

and grassland; usually on sandy or coarse gritty soils,

often derived from granitic formations, particularly

along the edges of the Pietersburg plateau.

TRANSVAAL.— 2328 (Baltimore): 24 km S.E. of

Villa Nora, Codd 6581. 2329 (Pietersburg): 40 km

N. of Pietersburg on Kalkbank road. Story 1558. 2427

(Thabazimbi) : 1 1 , 2 km N. of Maraheki, Codd 5916.

Mimosoidsae

77

2527 (Rustenburg) : 8 km N. of Beestekraal, Codd

29S1.

A. permixta is readily distinguished from all of

the other species in the complex with glandular

glutinous pods by the spreading hairs on the young

branchlets, leaf-rhachides and peduncles.

25. Acacia borleae Burtt Davy in Kew

Bull. 1922 ; 325 (1922); Verdoom in Bothalia

6 : 154, fig. 1 (1951); Codd, Trees & Shrubs

Kruger Nat. Park 41, fig. 34a (1951); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 287

(1965); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 90, t.15/8 (1970);

Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal 23, fig. 2/17 (1971);

in Bothalia 10 : 351 (1971); Ross, FI. Natal

192 (1973); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 :

789 (1973). Type: Mozambique, Lourenco

Marques, Borle 271 (PRE, holo. ! ; FHO !).

A. sp., Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 229 (1934).

A. barbertonensis Schweick. in Kew Bull. 1937 : 445

(1937); Gerstner in J. S. Afr. Bot. 4 : 57, fig. 2 (1938).

Type: Transvaal, Barberton Distr., Komatipoort,

Cotton Experimental Station, Barberton (K, holo.!;

PRE, fragm.l).

Many stemmed shrub with slender

ascending branches or sometimes a slender

tree, 1-5 m high. Bark dark reddish-brown to

purplish-black or black, rough; young

branchlets dark reddish-brown to blackish,

flaking minutely, with numerous sessile

glands, often glutinous, glabrous or sub-

glabrous. Stipules spinescent, in pairs, 0,5-

6,5 cm long, straight or slightly reflexed,

slender, whitish, tips usually reddish-brown;

other prickles absent. Leaves: petiole 0,5-

1,8 cm long, adaxial gland often absent,

sometimes a rather large sessile gland at or

below the junction of the lowest pinna

pair; rhachis (0) 2, 5-4, 7(6, 8) cm long,

glabrous or subglabrous, with a small sessile

gland at the junction of the top 1-3 pinnae

pairs, smaller scattered sessile glands present

and sometimes numerous; pinnae (1)5-10(17)

pairs; rhachillae 0,6-3, 4 cm long, glabrous

or subglabrous, glandular; leaflets (5)8-15

(18) pairs per pinna, 1,5-5 x 0, 8-2,2 mm,

linear-oblong, margins clearly crenulate-

glandular, surface glandular-punctate, glab-

rous, apex rounded to subacute or shortly

spinulose-mucronate. Inflorescences capitate,

on axillary peduncles, solitary or fascicled,

forming terminal racemes. Flowers bright

yellow, sessile; peduncles 1,6-3, 4 cm long,

glabrous or subglabrous, glandular; in-

volucel at or above the middle of the

peduncle. Calyx glabrous or subglabrous,

tube 1 ,2-1 ,8 mm long, lobes up to 0,5 mm

long. Corolla tubular, glabrous, tube 2-2,5

mm long, lobes up to 0,8 mm long, spreading

slightly, often reflexed. Stamen-fllaments free,

up to 4,5 mm long; anthers with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary up to 1,4 mm long,

shortly stipitate, glabrous. Pods dark brown

to reddish-brown or blackish, 2,8-7,5(10) x

0, 5-0,8 cm, slightly to strongly falcate,

often curled into an almost complete circle,

it moniliform, irregularly constricted

between the seeds, with numerous sessile

pustular glands on the surface, glutinous,

longitudinally dehiscent, glabrous or sub-

glabrous. olive-brown, 4,5-6 X 3,5 —

5 mm, elliptic to subcircular, compressed;

areole 2,5-4 x 2, 5-3, 5 mm.

Occurs in south-eastern Rhodesia, the eastern

Transvaal, southern Mozambique, Swaziland and

Zululand. Found in mixed woodland and thomveld,

usually in low lying areas on heavy soils or on rocky

outcrops. Often gregarious and forming thickets.

TRANSVAAL.— 2331 (Phalaborwa) : Kruger

National Park, Shin^edzi, Lamont 53. 2431 (Acorn-

hoek): Kruger National Park, Skukuza, Van der

Schijff 3420. 2531 (Komatipoort): Kruger National

Park, 22,4 km N.E. of Pretorius Kop Camp, Codd

4312.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): 22,4 km W.

of Stegi on road to Mbabane, Codd & Dyer 2865. 2731

(Louwsburg): Gollel, Bayer sub NH 31431.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, western area, Ross 661 (K, NH, NU). 2731

(Louwsburg): bridge over Mona River on Mkuze-

Nongoma road, Ross 1058 (NU). 2732 (Ubombo):

14,4 km E. of Mhlosinga, farm Sutton, Strey 5671.

2831 (Nkandla): Umfolozi Game Reserve, road from

Tobothi to Ngoloti, Ross 2019. 2832 (Mtubatuba):

Somkele, IVard 2958.

A. borleae is easily distinguished from all of the

other species in our area by the numerous sessile

glands on the surface and margins of the leaflets.

In Rhodesia and Mozambique the young

branchlets, leaflets and pods are frequently shortly

puberulous, but in our area the puberulence is

generally absent.

26. Acacia davyi N.E.Br. in Kew Bull.

1908 : 161 (1908); Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb.

1 : 150 (1915); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 ; 346

(1932); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 227 (1934);

Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 361 (1946); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 306

(1965); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 89 (1970); Ross,

Acacia Spp. Natal 27, fig. 2/13 (1971); FI.

Natal 193 (1973); in Bothalia 11 : 127 (1973);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 ; 803 (1973).

Syntypes; Transvaal, Houtbosch (Wood-

bush), Rehmann 6276 (BM!, K!, Z!); Burtt

Davy 5132 (T.D.A. Herb. No. 1211) (PRE!);

78

Mimosoideae

Soutpansberg, Junod sub T.D.A. Herb. No.

1323 (PRE!). Swaziland, near Manzini

[Bremersdorp], Burtt Davy 3024 (BM!,

FHO!).

Shrub or small tree up to 5 m high. Bark

yellow to yellowish-brown or brown, soft,

corky, sometimes slightly papery, fissured;

young branchlets creamy-white or yellowish

to p^e grey-brown or brown, glabrous to

puberulous. Stipules spinescent, in pairs,

0,4-3 cm long, straight, slender, mostly

ascending, glabrous or densely puberulous;

other prickles absent. Leaves: petiole 0, 3-0,9

cm long, glabrous to densely puberulous,

adaxial gland often absent, when present

usually just below the lowest pinna pair;

rhachis (3,6)8-14(18) cm long, glabrous to

densely puberulous, with a gland at the

junction of the top 1-6 pinnae pairs; pinnae

of well-developed leaves in 12-27 pairs

(reduced leaves with as few as 8 pairs of

pinnae sometimes also present); rhachillae

1,8-4, 4(5, 6) cm long; leaflets (17) 20-36(44)

pairs per pinna, 1,9-6 x 0,6-1 mm, linear

to linear-oblong, apex obtuse to subacute

but not spinidose-mucronate, eglandular,

margins glabrous or occasionally with few

short cilia, usually glabrous below. Inflores-

cences capitate, on axillary peduncles,

fascicled, borne along shoots of the current

season and often aggregated into ± elongate

terminal “racemes”. Flowers bright-yellow,

sessile; peduncles 0, 8-3(6) cm long, glabrous

to densely puberulous; involucel -J-^way

up the peduncle. Calyx glabrous except for

pubescence on the lobes, especially apically,

or sparingly puberulous throughout, tube

0,9-1 ,4 mm long, lobes up to 0,4 mm long.

Corolla glabrous, tube 1,4-1, 9 mm long,

lobes up to 0,6 mm long. Stamen-filaments

free, up to 4 mm long; anthers with a

deciduous apical gland. Ovary up to 1,75 mm

long, glabrous. Pods pale to dark yellowish-

brown or brown, (5)7-12(17) x 0, 5-0,8 cm,

linear, straight to slightly falcate, longitu-

dinally dehiscent, not or somewhat con-

stricted between the seeds, glabrous to

sparingly puberulous, eglandular, flat, incon-

spicuously venose, sometimes irregularly

swollen and pustulate from insect attack.

Seeds olive- to dark-brown, 6-7,5 x 3-5,5

mm, elliptic, compressed ; areole 4-5 x

2, 5-3, 5 mm.

Found in the Transvaal, southern Mozambique,

Swaziland and Natal. Occurs in grassland, woodland,

thorn veld, bushveld and scrub; often on rocky slopes.

A. davyi is seldom dominant to the exclusion of all

other Acacia species except very locally.

TRANSVAAL.— 2230 (Messina); Makonde, Van

Warmelo 5115/20. 2329 (Pietersburg) : slopes of

Lajuma, Strey 7988. 2330 (Tzaneen): Duiwelskloof,

Galpin 9407. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Mariepskop,

Van der Schijff 5016. 2431 (Acomhoek): Lothian,

Strey 3326. 2530 (Lydenburg) : 4, 8 km S. of Nelspruit,

Leach 11573. 2531 (Komatipoort) : hillside adjoining

Barberton, Codd 1589. 2731 (Louwsburg): 24 km

from Pongola on road to Piet Retief, Grobbelaar 522.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): Mlilwane,

Compton 31157. 2731 (Louwsburg): 3,2 km E. of

Goedgegun on Hlatikulu road, farm Buckwood, Ross

1666.

NATAL. — 2730 (Vryheid): road crossing Upper

Blood River on Kingsley-Viljoenspos road, Edwards

2835. 2731 (Louwsburg): Ceza, Strey 9825. 2732

(Ubombo): 2,4 km from Ubombo on Ubombo-

Mkuze road, summit of Lebombo Mts., Ross 264

(K, NH, NU). 2830 (Dundee): De Jagersdrif, Buffalo

River valley between Dundee and Vryheid, Edwards

2838. 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe Game Reserve,

Ward2472.

A tendency of A. davyi is for a few flowers to

develop in the involucel on the peduncle, sometimes

giving the appearance of a smaller secondary capitu-

lum below the main one.

A. davyi bears a strong superficial resemblance to

A. arenaria Schinz. A. arenaria differs, however, in

having:

1 . white or pale pink flowers ;

2. the corolla usually 2-4 times as long as the small

cupular calyx;

3. dark reddish-brown arcuate pods;

4. a very different distribution.

27. Acacia erioloba E. Mey., Comm.

1 : 171 (1836), non A. erioloba Edgw. in

J. Asiat. Soc. Beng. 16 : 1215 (1847); Harv.

in F.C. 2 : 280 (1862); Engl, in Bot. Jahrb.

10 : 22 (1888); Ross in Bothalia 11(4) : 444

(1975). Type from Namaqualand (where-

abouts unknown); Transvaal, Wolmarans-

stad Distr., between Kommandodrif and

Makwassie, J. W. Morris 1042 (K, neo.!).

A. giraffae sensu auct. mult., non A. giraffae Willd.,

Enum. Hort. Berol. 1054 (1809) sensu stricto: Burch.,

Trav. 2 : 240 (1824); DC., Prodr. 2 : 472 (1825); Harv.

in F.C. 2 : 280 (1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 30 : 503 (1875); Marloth in Trans. S. Afr. Phil.

Soc. 5 : 271 (1889); Schinz in M6m. Herb. Boiss.

1 : 108 (1900); Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 213, t.58

(1907); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 157 (1908);

Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 148, t.18/1 (1915);

Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 352 (1915);

Dinter in Feddes Repert. 15 : 79 (1917); Pole Evans in

5. Afr. J. Sci. 17 : figs. 35, 36 (1920); Burtt Davy in

Kew Bull. 1922 : 327 (1922); Marloth, FI. S. Afr.

2 : 54, ft. 18D, 19 (1925); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

Mimosoideae

79

3 : 835 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 ; 340, fig. 59

(1932); Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 178, 341, 386, 412,

418, 424, 425, 481, 543, 547, cum photogr. (1946);

West in Rhod. Agric. J. 47 : 206 (1950); O. B. Miller

in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 ; 21 (1952); Pardy in Rhod.

Agric. J. 50 : 4 (1953); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 281 (1956);

Story, Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 30 : 23 (1958);

Leistner in Koedoe 4 : 101 (1961); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 153, tt. vi, 34, 35 (1961); F. White,

For. FI. N. Rhod. 84, fig. 17L (1962); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 292 (1965); De Winter et al, 66

Transv. Trees 46 (1966); Leistner, Mem. Bot. Surv. S.

Afr. 38 : 67, 123, tt. 21, 23, 25, 28, 30, 36, 38, 44, 48

(1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 8 (1967); Brenan

in F.Z. 3, 1 : 93, t.15/10 (1970); Ross in Bothalia 10(2)

: 359 (1971); in Bothalia 10(4) : 547 (1972); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 769 (1973); Schreiber in Mitt.

Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 11 : 117 (1973).

Mimosa sp. sensu Paterson, Journeys into Country

of Hottentots & Caffraria : 133, tt.l6, 17 (1789).

A. giraffae var. espinosa Kuntze in Jahrb. K. Bot.

Gart. Mus. Berl. 4 : 264 (1886). Type: South West

Africa, Hereroland, Pechuel-Loesche (B, holo. t)-

Tree up to 15 m higher less frequently

a shrub to 4 m high; trunk to 1 m in diam.;

crown rounded, the branches often drooping

somewhat, or flattened and spreading. Bark

dark greyish-brown to blackish, rough,

fissured, often flaking olf in thick ± woody

sections when old; young branchlets pale to

dark grey- or reddish-brown to purple,

sometimes as though whitewashed over a

purplish background, often flaking minutely,

glabrous or subglabrous, seldom pubescent.

Stipules spinescent, in pairs, 0,5-5(10) cm

long, usually rather stout, often thickened

below and fused together basally into an

enlarged “ant-gall”, 1,5-2 x 2-2,5 cm,

sometimes furrowed down the middle, taper-

ing to a sharp point apically; other prickles

absent. Leaves: petiole 0,4-1, 4 cm long,

adaxial gland absent; rhachis (0)1 -3, 5(5, 5)

cm long, glabrous or subglabrous, a small

gland at the junction of each pinna pair;

pinnae (l)2-5(6) pairs; rhachillae ( 1,3) 1,6-

3, 2(4, 2) cm long, glabrous or subglabrous;

leaflets (6)8-15(18) pairs per pinna, 4-1 1 ,5 x

(0,7)1 ,4-2, 4(4) mm, linear-oblong to nar-

rowly obovate, oblique basally, apex rounded

to subacute, glabrous throughout or some-

times marginal cilia present, rarely pubescent

below, lateral nerves prominent and con-

spicuous above and beneath. Inflorescences

capitate, on axillary peduncles, solitary or

fascicled, scattered along the shoots. Flowers

bright golden-yellow, sessile or shortly pedi-

cellate, (sometimes some flowers are male

only); peduncles (1 ,8)2, 3-4(5, 5) cm long.

glabrous or subglabrous, eglandular; involu-

cel apical. Calyx glabrous, sometimes apices

of lobes with few glandular hairs, tube

1 ,5-2,2 mm long, lobes up to 0,6 mm long.

Corolla glabrous or apices of lobes with

glandular hairs, 2, 7-3, 6 mm long, lobes

sometimes free for most of their length.

Stamen-fllaments free or connate into groups

basally, up to 7,5 mm long; anthers with a

deciduous apical gland. Ovary 1,2-2 mm

long, sessile or shortly stipitate, glabrous

at first but soon becoming pubescent. Pods

densely grey-velutinous all over, with nume-

rous minute dark reddish-brown to purplish

glands particularly when young, (4)^13 cm

long, 1,8-5 cm wide, 0,8-2 cm thick,

indehiscent, semi-woody, frequently semi-

lunate to suborbicular, sometimes curled

almost into a circle, apex rounded to acute

or beaked, spongy within, seeds irregularly

scattered but separated by transverse

partitions. Seeds dark reddish-brown, 8-14 x

7-10 mm, lenticular to elliptic, sometimes

scarcely compressed; areole 3-9 x 2-5,5

mm.

Found in Angola, South West Africa, Botswana,

Zambia, south-western Rhodesia, the Transvaal,

western Orange Free State and northern Cape

Province. Occurs frequently on the Kalahari sands

and in other areas where sandy soils are prevalent;

in dry woodland, bush or thornveld. Often the

dominant species in the Kalahari thornveld. In very

dry areas it occurs along watercourses and in other

situations where underground water is available.

S.W.A. — 1713 (Swartbooisdrif) : bank of Ososouu

River at Otjivero, De Winter & Leistner 5361. 1724

(Katima Mulilo); 80 km from Katima Mulilo on road

to Linyanti, Killick & Leistner 3141. 1816 (Namutoni):

Ondonga, Rautanen 645 (GRA). 1819 (Karakuwisa):

Omuramba bed, 27,2 km S. of Runtu on road to

Karakuwisa, De Winter 3771 . 1914 (Kamanjab): farm

Beulah, near Kamanjab, De Winter 3105. 1917

(Tsumeb): 31 km S.W. of Otavi on road to Otjiwa-

rongo, De Winter 2843. 2116 (Okahandja) : Okahandja,

Dinter 267 (GRA, K). 2117 (Otjosondu): Quickbom,

Bradfield 11. 2214 (Swakopmund) : near Goanikontes,

Rodin 2154. 2216 (Otjimbingwe): farm Friedenau,

24,8 km in Khomas Hochland south west of Wind-

hoek, De Winter 2590. 2415 (Sossusvlei) : Sesriem,

Strey 2292 (BOL). 2616 (Aus): Aus, Dinter 6140 (K).

2618 (Keetmanshoop) : Gobas, Pillans 5907 (BOL).

TRANSVAAL.— 2326 (Mahalapye): Buffelsdrif,

Vahrmeijer 1290. 2328 (Baltimore): Swerwerskraal,

54,4 km N.W. of Potgietersrust, Hutchinson 2633.

2428 (Nylstroom): 1,6 km from Potgietersrust on

road to Moorddrif, Meeuse 10143. 2429 (^bediela):

Lowveld Fishery station, near Marble Hall, on

banks of Elands River, Marais 1098. 2526 (Zeerust):

Swartruggens, Sutton 1180. 2528 (Pretoria): Rust de

Winter, Gerstner 5534. 2529 (Witbank): N. side of

Loskop Dam, 9,6 km from dam wall, Mogg 17311.

80

Mimosoideae

2725 (Bloemhof): Schweizer-Reneke to Wolmarans-

stad, Burtt Davy 1685. 2726 (Odendaalsrus) : Kom-

mandodrif, Morris 1042. Grid ref. unknown: Seku-

kuniland, Eersterecht, Mogg & Barnard 1163.

O.F.S. — 2725 (Bloemhof): between Bloemhof and

Hoopstad, Hutchinson 2988 (K). 2825 (Boshof) :

between Sandfontein and farm Boshof, Schweickerdt

1105.

CAPE. — 2620 (Twee Rivieren): Kalahari Gemsbok

National Park, 1,6 km S.E. of Rooibrak in river bed

of Auob, Leistner 1492. 2624 (Vryburg) : Taungs, Pole

Evans sub PRE 15833. 2722 (Olifantshoek) : Olifants-

hoek, 100,8 km S.E. of Kuruman, Lang sub TRV

31705. 2816 (Oranjemund): Numees, Werdermann &

Oberdieck 564. 2820 (Kakamas) : 40 km W. by N. of

Aughrabies Falls Hotel, Barclay, Acocks & Tainton

977. 2823 (Griekwastad) : Klaarwater, Griquatown,

Burchell 1952. 2824 (Kimberley): near Schmidtsdrif,

Acocks 735. 2919 (Pofadder): 1,6 km E. of Pofadder,

Hutchinson 942. 2923 (Douglas): near Douglas,

Kotze 793. 3017 (Hondeklipbaai): bed of Spoeg River,

Acocks 14943.

Unfortunately the familiar name A. giraffae

Willd. can no longer be applied to this species (see

Ross in Bothalia 11, 4 : 443, 1975).

The combination of stout spines which are often

enlarged into “ant-galls”, leaflets with prominent

venation, bright yellow flowers, glabrous peduncles,

apical involucels and densely ^ey-velutinous pods

enable A. erioloba to be easily distinguished from all

other indigenous species.

Strey 2292 from the Rehoboth district of South

West Africa is unusual in having distinctly coiled pods.

A. erioloba, commonly known as the “Camel-

thorn” or “Kameeldoring”, was formerly much more

abundant than it is today. In Burchell’s time numerous

large trees adorned the country in the northern Cape

and north of the Orange River. However, with the

opening of the diamond mines and railways there was

a tremendous demand for the wood which, being hard

and heavy, is an excellent fuel. Almost all of the large

specimens within a radius of several hundred kilo-

metres of Kimberley disappeared to provide fuel.

Marloth, FI. S. Afr. 2 : 54 (1925), reports that in one

year alone 10 000 tons of the wood were forwarded to

Kimberley from the Vryburg area. TTiis large-scale

destruction of A. erioloba from areas which are

otherwise devoid of large trees is much regretted.

A. erioloba is now protected in the northern Cape and

in the Jacobsdal district of the Orange Free State.

In parts of the northern Cape, South West Africa

and Botswana A. erioloba is still the only tree of any

size to be seen for kilometres on end and it forms a

very conspicuous feature of the landscape. In these

areas the sociable weavers, Philetairus socius (Latham),

frequently build their immense nests in trees of A.

erioloba. These nests, which are used year after year

and are continually added to, sometimes become so

heavy that even the largest branches break under their

weight.

Roots, probably of A. erioloba, have been

reported at a depth of 45,72 m in a borehole in South

West Africa (Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 27 : 117, 1952).

Coetzee in S. Afr. J. Sci. 52 : 23 (1955) reports

that the pollen-grains of A. erioloba are anomalous

in consisting of 32 cells as opposed to the 16 cells in

all other species studied.

A. erioloba hybridizes with A. haematoxylon.

28. Acacia haematoxylon Willd., Enum.

Hort. Berol. 1056 (1809); DC., Prodr.

2 : 462 (1825); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 280 (1862);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 5()4

(1875); Engl, in Bot. Jahrb. 10 : 23 (1888);

Marloth in Trans. S. Afr. Phil. Soc. 5 : 269

(1889); Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 112

(1900); Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 211 (1907);

Dinter, Veg. Veldkost Deutsch-Sudwest-

Afrikas 32 (1912); Glover in Ann. Bolus

Herb. 1 : 148 (1915); Harms in Engl.,

Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 354 (1915); Dinter in

Feddes Repert. 15 : 79 (1917); Pole Evans

in S. Afr. J. Sci. 17 : fig. 29 (1920); Bak.f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 835 (1930); Hutch.,

Botanist in S. Afr. 413 (1946); O. B. Miller

in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 22 (1952); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 156, t.vii (1961);

Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 296

(1965); Volk in J. S.W. Afr. Wiss. Ges.

20 : 43, fig.7 (1966); Leistner, Mem. Bot.

Surv. S. Afr. 38 : 67, 123, t.21 (1967);

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 8 (1967); Brenan

in F.Z. 3,1 : 93, t.15/11 (1970); Ross in

Bothalia 10 : 359 (1971); in BothaUa 10 : 548

(1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 773 (1973). Type: Interior of the Cape

Province, Lichtenstein sub Herb. Willdenow

19186 (B, holo.).

A. atomiphylla Burch., Trav. 1 : 341 (1822). Type:

Cape, Hopetown Distr., Asbestos mountains, at

Kloof village, Burchell 1685 (K, holo.!).

Shrub or small tree to 10 m high; trunk to

0,3 m in diam.; crown often irregularly

rounded, narrow, branches drooping some-

what. Bark dark greyish-brown to blackish,

rough; young branchlets pale to dark grey

or reddish-brown to purple, often appearing

as though whitewashed over a purplish

background, flaking minutely, slender,

sparingly to densely grey-puberulous or

tomentellous, seldom subglabrous. Stipules

spinescent, in pairs, 0,5-5, 7 cm long, slender,

never inflated, straight, greyish-white to

reddish-brown; other prickles absent. Leaves

usually densely grey-tomentellous, bipinnate

but the leaflets so small and laterally com-

pressed that the pinnae resemble single

linear crenulate leaflets: petiole 1-5(7) mm

long, adaxial gland often absent; rhachis

Mimosoideae

81

0,8-5, 1(8,2) cm long, with minute reddish

glands scattered amongst the grey indumen-

tum, a small yellowish-brown gland often

present at the junction of the top 1-6 and

the lowest 1-3 pinnae pairs or between each

or most pairs; pinnae 6-26 pairs; rhachillae

(0,3)0, 5-1(1 ,5) cm long, with minute reddish

glands scattered amongst the grey indumen-

tum; leaflets grey, 12-24(35) pairs per pinna,

0,25-0,8 X 0,2-0, 5 mm, oblong, tightly

laterally compressed, superficially appearing

simply pinnate, densely puberulous. In-

florescences capitate, on axillary peduncles,

solitary or fascicled. Flowers bright golden-

yellow, grey in bud, sessile, sometimes some

flowers are male only; peduncles 1-2,4 cm

long, densely grey-tomentellous, somewhat

glandular; involucel at or above the middle

or at the apex of the peduncle. Calyx 1 ,4-2

mm long, apices of lobes densely tomentel-

lous, lobes shallow or free for most of their

length. Corolla 1,8-3 mm long, apices of lobes

sparingly to densely tomentellous, lobes free

almost to the base. Stamen-filaments free

or connate into groups basally, up to 4,5 mm

long; anthers with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary up to 1,5 mm long, sessile, glabrous

at first but soon becoming pubescent. Pods

densely grey-velutinous all over, with

numerous minute dark reddish-brown to

purplish glands particularly when young,

8-21 cm long, 0,6-1, 4 cm wide, up to 0,9

cm thick, indehiscent, falcate or curled into

a complete circle, seldom straightish, margin

entire or irregularly constricted between

the seeds and ± moniliform, slightly spongy

within. dark reddish- or purplish-brown,

8.5- 11,5 X 6-9 mm, lenticular to elliptic,

sometimes scarcely compressed ; areole 5-7 x

3.5- 5 mm, almost closed.

Restricted to South West Africa, south-western

Botswana and the northern Cape Province. Occurs

mostly on the Kalahari sands and in other areas

where loose sandy soils are prevalent; in dry wood-

land, bush or thornveld. Often found on the sandy

flats between the dunes or along dry watercourses.

S.W.A. — 2217 (Windhoek): Smalhoek, Merxmuller

1045 (K). 2317 (Rehoboth): Rehoboth, Fleck 486a

(Z). 2318 (Leonardville): 19,2 km S.E. of Pretorius

Post Office, between Nossob River and Botswana,

Codd 5847. 2416 (Maltahohe): farm Bullsport, Strey

2510. 2619 (Aroab): 14,4 km S.S.E. of Aroab on road

to Klipdam, De Winter 3433. 2819 (Ariamsvlei):

Ariamsvlei, farm Walzersbrunn, Orlendahl 309. Grid

ref. unknown: 160 km N.E. of Mariental, Basson 143',

Grundom, Dinter 5047.

CAPE. — 2520 (Mata Mata): western border of

Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, Story 5572. 2620

(Twee Rivieren): Kalahari Gemsbok Park, 32 km N.

of Twee Rivieren, Werger 1497. 2622 (Tsabong):

Duffield, Breuckner 1311. 2623 (Morokweng): 240 km

N.W. of Vryburg near Heuningvlei, Rodin 3574.

2723 (Kuruman): near Kuruman, Marloth 1056. 2821

(Upington): 94,4 km from Olifantshoek on road to

Upington, Tolken & Schlieben 1194. 2822 (Glen

Lyon): 30,4 km S.S.W. of Olifantshoek, Leistner &

Joynt 2782. 2823 (Griekwastad) : Klaarwater, Griqua-

town, Burchell 1900 (K). 2922 (Prieska): 9,6 km

W.S.W. of Abrahams Dam, Acocks 13191. 2923

(Douglas): Asbestos Mts., Kloof village, Burchell 1685

(K). 2924 (Hopetown): Hopetown commonage,

Schweickerdt 1178. Grid ref. unknown: Vryburg Distr.,

along Molopo River, De Winter 7831.

A very distinctive species which is easily recog-

nized by its compact densely grey-tomentellous

leaves with minute leaflets.

A. haematoxylon hybridizes with A. erioloba.

Lichtenstein, in his Travels in Southern Africa

(1815), states that the wood of A. haematoxylon is of

fine quality and suitable for the manufacture of

musical instruments.

29. Acacia erioloba E. Mey. x Acacia

haematoxylon Willd. Ross in Bothalia 11(4) :

444 (1975).

A. giraffae Willd., Enum. Hort. Berol. 1054 (1809).

Type: Interior of the Cape Province, Herb. Willdenow

19171 (B, holo.).

A. giraffae Willd. X A. haematoxylon Willd.,

Leistner, Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 38 : 67, 123, t.24

(1967); Ross in Bothalia 10(2) : 359 (1971); Robbertse

in Proc. Electron Micros. Soc. S. Afr. 3 : 29 (1973).

Tree to 7 m high; crown rounded,

spreading, branches usually drooping some-

what; habit resembling that of A. erioloba.

Bark dark greyish-brown to blackish, rough;

young branchlets grey or reddish-brown to

purplish, sometimes appearing as though

whitewashed over a purplish background,

glabrous to densely grey-tomentellous, glan-

dular or eglandular. Stipules spinescent, in

pairs, 0,3-5 cm long, slender but usually

stouter than in A. haematoxylon, never

inflated as in A. erioloba. Leaves distinctly

bipinnate, sparingly to densely grey-tomentel-

lous: petiole 2-9 mm long, adaxial gland

absent; rhachis 0,9-4, 8 cm long, with or

without minute scattered glands, a small

yellowish-brown gland often present at the

junction of each pinna pair; pinnae 3-12

pairs; rhachillae 0,4-2, 2 cm long, glandular

or eglandular; leaflets greyish, 11-25 pairs

per pinna, 1-^ x 0, 4-1,1 mm, linear to

linear-oblong, often slightly falcate, apex

rounded to subacute, sparingly to densely

puberulous above and below, lateral nerves

82

Mimosoideae

not prominent. Inflorescences capitate, on

axillary peduncles, solitary or sometimes

fascicled. Flowers bright golden-yellow, grey

in bud, sessile; peduncles 1-3 cm long,

densely grey-tomentellous, glandular or

eglandular; involucel apical or a short

distance below the apex of the peduncle.

Calyx 1,8-2, 4 mm long, apices of lobes

sparingly to densely tomentellous, shallowly

lobed or lobes free for ± half their length.

Corolla 2,2-3 mm long, apices of lobes

sparingly to densely tomentellous, lobes free

almost to the base. Stamen-fllaments free

or connate basally into groups of usually

3-6, up to 4,5 mm long. Ovary up to 2 mm

long, sessile or shortly stipitate, glabrous at

first but soon becoming pubescent. Pods

densely grey-velutinous all over, with

numerous minute dark reddish-brown to

purplish glands particularly when young,

7-14 cm long, 1,2-2, 3 cm wide, up to 1 cm

thick, falcate or curled into a complete

circle, margin irregular, often constricted

between the seeds and ± moniliform,

slightly spongy within, each seed separated

by a thin transverse septum. Seeds dark

reddish-brown, 9-12 X 6-8 mm, lenticular-

elliptic, sometimes subcircular, scarcely com-

pressed; areole 6-8 x 2, 5-3, 5 mm, almost

closed.

Restricted to the northern Cape Province.

Occurs on the Kalahari sands, often on the fiats of

loose sand between the hills; in dry woodland, bush or

thornveld. Although specimens are relatively wide-

spread in the northern Cape, they are nowhere

common. Usually only a solitary plant is found or, at

most, five or six individuals.

CAPE. — 2520 (Mata Mata): Kalahari Gemsbok

National Park, 14,4 km N. of Mata Mata, Leisiner

1494. 2620 (Twee Rivieren): Kalahari Gemsbok

National Park, 3,2 km S.E. of Kamkwa along Auob

River, Leistner 3151 (KMG). 2722 (Olifantshoek):

Moeswal Post Office, Langeberg Mts., Leistner 1728.

2922 (Prieska): Bloubosfontein, 59 km N.N.W. of

Prieska, Leistner 1340', 9,6 km W.S.W. of Abrahams

Dam, Acocks 13190', Acocks 12689', Code! 1261. 2923

(Douglas): 14,4 km W.N.W. of Douglas, Leistner

1197.

This convincing hybrid is of great interest and a

fuller account of it appears in Bolhalia 10 : 359 (1971).

Some of the characters displayed by the hybrid,

for example, number of pinnae pairs and leaflet size,

are intermediate between the values of A. erioloba and

those of A. haematoxylon, while other characters, for

example, the degree of pubescence and the presence of

glands, are those exhibited by a single parent, namely,

A. haematoxylon. The young branchlcts, leaf-rhachides

and peduncles in the hybrid are usually as densely

pubescent as in A. haematoxylon and are not only

sparingly pubescent as an intermediate state between

the glabrous A. erioloba and the densely pubescent A.

haematoxylon. Recombination of the characters of the

two parent species apparently does not take place at

random, but there is a marked tendency for characters

associated together in one species to remain asso-

ciated in the hybrid.

Although the parentage of the hybrid is known, it

is not known which species functions as the male

parent and which as the female parent. Furthermore,

it is not known whether the same species is always, for

example, the male parent or whether the same species

may sometimes serve as the female parent. Con-

sequently, there is at present no understanding of

differences arising in the progeny as a result of this.

As the hybrid is fertile it should be possible to find all

stages of back-crossing with the parents. Careful field

studies are required.

30. Acacia nilotica (Z,.) Willd. ex Del.,

FI. Egypt 111. 79 (1813); A.F. Hill in Bot.

Mus. Leafl. Harvard Univ. 8 : 97 (1940);

Brenan in Kew Bull. 12 : 83 (1957); in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 109 (1959);

in F.Z. 3,1 : 96 (1970). Type: Egypt, Herb.

Linnaeus 1228.28 (LINN, lecto.!).

Mimosa nilotica L., Sp. PI. 521 (1753). Type as

above.

subsp. kraussiana {Benth.) Brenan in Kew

Bull. 12 : 84 (1957); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Mimos. : 110 (1959); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 161, t.43 (1961); F. White, For.

FI. N. Rhod. 86, fig. 18G (1962); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 302

(1965); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 97, t.16/13, t.21

(1970); Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal 36, fig. 2/6

(1971); Flow. PI. Afr. 41 : t.l636 (1971);

Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 151

(1972); Ross, FI. Natal 193 (1973); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 787 (1973); Schreiber

in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 11 ;

120 (1973). Type: Natal, Durban [Port

Natal], Krauss 69 (K, holo.!; FI!, TCDI).

Mimosa nilotica, Thunb., Prodr. PI. Cap. 2 : 92

(1800).

Acacia arabica (Lam.) Willd. var. kraussiana Benth.

in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 1 : 500 (1842), non A. kraus-

siana Meisn. ex Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 1 : 515

(1842); Meisn, in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 2 : 103 (1843);

Harv. in F.C. 2 : 281 (1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 506 (1875); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull.

1908 : 156 (1908); FI. Transv. 2 : 343, fig. 60 (1932);

N.E. Br. in Kew Bull. 1909 : 106 (1909); Codd, Trees

& Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 38, fig. 33b (1951); O. B.

Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18:18 (1952). Type as above.

A. arabica sensu E. Mey., Comm. 1 : 168 (1836); Sim,

For. FI. P.E. Afr. 57, t.36B (1909); Henkel, Woody PI.

Natal 231 (1934). A. benthamii Rochebr., Toxicol. Afr.

2 : 192 (1898), non A. benthamii Meisn. (1844);

Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 149, 1. 19/15 (1915);

Bews, FI. Natal 115 (1921); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull.

Mimosoideae

83

FIG. 9. — Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana. 1, flowering branch, x 2, part of leaf-rhachis showing glands, x 6

3, flower, x 10 with enlargement of anthers to show glands, all from Piirves 215; 4, flower, opened out to

show ovary, x 10, Robson 49; 5, pods, x iVhite 2279; 6, seed, x 1, Milne- Redhead Al'i. Reproduced

by permission of the Editorial Board of Flora Zambesiaca.

84

Mimosoideae

1922 : 324 (1922); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 850

(1930); Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 268 (“bentha-

miana”), 664 (1946); O. B. Miller. Checklist Bech.

Prot. 16 (1948). Type as for A. nilotica subsp. kraus-

siana. A. nilotica var. kraussiana (Benth.) A. F. Hill in

Bot. Mus. Leaf!. Harvard Univ. 8 : 98 (1940). Type as

above. A. subalatasensxi Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr.

333 (1949) pro parte; West in Rhod. Agric. J. 47 : 209

(1950); Pardy in Rhod. Agric. J. 51 : 489 (1954);

Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 286 (1956), non Vatke sensu

stricto. A. nilotica subsp. subalata sensu Boughey in J.

S. Afr. Bot. 30 : 158 (1964); Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

58 : 11 (1967), non (Vatke) Brenan sensu stricto.

Tree to 10 m high; crown flattened,

sometimes irregularly so, or rounded; trunk

to 0,35 m in diam. Bark dark brownish-

black to black, rough, longitudinally fissured ;

young branchlets greyish- or reddish-brown

to purplish-black, often pinkish when young,

sparingly to densely pubescent or occasionally

subglabrous, glands inconspicuous or absent.

Stipules spinescent, in pairs, 0,4-5,5(15) cm

long, straight or almost so, often deflexed,

whitish to greyish- or reddish-brown,

sparingly to densely pubescent but becoming

glabrescent with age; other prickles absent.

Leaves', petiole 0,4- 1,2(2, 4) cm long, spar-

ingly to densely pubescent or occasionally

subglabrous, adaxial gland usually present,

sometimes two present, often a short distance

below the lowest pinna pair, up to 1,8 x

0,8 mm; rhachis (1 ,2)2, 7-5, 8(8) cm long,

sparingly to densely pubescent or occasionally

subglabrous, with a gland at the junction of

each pinna pair or between the top few pairs

only; pinnae (3)5-11(14) pairs; rhachillae

0,9-2, 8 (4,4) cm long; leaflets 12-27(36)

pairs per pinna, 1,5-5, 5 x 0,5-1, 5 mm,

linear to linear-oblong, apex rounded to

subacute but not spinulose-mucronate, mar-

gins usually sparsely to densely ciliate,

glabrous above and below or rarely puberu-

lous below. Inflorescences capitate, on axillary

peduncles, solitary or fascicled. Flowers

bright-yellow, sessile; peduncles 1,2-4, 5 cm

long, sparingly to densely pubescent, rarely

subglabrous; involucel from near the base to

just over halfway up the peduncle. Calyx gla-

brous to densely pubescent, expecially apical-

ly, tube 0,8-1 ,6 mm long, lobes up to 0,4 mm

long. Corolla glabrous to pubescent, especially

apically, tube 2-2,6 mm long, lobes up to 1 , 1

mm long, often reflexed. Stamen-fllaments

free or sometimes united into bundles

basally, up to 5 mm long; anthers with a

deciduous apical gland. Ovary up to 1,1 mm

long, sessile or shortly stipitate, glabrous

but soon becoming pubescent. Pods green and

fleshy when young but shrivelling and

turning black with age, (5,2)8-17(19,5) x

0,9-1, 6(1, 9) cm, oblong, straight or slightly

falcate, margins shallowly to deeply crenate

between each seed, each joint marked with a

distinct raised bump which corresponds to

the seed inside, sparingly to densely pubes-

cent all over at first but the raised parts over

the seeds becoming glabrescent and shining

with age, rarely subglabrous throughout,

sweet-smelling, indehiscent, breaking up

transversely into segments on the ground.

Seeds olive-brown, 6,5-9 X 5-8 mm,

subcircular, scarcely compressed; areole 5-7

X 4-7 mm.

Found from Tanzania southwards to the Trans-

vaal, Swaziland and Natal. Occurs in dry thomveld,

river valley scrub, woodland, bushveld and scrub.

S.W.A. — 1713 (Swartbooisdrift): 22,4 km N. of

Otjihangasems (11,2 km N. of Omuhonga River),

Giess 9355 (M). 1716 (Enana): 19 km S.W. of Omafa

on road to Ndola store, De Winter 3626. 1813

(Ohopoho): 3,2 km E. of Ohopoho, De Winter &

Leistner 5311. 1916 (Gobaub): farm Pierre, Outjo-

Otavi road, Tolken & Hardy 895. 1917 (Tsumeb): 7,5

km E. of Otavi on road to Grootfontein, De Winter

2859. 1918 (Grootfontein); farm Welgemoed, Merx-

muller & Giess 2165. 2016 (Otjiwarongo): Omatjenne,

Volk 2937.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort) : Dongola

area, farrri Breslau, Codd 4834. 2230 (Messina):

Nwanedzi River, Gerstner 6033a. 2329 (Pietersburg) :

Vivo, 67,2 km W. of Louis Trichardt, Schlieben 7550.

2331 (Phalaborwa) : Kruger National Park, Letaba

Camp, Codd 4266. 2428 (Nylstroom): Mosdene,

Naboomspruit, Galpin M109. 2429 (Zebediela):

near Marble Hall, Strey 8007. 2431 (Acornhoek):

Kruger National Park, Skukuza, Lower Sabie road.

Van der Schijff 3415. 2526 (Zeerust): near Marico

Dam, Sutton 1135. 2527 (Rustenburg): Krokodilpoort,

6,4 km N. of Brits, Mogg 14604. 2528 (Pretoria):

Wonderboom, C. A. Smith 6175. 2529 (Witbank):

Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, Mogg 17512. 2531

(Komatipoort): Kruger National Park, Nsikazi-

Crocodile River junction. Van der Schijff 3952. 2731

(Louwsburg); 3,2 km N. of Pongola River on road to

Gollel, Ross 1708 (NH, NU). Grid ref. unknown:

Sekukuniland, farm Korenvelden, Barnard 74.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): Nokwane,

Compton 31231. 2731 (Louwsburg); Maloma, Comp-

ton 29478.

Mimosoideae

85

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Ward 2018. 2730 (Vryheid): Utrecht, Ross

557 (NU). 2731 (Louwsburg): 6,4 km N. of Candover

on GoIIel road, Ross 1418 (NH, NU). 2732 (Ubombo):

1 ,6 km along road to Ubombo, 3,2 km N. of Mkuze,

Ross 1695 (NH, NU). 2829 (Harrismith): 4,8 km from

Ladysmith on Helpmekaar road, Ross 547 (NU). 2830

(Dundee): 4,8 km from Dundee on Elandslaagte

road, Ross 550 (NU). 2831 (Nkandla): Middledrift,

Edwards 1429. 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe Game

Reserve, Hluhluwe valley. Ward 1604. 2929 (Under-

berg): Estcourt Hill, 1 ,6 km S. of Estcourt, Ross 748

(NU). 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Bisley, near Pieter-

maritzburg, Ross 1669 (NH, NU). 2931 (Stanger):

near Stanger, Wood 4011 (K). 3030 (Port Shepstone):

Doonside, Ross 791 (NU).

A. nilotica subsp. kraussiana occupies a wide

range of habitats and is consequently rather variable.

The pods, in particular, show considerable variation.

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 1 1 (1967) referred all of the

South West African material of A. nilotica to subsp.

subalata (Vatke) Brenan. However, after examining

the specimens and comparing them with the Kew

collections of typical subsp. subalata from East

Africa, it is felt that the South West African specimens

are better placed in subsp. kraussiana. It is extremely

difficult to differentiate concisely in words between

subsp. kraussiana and subsp. subalata, and some

specimens of subsp. kraussiana certainly do approach

subsp. subalata, particularly when the pods are

immature.

In northern Zululand, and especially in Tonga-

land, the paired spines are frequently greatly elon-

gated, so much so in some instances that they cause

the young branchlets to droop. From the vicinity of

Hluti in Swaziland to just north of Mkuze in Zululand

there appears to be a tendency for the occurrence of

plants withiglabrous young branchlets and pods.

A tendency of A. nilotica is for a few flowers to

develop in the involucel on the peduncle, sometimes

giving the appearance of a smaller secondary capitu-

lum below the main one. The flowers in this secondary

capitulum often develop before those in the main

capitulum. A specimen from the Skukuza area of the

Kruger National Park {Van der Schijff 4009) is

unusual in that a few of the peduncles are forked

either at or some distance above the involucel and

each limb bears a capitulum of flowers.

A good quality gum, at one time used for con-

fectionery and for adhesive purposes, is exuded from

the stems. The wood is reddish-brown with a darker

heartwood, close-grained, very hard, durable and

termite-proof. It is consequently useful for fencing

posts and also provides a good fuel,

31. Acacia xanthophloea Benth. in Trans.

Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 511 (1875); Burtt Davy

in Kew Bull. 1908 : 160 (1908) pro parte

excl. specim. Elliott 163; Sim, For. FI.

P.E. Afr. 58, t.41 (1909); Glover in Ann.

Bolus Herb. 1 : 150 (1915); Eyles in Trans.

Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 5 : 363 (1916); Bews, FI.

Natal 115 (1921); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 851 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 343 (1932); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal

228 (1934); Codd, Trees «& Shrubs Kruger

Nat. Park 52, figs. 44c, d, 46 (1951): O.B.

Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 26 (1952);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 108,

fig. 16/36 (1959); Palmer & Pitman, Trees

S. Afr. 166, t.48 (1961); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 308 (1965); De Winter

et al, 66 Transv. Trees 60 (1966); Brenan in

F.Z. 3,1 : 96, t.20 (1970); Ross, Acacia Spp.

Natal 43, fig. 2/7 (1971); Flow. PI. Afr.

41 : t.l637 (1971); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger

Nat. Park 1 : 167 (1972); Ross, FI. Natal

193 (1973); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 815 (1973). Syntypes: Malawi, E. end

of Lake Shirwa [Chilwa], Meller (K!);

Mozambique, Sena, Kirk (K!).

Tree up to 30 m high with a rounded or

flattened and somewhat spreading crown.

Bark on trunk lemon to greenish-yellow,

flaking minutely, becoming powdery, dark

brown to black where damaged ; young

branchlets lemon to greenish-yellow, pow-

dery, glabrous or subglabrous, young extre-

mities brown to plum-coloured but the outer

layer soon flaking off to reveal the greenish-

yellow inner layer. Stipules spinescent, in

pairs, 0,9-8, 5 cm long, straight or almost

so; “ant-galls” and other prickles absent.

Leaves: petiole 0,1-1, 5 cm long, glabrous

to sparingly pubescent, adaxial gland usually

present, variable in position, up to 1 , 5 x 1

mm; rhachis (0)2, 5-7 cm long, glabrous to

sparingly pubescent, a gland often present

at the junction of the top 1-2 pinna pairs;

pinnae (l)3-6(8) pairs; rhachillae 0,3-3 cm

long; leaflets 8-17 pairs per pinna, 2, 5-6, 5 x

0,75-1,75 mm, linear to linear-oblong, apex

rounded to acute or mucronate, margins

usually without cilia, glabrous beneath,

lateral nerves invisible beneath. Inflorescences

capitate, usually on abbreviated lateral

shoots whose axes do not elongate and are

represented by clustered scales, the peduncles

thus appearing to be in lateral fascicles on the

older yellow-barked twigs. Flowers bright

yellow (at least in our area), sessile; peduncles

0,8-2, 9 cm long, sparingly to densely

pubescent or subglabrous, glandular chiefly

86

Mimosoideae

FIG. 10. — Acacia xanthophloea. 1, flowering branch, X Gomes e Sousa 3604; 2, part of branch, showing

bark and paired spines, x 1, Mendonca 2330; 3, part of leaf-rhachis and pinnae, x 4; 4, flower, x 10;

5, flower, opened out to show ovary and stamens, x 8; 6, anther, front view, x 82; 7, anther, rear view,

X 82, all from Gomes e Sousa 3604; 8, pods, x J, Mendonca 2330. Reproduced by permission of the

Editorial Board of Flora Zambesiaca.

Mimosoideae

87

below the involucel but sometimes also

above; involucel basal to about halfway up

the peduncle, conspicuous, 2-4 mm long.

Calyx glabrous or sometimes lobes very

sparingly puberulous, tube 0,8-1, 6 mm long,

lobes minute, up to 0,2 mm long. Corolla

often deep pink to purplish apically especially

when in bud, glabrous, tube 2, 4-3, 2 mm

long, lobes up to 0,5 mm long. Stamen-fila-

ments free, up to 7 mm long; anthers with a

deciduous apical gland. Ovary up to 1,8 mm

long, sessile, with few to many long glandular

hairs. Pods yellowish-brown to brown, 3,4-

13,5 X 0,7-1, 4 cm, linear-oblong, straight

or slightly curved, ± moniliform or irregularly

constricted between some of the seeds, the

segments mostly ± as long as wide, indehis-

cent, breaking up transversely into segments

after being shed, valves thin, coriaceous,

reticulate-venose, glabrous or almost so,

eglandular or sparingly glandular. Seeds

olive to blackish-olive, 4, 5-6, 5 x 3,5-5

mm, subcircular to elliptic, compressed;

areole 3-4,5 x 2-3 mm.

Found from Kenya southwards to the Transvaal,

Swaziland and Zululand. Occurs along river banks, in

seasonally flooded areas adjacent to rivers, on the

margins of lakes and shallow pans where water

collects after rain, and in low lying areas where

underground water is available. Often gregarious and

at times forming a closed woodland.

TRANSVAAL. — 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National

Park, Maknltkdi, Lang sub TRV 32250. 2531 (Komati-

poort): Kruger National Park, 4,8 km N.W. of

Crocodile Bridge, Codd 57I0\ Komatipoort, Burtt

Davy 365.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Stegi-Big Bend

road, Compton 28042. 2731 (Louwsburg): 22,4 km N.

of Gollel on Nsoko road, Ross 1551.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Moll & Strey 3733. 2731 (Louwsburg): 4,8

km upstream from Pongola Poort Dam, Ross 1415

(NU). 2732 (Ubombo): 19 km N. of Hluhluwe on

Mkuze road, Ross 1373 (K, NH, NU). 2832 (Mtuba-

tuba): 4,8 km W. of Hluhluwe station, Acocks 13091.

A. xanthophloea, with its greenish-yellow bark, is

a most distinctive species. On account of its preference

for moist or swampy situations, which also form the

breeding places of the malaria carrying mosquito, the

species has always been associated with fever, whence

the common name “Fever Tree”.

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 108 (1959)

records that A. xanthophloea is “apparently unique

among the East .African acacias in having flowers

either white to pinkish or purplish, or else yellow to

golden.” White to purplish flowers appear to be

confined to Kenya and Tanzania. Although the

corollas of many of our specimens are pinkish or even

purple, the stamens are bright yellow and the flowers

therefore appear bright yellow. At present there is no

evidence to suggest that any flower colour other than

bright or golden yellow occurs in our area.

A. xanthophloea achieved fame and is known to

generations of children through Rudyard Kipling’s

“Just So Stories” and the adventures of the Elephant’s

Child who travelled “till he came at last to the banks

of the great, grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all

set about with fever trees”.

32. Acacia kirkii Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 350

(1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond.

30 : 507 (1875); Brenan in Kew Bull. 12 : 361

(1958); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 106

(1959). Type: Zambia, Southern Province,

Batoka country, Kirk (K, holo.!).

subsp. kirkii.

Brenan in Kew Bull. 12 : 363 (1958); in

F.T.E.A. Legum. — Mimos. : 106 (1959); in

F.Z. 3,1 : 94 (1970); Schreiber in Mitt. Bot.

Staatssamml. Munchen 11 : 118 (1973).

A. kirkii Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 350 (1871); Harms in

Warb., Kunene-Samb. Exped. 243 (1903); Bak.f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 848 (1930); O. B. Miller, Checklist

Bech. Prot. 19 (1948); in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 22 (1952);

Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 333 (1949); Torre in

C.F.A. 2 : 285 (1956); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 86,

fig. 18H (1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr.

2 : 303 (1965); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 787

(1973). Type: Zambia, Southern Prov., Batoka

country, Kirk (K, holo.!). A. kirkii subsp. kirkii var.

kirkii, Brenan in Kew Bull. 12 : 363 (1958). Type as

above. A. kirkii subsp. kirkii var. intermedia Brenan

in Kew Bull. 12 : 363 (1958); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Mimos. : 107, fig. 15/35A (1959); Schreiber in

F.S.W.A. 58 : 10 (1967). Type: Kenya, Athi Plains,

Van Someren in C.M. 2700 (K, holo.!). A. verrucifera

Harms in Warb., Kunene-Samb. Exped. 17, 244

(1903), nomen nudum. A. harmsiana Dinter in Feddes

Repert. 15 : 80 (1917); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 848

(1930). Type: South West Africa, Tsumeb Distr.,

Nagusib, 25 km S.E. of Namutoni, Dinter 2283

(SAM, iso.!). A. nilotica (L.) Del. subsp. adstringens

(Schumach. & Thonn.) Roberty var. kirkii (Oliv.)

Roberty in Candollea 11 : 151 (1948) pro parte. Type

as for A. kirkii.

Tree to 10 m high or a many stemmed

shrub branching from near the base, branches

slender, ascending, crown ± flattened and

spreading somewhat. Bark grey or yellowish-

brown, often with numerous transversely

elongated lenticels, papery, flaking or peeling

off to reveal a yellowish-green inner layer;

young branchlets grey, brown or reddish-

to purplish-brown, subglabrous or puberu-

lous, with numerous sessile reddish glands.

Stipules spinescent, in pairs, 0,5-4, 5(8) cm

long, straight or almost so, usually greyish-

white; “ant-galls” and other prickles absent.

Leaves: petiole 0,3-1 ,3 cm long, subglabrous

to densely pubescent, adaxial gland usually

absent; rhachis (0,8)3-6(7,2) cm long,

subglabrous to densely pubescent, a small

rounded or oval gland at the junction of the

top 1-3 pinnae pairs only, or absent; pinnae

88

Mimosoideae

(3)6-14 pairs; rhachillae 0,8-2, 1 cm long,

subglabrous to densely pubescent; leaflets

9-18 pairs per pinna, 2-5 x 0,5-1,25 mm,

narrowly oblong or linear-oblong, apex acute

to minutely mucronate, glabrous below,

margins with or without cilia. Inflorescences

capitate, on axillary peduncles, solitary or

fascicled. Flowers sessile, pinkish-red in bud,

cream or white when open ; peduncles 1 , 8-

3,7 cm long, usually densely pubescent and

with sessile glands throughout, rarely spar-

ingly pubescent; involucel conspicuous, 2-3

mm long, below, at or slightly above the

middle of the peduncle. Calyx cream and

tinged with pinkish-red, or pinkish-red,

sparingly to densely pubescent apically

especially on the lobes, tube up to 1,6 mm

long, lobes up to 0,8 mm long. Corolla

pinkish-red, glabrous or subglabrous, tube

1,8-2, 4 mm long, lobes up to 1 mm long.

Stamen-filaments white, free, up to 6 mm

long; anthers with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary up to 1,2 mm long, sessile, glabrous.

Pods brown or reddish-brown, (2)3,5-8(10)

X (0,8)1, 3-2,1 cm, oblong, straight or

almost so (sometimes bent in a plane at right

angles to the flattened plane of the pod),

mostly ± moniliform with the segments as

wide as or wider than long, stipe up to 1,5

cm long, apex rounded to mucronate, usually

prominently venose, indehiscent, fibrous and

tough, each segment with a small or medium

irregular wart-like projection up to 5 mm

long in the centre of each of its flat sides,

glabrous or subglabrous. Seeds olive or

olive-brown, 5-8 x 4-5,5 mm, subcircular

to elliptic, compressed; areole 3,5-5 x

2, 5-3, 5 mm.

Found in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia,

Rhodesia, Angola, northern South West Africa and

Botswana. Occurs in woodland, wooded grassland,

mixed bush and scrub, often in seasonally flooded

alluvium by rivers and pans. Often grows in associa-

tion with Colopliospermum mopane.

S.W.A. — 1713 (Swartbooisdrift): Handungo, 14,4

km N.W. of Ombazu on road to Swartbooisdrift,

De Winter & Leistner 5896. 1725 (Livingstone):

Mpilila Island, confluence of Zambezi and Chobe

rivers, Killick & Leistner 3382. 1814 (Otjitundua):

Otjitoko, ± 56 km S. of Ohopoho, De Winter &

Leistner 5912. 1817 (Tsintsabis): 89 km N.W. of

Tsumeb on road to Namutoni, De Winter 2957.

33. Acacia tortilis (Forsk.) Hayne,

Arzneyk. Gebr. Gewachse 10 : t.31 (1827);

Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 352 (1871); Benth. in

Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 506 (1875);

Bak.f, Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 841 (1930);

Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 284 (1956); Brenan in

Kew Bull. 12 : 86 (1957); in F.T.E.A. Legum-

Mimos. : 117 (1959); F. White, For. Fl.N.

Rhod. 84, fig 17J (1962); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1;

102 (1970). Type: Arabia, “Mons Soudan

prope Hds”, Forskal (C, holo.).

Mimosa tortilis Forsk., FI. Aegypt. Arab. CXXIII,

176 (1775). Type as above.

Tree to 15 m high or a small shrub or

bush, crown typically flattened and spreading,

sometimes rounded; trunk to 1 m in diam.

Bark grey to grey-brown or blackish, at times

reddish-brown, rough, fissured, seldom ±

smooth; young branchlets greyish- to reddish-

brown or purplish-black, glabrous to densely

pubescent, lenticellate, often flaking minutely.

Stipules spinescent, some short, hooked and

up to 5 mm long, mixed with other long

straight slender whitish spines 1,5-10 cm

long; “ant-galls” and other prickles absent.

Leaves: petiole 0,2-0, 8(1, 4) cm long, spar-

ingly to densely pubescent, adaxial gland

usually present and just below lowest pinna

pair; rhachis 0, 2-2(4, 6) cm long, sparingly

to densely pubescent, eglandular or sparingly

glandular, a small gland often present at the

junction of the top 1-3 and lowest 1-2 pinnae

pairs or absent from some, variable; pinnae

2-10(14) pairs; rhachillae 0,3-1, 7 cm long,

sparingly to densely pubescent; leaflets 6-22

pairs per pinna, 1-4 x 0,6-1 mm, linear to

linear-oblong, apex rounded to acute, glabrous

or sparingly to densely appressed-pubescent

beneath and sometimes also above, indumen-

tum often concentrated along midrib beneath,

margins with or without cilia. Inflorescences

capitate, on axillary peduncles, fascicled or

solitary. Flowers white to pale yellowish-

white, sessile; peduncles 0,4-2, 4 cm long,

sparingly to densely pubescent; involucel

in lower third of peduncle. Calyx glabrous

except for the lobes which are sparingly to

densely pubescent, tube 0,9-1, 6 mm long,

lobes up to 0,8 mm long. Corolla glabrous

throughout or apices of lobes sparingly to

densely pubescent, tube 1,2-2 mm long,

lobes up to 1 mm long. Stamen-filaments

free, up to 4,5 mm long; anthers with a

deciduous apical gland. Ovary glabrous, up

to 1,5 mm long, shortly stipitate. Pods

variously contorted or spirally twisted,

0,6-1, 2 cm wide, greenish-yellow to olive-

brown, longitudinally veined, indehiscent

or very tardily dehiscent on the ground.

Mimosoideae

89

usually glabrous but at times sparingly

to densely pubescent, eglandular or with few

to many minute scattered reddish glands.

Seeds olive- to reddish-brown, 4-7 x 3-6

mm, elliptic to subcircular, smooth, com-

pressed; areole 3-6 x 2-4 mm.

A. tortilis is widespread throughout Africa and

Arabia. Four subspecies are recognized, two of which

occur in our area.

Young branchlets shortly pubescent with hairs

usually less than 0,25 mm long, a few to 0,5

mm ; petiole and leaf-rhachis similarly shortly

pubescent; pods glabrous or almost so,

eglandular (a) subsp. heteracantha

Young branchlets with longer denser pubescence

than in subsp. heteracantha, hairs 0,25-0,75

mm long; petiole and leaf-rhachis with hairs

mostly more than 0,25 mm long; pods

tomentellous or pubescent with spreading

or curved hairs among which numerous dark

reddish glands are clearly visible through a

hand lens (b) subsp. spirocarpa

A. tortilis with its mixture of short recurved

spines and long straight spines and its spirally

twisted or variously contorted pods is a very distinc-

tive species. Typical subsp. tortilis, with narrow (3-5

mm wide) pubescent but eglandular pods, occurs in

Egypt, the Sudan, Arabia, Aden and perhaps Israel.

(a) subsp. heteracantha {Burch.) Brenan

in Kew Bull. 12 ; 88 (1957); in Kew Bull. 13 :

409 (1959); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

165, t.xi, 46, 47 (1961); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 287 (1965); De Winter

et al, 66 Transv. Trees 58 (1966); Schreiber

in F.S.W.A. 58 : 12 (1967); Brenan in F.Z.

3,1 : 102, t. 16/15 (1970); Ross, Acacia Spp.

Natal 42, fig. 2/23 (1971); in Bothalia 10 :

549 (1972); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat.

Park 1 : 165 (1972); Ross, FI. Natal 193

(1973); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 :

783 (1973). Type: Cape Province, Hay Distr.,

Spuigslangfontein, between Griquatown and

the Orange River, Burchell 1710 (K, holo.!)

A. heteracantha Burch., Trav. 1 ; 389 (1822);

DC., Prodr. 2 : 473 (1825); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 280

(1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 505

(1875); Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 151 (1915);

Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1922 : 327 (1922); FI.

Transv. 2 : 344 (1932); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 843

(1930); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 229 (1934); Hutch.,

Botanist in S. Afr. 398, 428, 664 (1946); Codd, Trees

& Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 46, figs. 38 f, g, 39

(1951); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 284 (1956); Schreiber in

Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 2 : 283 (1957);

Story, Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 30 : 23, t.l7 (1958): non

Dinter, Deutsch-Sudwest-Afrika Flora Forst-und-

land wirtschaftliche Fragmente 76 (1909); in Feddes

Repert. 15 : 80 (1917); Ponnighaus in J.S.W. Afr. Sci.

Soc. 6 : 13 (1933); Walter & Volk, Grundlagen der

Weiderwirtschaft in Sudwestafrika 211, t.68B (1954).

Type as above. A. litakunensis Burch., Trav. 2 : 452,

t.6 (1824); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 283 (1862); Benth. in

Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 505 (1875); N.E. Br. in

Kew Bull. 1909 : 107 (1909); Glover in Ann. Bolus

Herb. 1 : 151 (1915); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1922 :

329 (1922); FI. Transv. 2 : 345 (1932); Marloth, FI. S.

Afr. 2 : 53, t.l8B, fig. 33 (1925); Hutch., Botanist in

S. Afr. 297, 299, 367, 370, 41 1 (1946); O. B. Miller in J.

S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 23 (1952). Type: Cape Province,

Kuruman Distr., Takoon [Litakun], Burchell 2205

(K, holo.!). A. spirocarpoides Engl, in Bot. Jahrb.

10 : 23 (1888); Marloth in Trans. S. Afr. Phil. Soc.

5 : 270 (1889); Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 211 (1907);

Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 160 (1908); Glover in

Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 148, t.19/16 (1915); Pole Evans

in S. Afr. J. Sci. 17 ; figs. 16, 22 (1920); Bews, FI.

Natal 114 (1921). Syntypes: Cape Province, Barkly

West Distr., Barkly West, Marloth 809 (not traced);

Kimberley Distr., near Kimberley, Marloth 839

(GRAI). A. maras Engl, in Bot. Jahrb. 10 : 24 (1888);

Marloth in Trans. S. Afr. Phil. Soc. 5 : 270 (1889);

Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 115 (1900); Dinter

in Feddes Repert. 15 : 81 (1917). Type: South West

Africa, Otjimbingwe, Marloth 1260 (B, holo. t;

GRA!).

Found in South West Africa, Botswana,

Rhodesia, Mozambique, the Transvaal, Orange Free

State, Swaziland, Natal and the northern Cape

Province. Occurs in woodland, wooded grassland, dry

thomveld, river valley scrub and bushveld; common

on the Kalahari sands in the northern Cape and

South West Afrca.

S.W.A. — 1821 (Andara): road from Andara to

Bagani, Merxmuller & Giess 1993. 1913 (Sesfontein) :

flats just E. of Sesfontein, De Winter & Leistner 5881.

1920 (Tsumkwe): Nama Pan, Story 5341. 2115

(Karibib): Karibib, Dinter 6740. 2115 (Okahandja):

Okahandja, Dimer 310. 2216 (Otjimbingwe); farm

Otjiseva, Wiss 948. 2316 (Nauchas): bed of Tsondab

River above Abbabis, Pearson 9127 (K). 2416 (Mal-

tahohe): farm Bullsport, Strey 2288.

TRANSVAAL.— 2229 (Waterpoort) : Dongola

area, farm Neanderthole, Codd 4860. 2230 (Messina):

P.O. Schroda, Native collector sub PRE 1954. 2326

(Mahalapye): Buffelsdrif, Vahrmeijer 1283. 2329

(Pietersburg) : farm Davel, Strey 7999. 2330 (Tzaneen) :

Elim, Obermeyer 532. 2331 (Phalaborwa) : Kruger

National Park, Letaba, Lang sub TR V 30873. 2425

(Gaberones): Lekkerlach, Louw 601. 2428 (Nyl-

stroom): farm Krantzberg, near Nylstroom, Prosser

1699. 2429 (Zebediela) : Potgietersrust, Thode A 1696.

2431 (Acornhoek); Kruger National Park, 4,8 km E.

of Skukuza on Lower Sabie road, Codd & De Winter

5018. 2526 (Zeerust): Swartruggens, Sutton 1134A.

2527 (Rustenburg) : 16,8 km E. of Rustenburg on

road to Pretoria, De Winter 7801. 2528 (Pretoria):

Hammanskraal, De Winter 7759. 2529 (Witbank):

Loskop Irrigation Dam, Mogg 17283. 2531 (Komati-

poort): Crocodile River drift between Komati River

drift and Barberton, Bolus 7754 (K). 2725 (Bloemhof):

Bloemhof district, Cawood’s Hope, Burtt Davy

12959. Grid ref. unknown: Lydenburg district,

Sekukuniland, Barnard 228.

O.F.S.— 2825 (Boshof): N. of Boshof, near Wind-

sorton road. Van Zinderen Bakker 91. 2925 (Jagers-

fontein): in poort on path to Fauresmith, Verdoorn

sub Henrici 2405.

90

Mimosoideae

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): near Mhlatusi

River, H. Hutchinson sub PRE 30305. 2731 (Louws-

burg): Maloma, Compton 29480.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Bunguzane area, Tinley 997 (NH, NU). 2730

(Vryheid): Lancaster Hill, Vryheid, Galpin 9762. 2731

(Louwsburg): 6,4 km from Mkuze on Nongoma

road, Ross 1639. 2732 (Ubombo): 3,2 km N. of

Mkuze, turn-off to Ubombo, Ross 1692. 2829 (Harri-

smith): bank of Tugela River near Colenso, West

1801. 2830 (Dundee): Keates Drift, Ross 824 (NH,

NU). 2831 (Nkandla): Umfolozi Game Reserve,

Tobothi, Ross 2007. 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe

Game Reserve, Ward 3005. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg) :

Umgeni Dam, Moll 1709. 2931 (Stanger): 1 ,6 km S.

of Mandini, Ross 882 (NU).

CAPE. — 2525 (Mafeking): 1,6 km from Mafeking

on Zeerust road, Morris 1120. 2723 (Kuruman):

between Kuruman and Takoon [Litakun], Gerstner

6276. 2823 (Griekwastad) : Baviaans Kloof, Kaap

Plateau, Hutchinson 3003. 2824 (Kimberley): Kim-

berley Commonage, Schweickerdt 1117. 2923

(Douglas): Spuigslangfontein, between Griquatown

and the Orange River, Burchell 1710 (K). 2924

(Hopetown): Hopetown district, Bryant 1167.

The mixture of short and long spines accounts for

the vernacular name “Haak en Steek”. The typically

flattened spreading crown, on the other hand,

accounts for subsp. heteracantha also being referred to

as the Umbrella Thom.

De Winter 2719 from 69 km N. of Okahandja on

road to Otjiwarongo in South West Africa is difficult

to place with certainty. The young branchlets, petioles

and leaf-rhachides have the short indumentum of

subsp. heteracantha but the pods are sparsely clothed

with short hairs among which some dark reddish

glands are visible. Tolken & Hardy 687 from 20 km

from Bullsport on road to Ababis is similar. Both

specimens seem to be best referred to subsp. heter-

acantha.

The leaves and pods make an excellent fodder.

The wood, however, is of little use except for fire-

wood.

(b) subsp. spirocarpa {Hochst. ex A.

Rich.) Brenan in Kew Bull. 12 : 88 (1957);

in F.T.E.A. Legum. — Mimos. : 117, fig.

16/44 (1959); in F.Z. 3,1 : 102 (1970);

Schreiber in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml.

Munchen 11 ; 124(1973). Syntypes: Ethiopia,

near Djeladjeranne [Dscheladscheranne],

Schimper 502 (BM!, FI!, Kl, Ml, PI, Zl);

Schimper 612 (BMl, FI!, K!, M!, P!);

Schimper 658 (BM!, FI!, K!, M!, OXF!,

P!, Z!).

A. spirocarpa Hochst. ex A. Rich., Tent. FI. Abyss.

I : 239 (1847); Schweinf. in Linnaea 35 : 322(1867-8);

Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 352 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 505 (1875); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 842 (1930); O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 25

(1952). Syntypes as above.

Found in Ethiopia and the Sudan southwards to

Angola, South West Africa, Botswana, Rhodesia, and

Mozambique. Occurs in deciduous woodland and

dry scrub.

S.W.A.— 1917 (Tsumeb): Tsumeb (—BA), Giess,

Volk & Bleissner 6442 (M). 2017 (Waterberg):

Waterberg, below Police station ( — CA), Giess 12349

(K, M).

The pods of Giess 1 2349 are densely clothed with

whitish spreading hairs 1-2 mm long and show a very

close approach to var. crinita Chiov. in Res. Sci. Miss.

Stefanini-Paoli 1 : 71 (1916). Var. crinita is recorded

from Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania.

34. Acacia luederitzii Engl, in Bot.

Jahrb. 10 : 23, t.3B (July 1888) pro parte

quoad specim. Marloth 1328; Schinz in

Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 115 (1900) pro parte

quoad specim. Marloth 1328; Dinter in

Feddes Repert. 15 : 80 (1917) pro parte

quoad specim. Marloth 1328; Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 ; 840 (1930); Brenan in F.Z.

3,1 : 101 (1970); Schreiber in Mitt. Bot.

Staatssamml. Munchen 11 : 119 (1973);

Ross in Bothalia 11 : 233 (1974). Type:

South West Africa, Otjimbingwe, Marloth

1328 (PRE lecto!; GRA!, M!, OXF!).

Shrub branching from or near the base

or a tree to 15 m high with a flattened and

spreading or somewhat rounded crown.

Bark greyish- or reddish-brown to black,

rough, longitudinally fissured on older trunks,

often ± smooth on younger stems; young

branchlets greyish- or reddish-brown to purp-

lish or blackish, flaking minutely, densely

clothed with grey or whitish spreading hairs,

older branchlets glabrescent. Stipules spine-

scent, in pairs, some short and strongly

hooked, 3-10 mm long, usually intermixed

with some elongate, slender and straight or

slightly curved spines 1-7 cm long or some in-

flated spines (“ant-galls”) up to 1,8 cm in

diam. basally, ±bent towards the apex,

greyish-white to purplish, sometimes all spines

short and hooked; other prickles absent.

Leaves: petiole 0,3-1 ,4 cm long, sparingly to

densely spreading-pubescent, adaxial gland

often absent, usually just below the lowest

pinna pair when present, 0,4-0,9 x 0,2-0,5

mm; rhachis 0,7-4, 8 cm long, sparingly to

densely clothed with spreading hairs, eglandu-

lar or with a small gland at the junction of

the top 1-3(5) pinnae pairs; pinnae 3-9(13)

pairs; rhachillae 0,7-2, 8 cm long, sparingly

to densely clothed with spreading hairs ;

leaflets 11-26 pairs per pinna, 2-5 x 0,5-1 ,5

mm, linear-oblong or the terminal ones

slightly obovate-oblong, apex rounded or

obtuse, margins with conspicuous spreading

cilia, especially apically, seldom cilia ±

Mimosoideae

91

inconspicuous, otherwise glabrous or some-

times ± pubescent beneath. Inflorescences

capitate, on axillary peduncles, usually

fascicled, seldom solitary. Flowers yellowish-

white, sessile; peduncles 1,2-4, 3 cm long,

sparingly to densely pubescent, hairs spread-

ing but shorter than the diameter of the

peduncle; involucel |-f-way up the peduncle.

Calyx shortly pubescent or puberulous

apically, tube 0,8-1, 3 mm long, lobes up to

0,4 mm long. Corolla glabrous, tube 2, 2-3, 2

mm long, lobes up to 0,5 mm long. Stamen-

fllaments free, up to 6,5 mm long; anthers

with a deciduous apical gland. Ovary

up to 1,2 mm long, very shortly stipitate.

Pods brown or reddish-brown to purplish,

3,2-13 X (0, 9)1-1, 9 cm, straight or some-

times slightly curved, linear-oblong, longi-

tudinally dehiscent, valves rather thin, brittle,

longitudinally or obliquely veined, attenuate

basally, rounded to acuminate apically,

finely puberulous especially on the margins

and near the base, sometimes subglabrous.

Seeds olive-brown, 5 , 5-1 1,5 x 5-8 mm,

elliptic to subcircular, usually longitudinal

in the pod, smooth, compressed; areole

3-7 X 2,75-5 mm.

Found in South West Africa, Botswana, western

Zambia, Rhodesia, Mozambique, the Transvaal,

Swaziland, Natal and the northern Cape Province.

Larger spines elongate, 1-7 cm long, 1,5-5 mm

thick, straight or almost so, not inflated;

found in South West Africa and the northern

Cape (a) var. luederitzii

Larger spines 3-5,5 cm long, 0,8-1, 8 cm in

diam. basally, inflated, usually ±uncinate-

deflexed near the apex; straight elongate non-

inflated spines absent; found in the Trans-

vaal, Swaziland and Natal.... (b) var. retinens

(a) var. luederitzii.

Ross & Brenan in Kew Bull. 21 : 72

(1967); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 101, t.16/14

(1970); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 811 (1973).

A. luederitzii Engl, in Bot. Jahrb. 10 : 23, t.3B

(1888) pro parte quoad specim. Marloth 1328. A.

goeringii Schinz in Verb. Bot. Ver. Prov. Brandenb.

30 : 239 (Sept. 1888); Dinter in Feddes Repert.

15 : 79 (1917); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 841(1930);

O. B. Miller, Checklist Bech. Prot. 18 (1948); in J. S.

Afr. Bot. 18 : 21 (1952). Type: Botswana, Ghanzi

[Chansis], Schinz 251 (Z, holo.!). A. retinens sensu

O. B. Miller, Checklist Bech. Prot. 20 (1948); in J. S.

Afr. Bot. 18 : 24 (1952); Tinley, Moremi Wildlife

Reserve 115 (1966), non Sim. A. uncinata sensu O. B.

Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 25 (1952); Story in Mem.

Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 30 : 23 (1958); Boughey in J. S.

Afr. Bot. 30 ; 158 (1964), non Engl. A. reficiens sensu

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 11 (1967) pro parte;

Leistner in Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 38 : 123 (1967;,

non Wawra.

Found in South West Africa, Botswana, western

Zambia, Rhodesia and the northern Cape Province.

Occurs in savanna, bush and thomveld, particularly

on Kalahari Sand.

S.W.A.— 1715 (Ondangua): 24 km W. of Ndola

Store on road to Ombalantu, De Winter 3631. 1718

(Kuring Kuru): course of Omuramba Mpungu on

Tsinsabis-Kuring-Kuru road, De Winter 3921. 1719

(Runtu): 8 km E. of Runtu, Barnard 51. 1816 (Namu-

toni): N. of Namutoni, Giess & Smook 10570 (M).

1917 (Tsumeb): Otarifontein, Dinter 5365. 1920

(Tsumkwe): 16 km S. of Tsumkwe, Giess 9908 (M, W).

2017 (Waterberg): Okakarara, Liebenberg 4697.

2117 (Otjosondu): Quickbom, Bradfield 19. 2118

(Steinhausen) : Sturmfeld, Walter 4084 (M). 2216

(Otjimbingwe) : farm Otjiseva, Wiss 946. 2219

(Sandfontein) ; Babi Babi, Liebenberg 4677. 2319

(Aminuis): 25,6 km N.E. of Vogelweide, Codd 5858.

2419 (Aranos): farm Bethel, E. of Aranos, 9,6 km

from Botswana border. Van Vuuren & Giess 1129.

CAPE. — 2520 (Mata-Mata): Kalahari Gemsbok

National Park, 14,4 km N.W. of Kwang Pan near

Nossob River, Leistner 1890. 2524 (Vergelee): 134,4

km W. of Mafeking, Acocks 18767. 2622 (Tsabong):

32 km N. of Aansluit on road to Tsabong, Leistner

1574. 2624 (Vryburg): near Mosito, Breuckner 260.

(b) var. retinens (Sim) Ross & Brenan in

Kew Bull. 21 : 72 (1967); Brenan in F.Z.

3,1 : 101 (1970); Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal

34, fig. 2/12 (1971); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger

Nat. Park 1 : 145 (1972); Ross, FI. Natal

193 (1973); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 813 (1973). Type: Mozambique, “Um-

beluzi and Lebombo”, Sim 6391 (whereabouts

unknown, presumed lost). In the absence of

a specimen, Sim l.c. : t.40 fig. A will suffice

as the type.

A. retinens Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 157, t.40 fig. A

(1909); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 230 (1934); O. B.

Miller, Checklist Bech. Prot. 20 (1948); Ross in J. S.

Afr. Bot. 31 : 219 (1965); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 307 (1965). Type as above. A.

gillettiae Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : xvii, 343 (1932);

O. B. Miller, Checklist Bech. Prot. 18 (1948); in J.S.

Afr. Bot. 18 : 21 (1952); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 306(1965). Type: Transvaal, Mos-

dene, Naboomspruit, Galpin Ml 14 (K, holo.!; FHOI,

Pi, PRE!,UPS!).

Found in Mozambique, the Transvaal, Swazi-

land and Natal (Zululand). Occurs in dry thomveld

and bushveld; often forms dense impenetrable

thickets.

TRANSVAAL. — 2428 (Nylstroom): Mosdene,

Naboomspruit, Galpin Ml 14. 2429 (^bediela): 19

km S. of Olifants River on Chuniespoort to Burgers-

fort road, Codd 1705. 2528 (Pretoria): Rust der

Winter, Gerstner 5526. 2530 (Lydenburg): Schoemans-

kloof, Pole Evans s.n. 2731 (Louwsburg): 1 ,6 km N.

of Pongola River on road to Gollel, Ross 1706

(NH, NU).

92

Mimosoideae

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Mtindekwa,

Compton 32059. 2731 (Louwsburg) : Ingwavuma

Poort, Compton 29793.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Ward 2020. 2731 (Louwsburg) : near entrance

to Pongola Poort, Edwards 3260. 2732 (Ubombo):

Mkuzi Game Reserve, Ross 1712 (NH, NU). 2831

(Nkandla) : Umfolozi Game Reserve, junction of the

Gqoyini jeep track and main loop road. Downing 686

(NU). 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe, Ward 3933.

Some of the short recurved spines of A. luederitzii

var. retinens are invariably greatly enlarged and

characteristically swollen. These distinctive swollen

spines are often occupied by ants (or sometimes by

other insects or small spiders) which gain access

through a small aperture near the apex of the spine.

There is no evidence that the enlarged spines are

caused by the ants and it seems more likely that the

occupation by the ants is secondary and that they

merely take advantage of the presence of these

suitable domatia. The swollen spines develop rapidly

and soon become hard, persisting for several years.

Although the distinction between the two

varieties of A. luederitzii rests mainly on the enlarged

spines (which are not always present), there are other

inconstant differential tendencies. Var. luederitzii

is often rather taller than var. retinens, usually

4,5-15 m high as opposed to 1-4,5 m high in var.

retinens. Var. luederitzii usually has 5-8 pairs of

pinnae per leaf, while var. retinens has usually about

2-4 pairs per leaf in the Transvaal, and 5-13 pairs in

Swaziland and Natal. The pods in var. luederitzii are

10-19 mm wide, while those of var. retinens do not

seem to exceed 15 mm.

A. luederitzii var. luederitzii is very closely

related to A. reficiens Wawra, but, although a few

specimens from South West Africa are difficult to

place, it seems preferable to maintain the two as

distinct species. A. reficiens is distinguished by its

puberulous or pulverulent indumentum, fewer pinnae

pairs and few pairs of leaflets (up to 11(13) pairs per

pinna) which are glabrous or almost so on the margins.

A. luederitzii var. retinens is usually readily

distinguished from A. reficiens and, as it occupies a

different geographical range to A. reficiens, is unlikely

to be confused with the latter. However, the main

difficulty in this complex is that while var. retinens and

A. reficiens are themselves distinct, they are almost

linked through typical var. luederitzii.

35. Acacia reficiens Wawra in Sber.

Akad. Wiss. Wein 38 : 555 (1859); Oliv.

in F.T.A. 2 : 348 (1871) pro parte quoad

specim. Wawra, excl. specim. Welwitscfr,

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 505

(1875) pro parte quoad specim. Wawra,

excl. specim. Welwilsch; Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 841 (1930); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 283

(1956) pro parte; Brenan in Kew Bull.

12 : 89 (1957); in F.T.E.A. Legum. — Mimos.

: 116 (1959); Schreiber in Mitt. Bot. Staats-

samml. Munchen 11 : 121 (1973); Ross in

Bothalia 11 : 233 (1974). Type: Angola,

between Benguela and Catumbela, Wawra

248 (W, holo.!, K, fragm.!).

subsp. reficiens.

Brenan in Kew Bull. 12 : 90 (1957); Ross

& Brenan in Kew Bull. 21 : 72 (1967);

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 1 1 (1967) pro parte.

Type as above.

A. uncinata Engl, in Bot. Jahrb. 10 : 21, t. 3/A

(July 1888) nom. illegit,. non A. uncinata Lindl. in

Bot. Reg. 16 : t.l332 (1830); Schinz in Mem. Herb.

Boiss. 1:116 (1900); Dinter in Feddes Repert. 15 : 81

(1917); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 840 (1930). Type:

South West Africa, Karibib Distr., Usakos, Marloth

1215 (B, holo. t; BOLl, GRA!). A. luederitzii Engl,

in Bot. Jahrb. 10 : 23 (July 1888) pro parte quoad

specim. Marloth 1270, excl. lectotypum; Dinter in

Feddes Repert. 15 : 80 (1917) pro parte quoad

specim. Marloth 1270, excl. lectotypum. A. cf. uncinata

sensu Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 283 (1956), non Engl. A.

etbaica sensu Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 283 (1956) saltern

quoad specim. Gossweiler 9732.

Obconical shrub branching from or near

the base or a tree to 6 m high with a flattened

or somewhat rounded spreading crown.

Bark greyish- or reddish-brown to black,

rough, fissured; young branchlets greyish-

or reddish-brown to purplish, sometimes as

though whitewashed over a reddish or

purplish background, flaking minutely,

shortly puberulous to pulverulent, older

branchlets glabrescent. Stipules spinescent,

in pairs, all short, strongly hooked, 0,2-0, 6

cm long, very occasionally with a few long

straight spines up to 7 , 2 cm long intermixed,

coloured like the twigs; “ant-galls” and other

prickles absent. Leaves', petiole 0,2-1 cm

long, puberulous, adaxial gland often absent;

rhachis (0)0, 8-2(2, 4) cm long puberulous,

eglandular or with a small gland at the

junction of the top pinna pair; pinnae 1-4

pairs; rhachillae 0,4-1, 2 cm long, puberu-

lous; leaflets (5)7-11(13) pairs per pinna,

2-4,5 X 0,5-1,25 mm, linear to linear-

oblong, apex rounded to acute, margins

glabrous or almost so, sometimes a few

appressed marginal cilia present, usually

glabrous beneath but occasionally sparingly

appressed-pubescent. Inflorescences capitate,

on axillary peduncles, usually fascicled,

seldom solitary. Flowers yellowish-white,

sessile; peduncles 0,6-2, 6 cm long, sparingly

to densely puberulous; involucel basal or in

lower third of peduncle. Calyx puberulous

throughout or only apically, tube 1 , 1-1 , 6 mm

long, lobes up to 0,6 mm long. Corolla

glabrous, tube 1 ,8-2,8 mm long, lobes up to

Mimosoideae

93

1,2 mm long. Stamen-filaments free, up to

6 mm long; anthers with a deciduous apical

gland. Ovary up to 1,3 mm long, very

shortly stipitate. Pods brown or reddish-

brown to purplish, 2, 6-8, 8 X 0,6-1, 1 cm,

straight, linear-oblong, longitudinally dehis-

cent, valves rather thin, brittle, finely longitu-

dinally veined, attenuate basally, obtuse to

acuminate apically, ± pulverulent to glabrous

or almost so. Seeds olive-brown, 5-7,5 X

3, 5-5, 5 mm, elliptic to subcircular, usually

longitudinal in the pod, smooth, compressed ;

areole 1,5^, 5 x 1-3 mm.

Found in Angola and South West Africa. Occurs

in dry scrub.

S.W.A. — 1712 (Posto Velho): Ombepera, De

Winter & Leistner 5483. 1813 (Ohopoho): Kaoko-

Otavi, Abner 55. 1814 (Otjitundua): Otjitoko, ± 56

km S. of Ohopoho, De Winter & Leistner 5911. 1914

(Kamanjab): Kamanjab, De Winter & Leistner 5091.

1915 (Okaukuejo): Otjitambi Walter 2/92 (M). 2015

(Otjihorongo): Fransfontein, Liebenberg 4920. 2016

(Otjiwarongo) : Omatjenne, Keet 1683. 2114 (Uis);

Welwitschia plain, south west Brandberg, Giess,

Volk & Bleissner 6251. 2115 (Karibib): Karibib,

Kinges 3617 (M). 2214 (Swakopmund); 59 km E. of

Swakopmund on road to Usakos, De Winter 3199.

2215 (Trekkopje): farm Nudis, Seydel 1679b (K, M);

farm Okongava, Seydel 3133 (K). 2216 (Otjim-

bingwe): farm Auchabis 31, S. of Otjimbingwe, De

Winter 2639. 2217 (Windhoek): hills around Wind-

hoek, Keet 1686. Grid ref. unknown: Etosha District

(West), S.W. of Etosha Pan, Giess 2048.

Subsp. misera (Vatke) Brenan is recorded from

the Sudan, Somali Republic, Uganda and Kenya.

A. reficiens is very closely related to A. luederitzii.

For the differences between these two species see the

notes under A. luederitzii. A. reficiens subsp. reficiens

tends to occupy a somewhat different geographical

range to that occupied by A. luederitzii var. luederitzii

in South West Africa; the former occurring in the

western areas of the territory and the latter in the

eastern, although the ranges of the two do show some

overlap.

36. Acacia gerrardii Benth. in Trans.

Linn. Soc. Lend. 30 : 508 (1875); Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 846 (1930); Brenan in Kew

Bull. 12 : 369 (1958); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Mimos. ; 119 (1959). Type: Natal, locality

unknown, Gerrard 1702 (K, holo.!; BM!,

TCD!)

var. gerrardii.

Brenan in Kew Bull. 12 : 369 (1958); in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 119, fig. 16/46

(1959); in F.Z. 3,1 : 105, t.16/17 (1970); Ross,

Acacia Spp. Natal 28, fig. 2/22 (1971); Van

Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 ; 137 (1972);

Ross, FI. Natal 193 (1973); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 803(1973).

A. gerrardii Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond.

30 : 508 (1875); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 157

(1908); Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 149, 1. 19/ 17

(1915); Bews, FI. Natal 115 (1921); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 343 (1932); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 230

(1934); Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 44,

figs. 36, 38a, b (1951); O. B. Miller in J.S. Afr. Bot.

18 : 21 (1952); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 85, fig.

18E (1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr.

2 : 300 (1965). A. hebecladoides Harms in [Notizbl.

Bot. Gart. Berl. 3 : 195 (1902) nomen nudum] Bot.

Jahrb. 36 : 208 (1905); R.E. Fr., Schwed. Rhod.-

Kongo-Exped. 1 : 63, t.2 fig. 4 (1914); Bak. f.. Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 846 (1930). Type: Tanzania, “Masai

Steppe” in the Kilimanjaro region, Merker (B, holo.f).

Tree to 12 m high or less frequently a

shrub to 3 m high; trunk to 0,3 m in diam. ;

crown often flattened, usually irregularly so,

branches ascending and spreading somewhat.

Bark grey- or reddish-brown to blackish,

rough, fissured; young branchlets sparingly to

densely grey-pubescent, rarely subglabrous,

epidermis usually splitting or flaking to

reveal a rusty-red inner layer. Stipules spines-

cent, in pairs, usually 0,4-1, 5 cm long,

rarely to 6(12,5) cm long, usually straight or

almost so, sometimes slightly recurved,

densely pubescent when young but becoming

glabrous with age; other prickles absent.

Leaves usually borne on distinct “cushions”:

petiole (0,2)0, 7-2(2, 5) cm long, adaxial

gland usually present on primary leaves but

absent from secondary leaves, sometimes

absent from both, variable in position,

1-1,7 X 0,7-1 mm; rhachis (0,2)2-7(10) cm

long, densely pubescent, usually with a gland

at the junction of the top 1-2(3) pinnae pairs;

pinnae (2)5-10(12) pairs; rhachillae (0,7)

1,5-2, 5(3, 3) cm long, densely pubescent;

leaflets (9)12-23(26) pairs per pinna, (2)3-6(7)

X 0,8-1 ,3(1 ,7) mm, linear to linear-oblong,

apex rounded to acute, margins with or

without spreading cilia, usually glabrous or

nearly so beneath, rarely pubescent. Inflores-

cences capitate, fascicled on axillary pedun-

cles. Flowers white or cream, sessile; pedun-

cles (1 ,5)2,2-4,5(5,2) cm long, densely

grey-pubescent, eglandular or incons-

picuously glandular, seldom densely glan-

dular; involucel at or shortly above the base

or sometimes to ^way up the peduncle.

Calyx glabrous apart from pubescence

towards the apices of the lobes, tube 0, 8,-1 ,9

mm long, lobes up to 0,5 mm long. Corolla

glabrous or very slightly and inconspicuously

pubescent, tube 2-3,8 mm long, lobes up to

1 mm long. Stamen-filaments free, up to 9,5

94

Mimosoideae

mm long; anthers with a deciduous apical

gland. Ovary up to 1,5 mm long, sessile,

glabrous at first but soon becoming pubes-

cent. Pods mostly dark brown, densely grey-

puberulous to -tomentellous, rarely sub-

glabrous, (4,5)6,5-15,5 X (0,6)0, 8-1 ,2 cm,

usually falcate, linear or linear-oblong,

longitudinally dehiscent, apex acute to acumi-

nate, valves rather thin, brittle. Seeds olive-

brown, 9-12 X 5-7 mm, ± quadrate,

compressed; areole 5-7,5 x 3,5-5 mm.

Widespread in tropical Africa from Nigeria in the

west to the Sudan in the north-east and southwards to

Botswana, the Transvaal, Swaziland and Natal.

Occurs in dry river valley scrub, dry thornveld,

bushveld and woodland.

TRANSVAAL. — 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National

Park, 4 km E. of Punda Milia, Codd 4241. 2329

(Pietersburg): near Mara, Schlieben & Strey 8288.

2330 (Tzaneen): 13 km N.W. of Duiwelskloof on

road to Soekmekaar, De Winter 7729. 2428 (Nyl-

stroom): Mosdene, Naboomspruit, Galpin 474 M.

2429 (Zebediela): 3 ,2 km beyond Chuniespoort Hotel,

Obermeyer & Verdoorn 9. 2431 (Acornhoek): near

Klaserie, Strey 7936. 2529 (Witbank): hills on N. side

of Loskop Dam, Mogg 17309. 2530 (Lydenburg):

Lowveld Botanic Garden, Nelspruit, Buitendag 717.

2531 (Komatipoort) ; Barberton, Pott 5303.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Umtintegwa,

Stegi-Sipofaneni road, Compton 28028. 273 1 (Louws-

burg) : near Gollel, Compton 29095.

NATAL.— 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu, Ross 1265

(NH, NU). 2731 (Louwsburg): 17,6 km from

Nongoma on Magudu road, Ross 1079 (NH, NU).

2732 (Ubombo): eastern foothills of Lebombo

Mountains, Strey 6576. 2831 (Nkandia): Umfolozi

Game Reserve, road from Tobothi to Ngoloti, Ross

2016. 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hiuhluwe Game Reserve,

Ward 1908. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Bisley, near

Pietermaritzburg, Ross 1684 (K, NH, NU). 2931

(Stanger): 4,8 km S. of Mandini on old main road,

Ross 868 (NH, NU). 3030 (Port Shepstone): Camp-

bellton, Rudatis 2053 (NH).

A. gerrardii is a variable species but within our

area only one variant occurs, namely, var. gerrardii.

To be precise, our plants should be referred to as

subsp. gerrardii var. gerrardii as Zohary in Israel

J. Bot. 13 : 39 (1964) described subsp. negevensis

from the Negev Desert in Israel.

Although fairly widespread in our area, var.

gerrardii is seldom dominant to the exclusion of all

other Acacia species except very locally.

In Sekukuniland in the eastern Transvaal,

specimens of A. karroo with densely pubescent young

branchlets, leaf-rhachides, leaflets and pods occur

which, superficially, bear a strong resemblance to

specimens of A. gerrardii. However, these specimens

are readily distinguished from A. gerrardii as they

have bright yellow flowers, elliptic seeds, and lack

the large cushion-like abbreviated shoots from

which the leaves arise.

37. Acacia robusta Burch., Trav. 2 : 442

(1824); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 281 (1862); Oliv.

in F.T.A. 2 : 349 (1871) pro parte excl.

specim. Welwitsch; Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 510 (1875) pro parte excl.

specim. Welwitsch', Burtt Davy in Kew Bull.

1908 : 159(1908);Gloverin Ann. Bolus Herb.

1 : 148, 1. 19/22 (1915); Bews, FI. Natal

115 (1921); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 841

(193()) pro parte excl. specim. Angola; Burtt

Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 342 (1932); Henkel,

Woody PI. Natal 227 (1934); Verdoorn in

Flow. PI. S. Afr. 22 : t.851 (1942); Hutch.,

Botanist in S. Afr. 297, 302 (1946); Codd,

Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 48, fig.

43a, b (1951); O.B. Miller in J.S. Afr. Bot.

18 : 24 (1952); Brenan in Kew Bull. 12 : 365

(1958); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 163,

t.ix (flower colour incorrect), 44 (1961); Letty,

Wild Flow. Transv. 156, t.77/2 (1962);

Gordon-Gray in Brittonia 17 : 202 (1965);

Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 307

(1965); De Winter et al, 66 Transv. Trees 54

(1966); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 103 (1970);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 807 (1973).

Type: Cape Province, Kuruman Distr,

Takoon [Litakun], Burchell 2265 (K, holo.!)

Tree to 20 m high, crown irregularly

rounded or flattened and spreading, branches

usually ascending. Bark grey to dark brown or

blackish, usually rough and fissured; young

branchlets robust, grey to greyish- or reddish-

brown to purplish-black, lenticellate, glabrous

to pubescent, smooth, not flaking off to reveal

a rusty-red inner layer, eglandular. Stipules

spinescent, mostly short and up to 1 ,2 cm

long, sometimes longer, to 7(12,5) cm long,

straight or slightly curved, whitish but

becoming greyish with age; “ant-galls” and

other prickles absent. Leaves usually borne on

distinct “cushions” : petiole (0 , 3)0 , 7-2 , 1 (3 , 1 )

cm long, eglandular or with an oval gland up

to 1 ,5 X 1,2 mm a short distance below the

lowest pinna pair, glabrous to puberulous;

rhachis (0)2, 2-5, 1(7,4) cm long, glabrous to

pubescent, a small gland at the junction of the

top 2 or the lowest pinna pair, sometimes

between each pair when few pinnae are

present; pinnae (l)3-5(7) pairs; rhachillae

(1 ,2)2-5, 6(7, 4) cm long, glabrous to pubes-

cent; leaflets (6)10-22(27) pairs per pinna,

(2,5)3,5-7,5(17) X 1-3, 6(8, 5) mm, linear-

or obovate-oblong, apex obtuse or rounded,

glabrous or occasionally sparingly puber-

ulous beneath, margins glabrous or with

Mimosoideae

95

conspicuous or inconspicuous cilia. Inflores-

cences capitate, on axillary peduncles, usually

fascicled, seldom solitary. Flowers white,

sessile; peduncles 1,2-5, 4 cm long, glabrous

to shortly pubescent or puberulous, egland-

ular or inconspicuously glandular; involucel

from near the base to just over ^way up the

peduncle. Calyx glabrous or apices of lobes

sometimes sparingly pubescent, tube 1 ,2-2,8

mm long, lobes 0,3-0, 6 mm long. Corolla

glabrous, tube 2, 6-3, 4 mm long, lobes

0,4-0, 8 mm long. Stamen-filaments free,

up to 7 mm long; anthers with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary 0,7-1, 8 mm long,

glabrous, sessile. Pods brown to dark reddish-

brown or sometimes blackish, (2,4)6-15(22)

X (0,9)1, 2-3,1 cm, linear, straight to

falcate, apex rounded to acute, longitudinally

dehiscent, valves thinly woody, brittle,

smooth, ± longitudinally veined, glabrous,

attenuate basally. Seeds dark olive- to

reddish-brown, 7,5-12 x 5-9 mm, quadrate

to subcircular-lenticular, smooth, compres-

sed; areole 5 , 5-9 X 3, 5-6 mm.

Found in Kenya, Tanzania and southwards to

South West Africa (Caprivi Strip), Botswana, the

Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal and the Cape Province.

Three subspecies are recognized within A. robusta,

two of which occur in our area.

Leaf-rhachis glabrous or almost so; peduncles

glabrous or almost so; pods straight or

slightly curved, (1,3)1, 7-3,1 cm wide

(a) subsp. robusta

Leaf-rhachis sparingly to densely pubescent;

peduncles sparingly to densely pubescent;

pods usually ± falcate, 1,2-1, 7 cm wide

(b) subsp. clavigera

(a) subsp. robusta.

Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 103 (1970); Ross,

Acacia Spp. Natal 37, fig. 2/21 (1971); FI.

Natal 193 (1973).

A. robusta Burch., Trav. 2 : 442 (1824).

Leaf-rhachides glabrous or almost so;

pinnae mostly 2-5 pairs; leaflets 10-15 pairs

per pinna, (2)2, 5-7 mm wide. Peduncles and

calyx-lobes glabrous or almost so. Pods

straight or slightly curved, (1,3)1, 7-3,1 cm

wide.

Found in Rhodesia, Botswana, the Transvaal,

Natal and the Cape. Occurs on wooded slopes, in

woodland, thornveld and river valley scrub in the

interior regions of southern Africa.

TRANSVAAL.— 2229 (Waterpoort): 19,2 km

N. of Louis Trichardt, Gerstner 5982. 2230 (Messina);

Messina, Rogers 21828 (K). 2329 (Pietersburg) :

between Vivo and Bochum, Strey 7984. 2427 (Thaba-

zimbi): Leeupoort, Rogers 19078 (K). 2428 (Nyl-

stroom); Mosdene, Naboomspruit, Galpin MI07.

2429 (Zebediela): 16 km W. of Steelpoort River on

road to Jane Furse Hospital, Morris 1186. 2526

(Zeerust): near Zeerust, Marloth 10165. 2527 (Rusten-

burg): ± 1 km N. of Nooitgedacht, J. Phillips 26.

2528 (Pretoria): Fountains valley, De Winter 7664.

2529 (Witbank): Loskop Irrigation Dam, ± ^ km W.

of dam wall on banks of Olifants River, Mogg 17296.

2530 (Lydenburg): Schoemanskloof, 33 km from

Machadadorp, Marais 903. 2726 (Odendaalsrus) :

8 km from Wolmaransstad on Leeudoringstad road,

Morris 1116.

NATAL. — 2829 (Harrismith): 4,8 km from

Ladysmith on Helpmekaar road, Ross 544 (NU). 2830

(Dundee): 22,4 km from Greytown on Muden road,

Ross 636 (NU). 2929 (Underberg); Moorleigh, Strey

7808. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Ashburton, Ross

958 (K, NU).

CAPE. — 2624 (Vryburg); Taungs, Pole Evans sub

PRE 15831. 2723 (Kuruman): Takoon, Burchell

2265 (K). Grid ref. unknown; Witrand, Barkly

West Division, Acocks 8503.

The distinction between subsp. robusta and

subsp. clavigera (E. Mey.) Brenan in Natal and, to a

lesser extent, in the eastern Cape is sometimes not

particularly clear and intermediates and mixed

populations, showing various combinations of

characters, occur. Consequently, in these areas

difficulty is sometimes experienced in referring

specimens to either subspecies with certainty.

Subsp. robusta typically has glabrous or sub-

glabrous leaf-rhachides and peduncles, while the pods

are usually straight or only slightly curved and

1, 7-3,1 cm wide. However, some specimens, for

example, Ross 984 from the Umgeni valley near

Camperdown in Natal, with large leaflets, wide pods

and the general facies of subsp. robusta, have quite

densely pubescent leaf-rhachides as in subsp. clavigera.

Other intermediate specimens have pubescent leaf-

rhachides and small leaflets as in subsp. clavigera but

pods up to 2 cm wide as in subsp. robusta. Leaflets in

subsp. robusta tend to be larger than in subsp.

clavigera but there is complete overlap in leaflet size

between the two subspecies. Similarly, there is over-

lap in pod width. Despite the presence of some

intermediates, most specimens in our area can be

readily placed either in subsp. robusta or in subsp.

clavigera.

In Natal subsp. robusta occurs in the dry interior

areas whereas subsp. clavigera is mainly coastal in

distribution.

(b) subsp. clavigera {E. Mey.) Brenan in

F.Z. 3,1 : 104 (1970); Ross, Acacia Spp.

Natal 37, fig. 2/20 (1971); Van Wyk, Trees

Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 156 (1972); Ross, FI.

Natal 193 (1973). Type: Natal, near Durban

[Port Natal], Drege (K, iso.!, P, fragm.l)

A. clavigera E. Mey., Comm. 1 : 168 (1836); Benth.

in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 510 (1875); Glover in

Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 148, 1. 19/13 (1915); Harms in

Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 366 (1915); Bews, FI.

Natal 114 (1921); Brenan in Kew Bull. 12 : 365

(1958); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. ; 118 (1959);

F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 86, fig. 18F (1962). Type

96

Mimosoideae

as above. A. sambesiaca Schinz in Denkschr. Math.-

Nat. Kl. Acad. Wiss Wein 78 : 50 (1905); Gomes e

Sousa, PI. Menyharth 69 (1936). Type; Mozambique,

Menyharth 1003 (W, holo., Z, iso!). A. hirtella sensu

Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 57, t.35 fig. A (1909), non E.

Mey. A. robusta sensu Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger

Nat. Park 48, fig. 43a, b (19M). A. clavigera E. Mey.

subsp. clavigera, Brenan in Kew Bull. 12 : 367 (1958);

in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 118 (1959); Gordon-

Gray in Brittonia 17 : 202 (1965); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 302 (1965) pro parte excl. syn.

A. grandicormta. Type as for A. clavigera.

Leaf-rhachides sparingly to densely

pubescent; pinnae often 5-7 pairs; leaflets

mostly 12-25 pairs per pinna, (1)1 ,5-3,5 mm

wide. Peduncles and calyx-lobes i densely

pubescent. Pods usually ± falcate, mostly

I , 2-1,7 cm wide.

Found in South West Africa (Caprivi Strip),

Botswana, Zambia, Rhodesia, Mozambique, the

Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal and the eastern Cape

Province. Occurs in wooded grassland, woodland,

thornveld and river valley scrub; often found along

river banks or on the margins of pans.

S.W.A. — 1725 (Livingstone): Mpilila Island, con-

fluence of Zambesi and Chobe Rivers, Killick &

Leistner 3425.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort) : Waterpoort,

N. side of Soutpansberg range, Codd 4341. 2230

(Messina): banks of Nzhele River at Tshipise store,

De Winter 7739. 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National Park,

Pafuri Camp, bank of Pafuri River, Codd & Dyer

4629. 2431 (Acornhoek): Kruger National Park, 2,4

km E. of Skukuza, Codd & Verdoorn 5488. 2531

(Komatipoort): Kruger National Park, 13,6 km W.

of Crocodile River bridge Camp, Codd 4403.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): Big Bend,

Compton 30297. 2632 (Bela Vista): Mbuluzi Poort,

Compton 30730.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista); Ndumu Game

Reserve, edge of Fantana Pan, Ward 3705. 2731

(Louwsburg): 22,4 km from Mkuze on Nongoma

road, Ross 1039 (NU). 2732 (Ubombo): banks of

Mkuzi River, Mkuze, Galpin 133117. 2831 (Nkandla):

Umfolozi Game Reserve, Feely 57. 2832 (Mtiiba-

tuba): Hluhluwe Game Reserve, edge of Amanzi-

myama stream. Ward 1478. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg):

5.2 km S. of Marianhill, Moll 1910. 2931 (Stanger):

3.2 km S. of Mandini on old main road, Ross 873

(NH, NU). 3030 (Port Shepstone): bank of Izotsha

River near Port Shepstone, Nicholson 155 (NH).

CAPE. — 3129 (Port St Johns); 8 km S.W. of

Tombo Post Office, Codd 9289. 3227 (Stutterheim):

Kei River bridge, Sim 20193. 3228 (Butterworth):

Mpetu, Flanagan 1311.

The Zulu name for subsp. clavigera is “umNga-

manzi” which means “fond of water”.

Subsp. usambarensis (Taub.) Brenan has not

been recorded so far in our area.

38. Acacia grandicornuta Gerstn. in

J. S. Afr. Bot. 4 : 55, fig. I (1938); O.B. Miller,

Checklist Bech. Prot. 19 (1948); Codd,

Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 44, fig.

38c, d, e (1951); O.B. Miller in J.S. Afr. Bot.

18 : 21 (1952); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 104

(1970); Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal 29, fig. 2/19

(1971); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 :

140 (1972); Ross, FI. Natal 193 (1973);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 805 (1973).

Syntypes : Natal, flowered at Emkunzana and

Mkuzi Drift between Nongoma and Magudu,

6 Jan. 1936, Gerstner 2870 (BOL!); fruits

found at same places and. at lower Pongola,

13 May 1936, Gerstner 2870 (BOL!).

A. clavigera E. Mey. subsp. clavigera pro parte

quoad syn. A. grandicornuta sensu Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 302 (1965).

Tree to 12 m high, crown ih rounded,

often irregularly so, branches usually ascen-

ding. Bark grey to brownish-black or black,

rough, longitudinally fissured; young branch-

lets greyish to reddish-brown or purplish,

lenticellate, glabrous, smooth, not flaking off

to reveal a rusty-red inner layer. Stipules

spinescent, in pairs, 0,2-10(14) cm long,

straight or slightly curved, sometimes defle-

xed, typically stout and slightly swollen,

whitish but becoming greyish with age; other

prickles absent. Leaves: petiole 0,4-2 cm

long, glabrous, eglandular or with a rounded

to elliptic gland up to 1 , 5 X 1 mm, variable

in position; rhachis 0-3,6 cm long, glabrous

or subglabrous, a small gland at the junction

of the top or top 1-3 pinnae pairs; pinnae

(l)2-3(5) pairs; rhachillae 0,9-3, 6(5, 2) cm

long, glabrous; leaflets 7-18 pairs per pinna,

3-8 X (1)1 ,5-2, 5(3,2) mm, linear to linear-

or obovate-oblong, apex obtuse or rounded,

glabrous throughout or rarely margins

minutely ciliate, lateral nerves invisible or

slightly conspicuous beneath. Inflorescences

capitate, on axillary peduncles, fascicled.

Flowers white, sessile; peduncles 1 ,2-2,5 cm

long, glabrous or occasionally very sparingly

puberulous, eglandular; involucel i-l-way up

the peduncle. Calyx glabrous throughout or

apices of lobes occasionally with a few hairs,

tube 0,8-1 ,3 mm long, lobes up to 0,3 mm

long. Corolla glabrous, tube 1,6-2, 2 mm

long, lobes up to 0,6 mm long. Stamen-

filaments free, up to 5 mm long; anthers with

a deciduous apical gland. Ovary up to 1 mm

long, glabrous, very shortly stipitate. Pods

brown to reddish-brown or purplish,

(4,8)6-12,8(15,2) X 0, 6-1,1 cm, falcate or

occasionally straightish, sometimes irregu-

larly constricted between some of the seeds,

longitudinally dehiscent, valves rather thin,

Mimosoideae

97

brittle, finely longitudinally veined, glabrous,

attenuate basally. Seeds olive-brown, 6-10 x

5-7 mm, ± oblong, smooth, compressed;

areole4-6 x 2, 5, 4-5 mm.

Found in south-eastern Botswana, Rhodesia,

Mozambique, the Transvaal, Swaziland and Zululand.

Occurs in dry thornveld and woodland; favours deep

soils. Sometimes dominant over fairly large areas and

forming thickets.

TRANSVAAL. — 2230 (Messina); Gaandrik area.

Van der Schijff 5261. 2328 (Baltimore): near Villa

Nora, Acocks 8817. 2426 (Mochudi): 4 km S.W. of

Rooibokkraal, Codd 8654. 2429 (Zebediela): 19,2 km

S. of Olifants River on Chuniespoort to Burgersfort

road, Codd 1706. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest); 20,8 km S.

of Steelpoort, Morris 1184. 2431 (Acornhoek);

Kruger National Park, 4,8 km E. of Skukuza, Codd

& Verdoorn 5493. 2531 (Komatipoort); Kruger

National Park, 4,8 km from Skukuza on Crocodile

Bridge road, Story 3940. 2731 (Louwsburg); 3,2 km

N, of Pongola River on road to Gollel, Ross 1707

(NH,NU).

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Big Bend,

Compton 30293. 2731 (Louwsburg): Nsoko, Compton

30320.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Ward 45 19. 2731 (Louwsburg): Mkuzi Drift,

16 km S. of Magudu on Nongoma road, Ross 1107

(NH, NU). 2732 (Ubombo): 1 km N. of Mkuzi River

on road to Candover, Ross 1641 (NH, NU). 2831

(Nkandla): Umfolozi Game Reserve, Ward 3319

(NH).

A. grandicornuta is closely related to A. robiista

Burch, in its wide sense and a case could perhaps be

made out for placing it under the latter species.

However, A. grandicornuta is a very distinctive taxon

and it seems best maintained as a distinct species.

The more slender branches and the narrow falcate

pods distinguish A. grandicornuta from A. robusta

subsp. robusta, while the glabrous leaf-rhachides,

typically fewer pinnae and leaflets, and the narrow

pods distinguish A. grandicornuta from .4. robusta

subsp. clavigera.

39. Acacia arenaria Schinz in Mem.

Herb. Boiss. 1 : 105 (1900); Harms in Engl.,

Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 376 (1915); Dinter in

Feddes Repert. 15 : 78 (1917): Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 839 (1930); Hutch., Botanist in

S. Afr. 523 (1946); O.B. Miller in J. S. Afr.

Bot. 18 : 18 (1952); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 282

(1956); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. :

126, fig. 17/55 (1959); Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

58 : 7 (1967); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 106

(1970); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 805 (1973). Syntypes: South West Africa,

Ovamboland, Olukonda-Oshiheke, Schinz

2071 (Z!); Amboland, “Omatope”, Schinz

2072 (Z!)

A. hermannii in J. Bot., Lond. 67 : 198(1929);

Buk.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 ; 847 (1930); Brenan,

Checklist Tang. Terr. 337 (1949); Wild, S. Rhod. Bot.

Diet. 47 (1953). Type: Tanzania, Singida District,

near Manyugi [? Manyigi], B.D. Burtt 1379 (BM,

holo.!; FHO!, K!, Z!). A. rufobrunnea N.E. Br. in

Kew Bull. 1909 : 107 (1909). Type: Botswana,

Ngamiland, Botletle valley, E.J. Lugard 245 (K,

holo.!). A. seyal Del. var. multijuga sensu O.B. Miller

in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 24 (1952) quoad specim. Pole

Evans 3251, non Schweinf.

Shrub or small tree 1,5-9 m high,

branching from near the base. Bark pale to

dark grey- or reddish-brown to black, rough ;

young branchlets pale to dark grey- or

reddish-brown, often as though whitewashed

over a purplish background, sparingly to

densely puberulous. Stipules spinescent, in

pairs, up to 6 cm long, straight, slender,

usually the same colour as the young branch-

lets and sparingly to densely puberulous;

other prickles absent. Leaves: petiole 0,3-1 ,4

cm long, adaxial gland often absent, when

present usually just below the lowest pinna

pair, slightly raised, round to oval, 0,6-1 ,4 x

0,5-1, 2 mm; rhachis 5-21,5 cm long, sparingly

to densely pubescent, with a gland at the

junction of each of the top 1-3 pairs of

pinnae; well-developed leaves with 15-36

pairs of pinnae (reduced leaves with as

few as 9 pairs of pinnae sometimes also

present); rhachillae 1, 2-4,1 cm long; leaflets

(11)18-26(32) pairs per pinna, 1,5-5 x

0, 5-1,1 mm, linear to linear-oblong, apex

rounded to subacute, margins glabrous or

ciliate, glabrous abaxially. Inflorescences capi-

tate, solitary or more usually fascicled, often

crowded into an irregular terminal “raceme”.

F/oH^r5' white or pale pink, sessile; peduncles

(0,6)1 , 1-2, 2(2, 9) cm long, sparingly to

densely pubescent, usually glandular; invo-

lucel at or above the middle or at the apex

of the peduncle. Calyx cupular, white or

pink, sparingly to densely pubescent, espe-

cially at apices of lobes, tube 0, 3-0,9 mm

long, lobes up to 0,6 mm long. Corolla

tubular, glabrous, tube up to 2,5 mm long,

lobes up to 0,7 mm long, usually 2-4 times as

long as the calyx. Stamen-filaments free, up to

5 mm long; anthers 0,2-0,25 mm across,

with a deciduous apical gland. Ovary up to

1 mm long, glabrous. Pods pale to dark

reddish-brown, 8-22 X 0,5-0, 8 cm, arcuate,

sometimes slightly constricted between the

seeds, flat, longitudinally dehiscent; valves

thin, glabrous to sparingly pubescent and

glandular. SmA olive-grey, 7-9 x 3-4,5 mm,

oblong or quadrate, smooth, compressed;

areole 3,5-4,5 x 1,5-2,25 mm.

98

Mimosoideae

Occurs in Tanzania, Angola, South West Africa,

Botswana and Rhodesia. Found usually in drier types

of mixed woodland, grassland or scrub, sometimes

with Colophospermum mopane.

S.W.A. — 1715 (Ondangua): Okapsa, road dam

near Ondangua, De Winter & Giess 6898. 1721

(Mbambi): between Shamvura and Kangongo, De

Winter 4209. 1813 (Ohopoho): 32 km S. of Kaoko

Otavi on road to Ombombo, De Winter & Leistner

5609. 1821 (Andara): road from Andara to Bagani,

Merxmuller & Giess 1992. 1824 (Kachikau): E.

Caprivi Strip, 62 km from Katima Mulilo on road to

Linyanti, Killick & Leistner 3127.

A. davyi bears a superficial resemblance to A.

arenaria. For the differences between the two species

see the notes under A. davyi.

40. Acacia rehmanniana Schinz in Bull.

Herb. Boiss. 6 : 525 (1898); Burtt Davy in

Kew Bull. 1908 : 159 (1908); Glover in Ann.

Bolus Herb. 1 : 151 (1915); Eyles in Trans.

Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 5 : 362 (1916); Bak.f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 ; 838 (1930); Burtt Davy,

FI. Transv. 2 : 343 (1932); O.B. Miller,

Checklist Bech. Prot. 20 (1948); in J.S. Afr.

Bot. 18 : 24 (1952); Pardy in Rhod. Agric.

J. 51 : 376 (1954); F. White, For. FI. N.

Rhod. 86, fig. 18i (1962); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 304 (1965); Brenan in

F.Z. 3,1 : 99 (1970); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 ; 783 (1973). Type: Transvaal,

Streydpoort, Makapansberge, Rehmann 5517

(Z, holo.!).

Shrub or tree to 10 m high with a some-

what flattened spreading crown. Bark red-

dish-brown to black, rough; young branchlets

clothed with dense spreading hairs, the hairs

golden at first but turning greyish-white,

sometimes becoming glabrescent with age,

the epidermis later peeling or flaking off to

reveal a rusty-red inner layer. Stipules

spinescent, in pairs, 0,5-5, 4 cm long, straight

or almost so, sparingly to densely pubescent

with spreading hairs especially basally,

becoming glabrescent with age; other prickles

absent. Leaves densely clothed with spreading

hairs, at first golden but turning greyish-

white, sometimes becoming glabrescent:

petiole 0, 1-0,5 mm long, adaxial gland

present, yellowish to reddish-brown, oval,

somewhat flattened, up to 1,5(3) x 1(2)

mm; rhachis 2,4-12 cm long, a small gland

usually, at the junction of the top 1-3 and

bottom 1-6 pinnae pairs, sometimes present

between each pinna pair or absent from some;

well-developed leaves of mature shoots

with 15-44 pinnae pairs (reduced leaves

with as few as 8 pinnae pairs are sometimes

also present); rhachillae 0,6-2, 8 cm long;

leaflets 24-48 pairs per pinna, 1,2-2, 8 x

0,4-0, 9 mm, linear to linear-oblong, apex

rounded to acute, margins with conspicuous

spreading hairs especially apically. Inflores-

cences capitate, on axillary peduncles, solitary

or more usually fascicled, aggregated into a

terminal “raceme”, each fascicle of heads

subtended by young to scarcely developed

leaves. Flowers white or cream, sessile;

peduncles 0,5-2 cm long, clothed with dense

spreading hairs, the hairs golden at first but

soon turning greyish-white, eglandular; in-

volucel below the middle of the peduncle.

Calyx sparingly to densely pubescent towards

the apices of the lobes, sometimes a small

basal tuft of hairs also present, tube 1,6-2, 2

mm long, lobes up to 0,7 mm long. Corolla

glabrous apart from the sparingly to densely

pubescent lobes, tube 2-2,8 mm long, lobes

up to 1,2 mm long. Stamen-filaments free,

up to 7 mm long; anthers with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary up to 1,6 mm long,

sessile, sparingly to densely pubescent. Pods

grey- or reddish-brown to olive, (2,9)

7-10(14) X 1,1-1, 8(2, 2) cm, linear-oblong,

straight or almost so, longitudinally dehis-

cent, flattened, not constricted between the

seeds, slightly venose, glabrous to sparingly

pubescent. Seeds olive- or reddish-brown,

4,5-8 X 4-7 mm, ellipsoid to suborbicular,

scarcely compressed; areole 2, 5 -4, 5 X

1,25-2,8 mm, completely closed.

Found in southern Zambia, northern Botswana,

Rhodesia and the Transvaal. Occurs in wooded

grassland and bushveld; sometimes near rivers or

streams.

TRANSVAAL.— 2329 (Pietersburg) : Mara, Rogers

21706. 2330 (Tzaneen): Duiwelskloof, Schweickerdt

1556. 2429 (Zebediela): 32 km S. of Pietersburg on

road to Chuniespoort, Van Vuuren 1603.

A. rehmanniana has been often confused with

A. sieberana DC. in the past. However, A. rehman-

niana is a distinctive species, easily separated from

A. sieberana by the more numerous pairs of closely

arranged pinnae, the much smaller and thinner

textured pods, the involucels in the lower half of the

peduncle, and the way in which the capitula are

clustered in the axils and aggregated into terminal

“racemes”.

A. rehmanniana was reported to occur in Natal

in F.Z. 3,1 : 100 (1970), but this record was probably

based on a very poor specimen (Sidey 3574) of A.

sieberana DC. var. woodii (Burtt Davy) Keay &

Brenan.

41. Acacia sieberana DC., Prodr. 2 : 463

(1825); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 347 (1871); Benth.

in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 503 (1875);

Mimosoideae

99

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 836 (1930);

Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 166 (1952);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. ; 12^

fig. 17/57 (1959); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod.

84, fig. 17K (1962); Troupin in Bull. Jard.

Bot. Brux. 35 : 449 (1965); Brenan in F.Z.

3,1 : 107 (1970); Ross in Bothalia 11 : 128

(1973). Type: Senegal, Sieber 43 (G, holo.;

K!).

var. woodii {Burtt Davy) Keay & Brenan

in Kew Bull. 5 : 364 (1951); Pardy in Rhod.

Agric. J. 48 : 406 (1951); Palgrave, Trees

Cent. Afr. 254 (1956); Torre in C.F.A.

2 : 281 (1956); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Mimos. : 128 (1959); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 163, t.x, 45 (1961); Von Breiten-

bach. Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 292 (1965);

De Winter et al, 66 Transv. Trees 56 (1966);

Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 108, t.16/18 (1970);

Ross, Acacia Spp. Natal 40, fig. 2/8 (1971);

Flow. PI. Afr. 40 : t.l653 (1972); Van Wyk,

Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 162 (1972); Ross,

FI. Natal 193 (1973); in Bothalia 11 : 131

(1973): Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 :

779 (1973); Schreiber in Mitt. Bot. Staats-

samml. Munchen 11 : 122 (1973). Type:

Natal, Estcourt Distr., between Estcourt and

Colenso, Wood 3528 (K, holo.!, NHl).

A. amboensis Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 105

(1900); Dinter in Feddes Repert. 15 : 78 (1917);

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 838 (1930); O.B. Miller,

Checklist Bech. Prot. 16 (1948); in J.S. Afr. Bot.

18 : 18 (1952). Syntypes: Angola, “Omupanda in

Uukuanjama”, Wulfhorst 2 (ZI); precise locality

unknown, “Kilevi am Kunene”, Schinz 763 (ZI).

A. lasiopetala sensu Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 :

158 (1908); Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 149,

t.19/23 (1915); Bews, FI. Natal 115 (1921); Henkel,

Woody PI. Natal 226 (1934); Stapleton, Common

Transv. Trees 6 (1937); Suesseng. & Merxm. in

Proc. & Trans. Rhod. Sci. Assoc. 43 : 16 (1951), non

Oliv. A. cf. hebeclada sensu Wood in Trans. S. Afr.

Phil. Soc. 18 : 152 (1908), non DC. A. hebeclada

sensu Bews, FI. Natal 114 (1921), non DC. A. woodii

Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1922 : 332 (1922); FI.

Transv. 2 : 344 (1932); Steedman, Trees etc. S.

Rhod. 15 (1933); Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 394

(1946); West in Rhod. Agric. J. 47 : 208 (1950);

Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 51, figs. 44a,

b, 45 (1951); O.B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 26

(1952). Type as for A. sieberana var. woodii. A.

vermoesenii De Wild., PI. Bequaert 3 ; 68 (1925);

Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 335 (1949). Type;

Congo-Brazzaville, Boma, Vennoesen 1378 (BR,

holo.!). A. sieberana var. vermoesenii (De Wild.)

Keay & Brenan in Kew Bull. 5 : 364 (1951); Pardy in

Rhod. Agric. J. 48 : 406 (1951); Brenan in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Mimos. ; 128 (1959); in F.Z. 3, 1 : 108(1970).

Type as for A. vermoesenii. A. cf. stolonifera sensu

Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 282 (1956)) quoad specim.

Gossweiler 11035 (K) pro parte, non Burch. A.

sieberana subsp. vermoesenii (De Wild.) Troupin var.

vermoesenii, Troupin in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 35 :

455 (1965); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 12 (1967).

Type as for A. vermoesenii. A. sieberana subsp.

vermoesenii var. woodii (Burtt Davy) Keay & Brenan,

Troupin in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 35 : 457 (1965).

Type as for A. woodii.

Tree to 18 m high, branches usually

spreading, crown typically flattened and

spreading or umbrella-shaped, sometimes

branches ascending and crown conical,

particularly in young plants. Bark yellowish-

or greyish-brown, rough, typically papery,

the outer layers flaking off to expose a

yellowish inner layer, sometimes ± smooth

and not flaking; young branchlets yellowish-

or greyish-brown, smooth or the outer bark

flaking away to reveal a yellowish inner layer,

glabrous to densely tomentose, indumentum

golden to greyish-white. Stipules spinescent,

in pairs, 0,3-7, 8 cm long, straight or almost

so, whitish, glabrous to densely tomentose;

other prickles absent. Leaves glabrous to

densely tomentose, indumentum golden to

greyish-white: petiole 0,2-1 cm long, adaxial

gland present, often just below the lowest

pinna pair, yellowish to reddish-brown, up

to 2 X 1,5 mm; rhachis 2,5-12,8 cm long,

a small gland present at the junction of the

top 1-6 pinnae pairs only, between each

pair, or absent from some; pinnae (4)8-30

pairs; rhachillae 0, 8-4(6, 5) cm long; leaf-

lets 13-45 pairs per pinna, 1,2-6, 5 x 0,5-

1,6 mm, linear to linear-oblong, apex

rounded to acute, margins with or without

cilia, usually glabrous beneath, midrib and

sometimes a few lateral nerves often fairly

prominent beneath. Inflorescences capitate,

on axillary peduncles, solitary or fascicled.

Flowers pale yellowish-white, sessile or very

shortly pedicelled; peduncles 1,4-5, 8 cm

long, glabrous to densely tomentose, in-

dumentum golden to greyish-white, egland-

ular; involucel apical or in the upper half of

the peduncle. Calyx sparingly pubescent

throughout or glabrous except for pubes-

cence towards the apices of the lobes, tube

1 ,6-2,4 mm long, lobes up to 0,8 mm long.

Corolla glabrous throughout or apices of

lobes sparingly pubescent, tube 2, 4-3, 6 mm

long, lobes up to 2 mm long. Stamen-fila-

ments free, up to 9 mm long; anthers with a

deciduous apical gland. Ovary sessile, up to

2,1 mm long, glabrous. Pods pale to dark

yellowish- or reddish-brown, 5-19,5 x

100

Mimosoideae

1,3-3, 3 cm, straight or slightly curved but

sometimes ± falcate, somewhat flattened or

at times oval in cross-section, thick and

almost woody in texture when dry, tardily

dehiscent, often only dehiscing on the ground,

smooth, glossy and glabrous or subglabrous

to densely pubescent especially on margins

and stipe, indumentum frequently golden.

Seeds olive to grey-brown, 7-12 x 5-8 mm,

elliptic to subcircular, slightly compressed,

smooth; areole 5-9,5 x 4-6 mm.

Found from the Sudan and Ethiopia southwards

to South West Africa, Botswana, the Transvaal,

Swaziland and Natal. Occurs in grassland, savanna,

woodland and thornveld; favours deep soils or

shallow soil overlying shale.

S.W.A. — 1714 (Ruacana Falls): 20,8 km W. of

Ruacana at the Kunene River, Giess & Wiss 3346.

1718 (Kuring-Kuru): 9,6 km E. of Tondoro mission

on road to Lupala, De Winter 3965.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort): Soutpan

193, Obermeyer, Schweickerdt & Verdoorn 12. 2230

(Messina): Palmaryville, Van den Berg 23. 2329

(Pietersburg): Blouberg Police Station kloof, Strey &

Schlieben 8595. 2330 (Tzaneen): Elim, Obermeyer

853. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Strydom Tunnel, Strey

7901. 2527 (Rustenburg): between Rustenburg Kloof

and Rustenburg town, De Winter 8637. 2528

(Pretoria): Great North road, near Onderstepoort,

Verdoorn 2359. 2529 (Witbank): Loskop Dam Nature

Reserve, Mogg 17513. 2530 (Lydenburg): Schoemans-

kloof, Smuts 306. 2531 (Komatipoort): Kruger

National Park, 3,2 km N. of Pretorius Kop, Codd &

De Winter 5167. 2730 (Vryheid): Piet Relief, Pole

Evans 10.

SWAZILAND. — 2531 (Komatipoort): Ngonini

bushveld, Compton 28210.

NATAL.— 2729 (Volksrust): S. of Newcastle,

Dyer & Verdoorn 2377. 2730 (Vryheid): Vryheid,

Hovy sub NH 54544. 2731 (Louwsburg): 20,8 km

from Louwsburg on Magudu road, Ross 1233 (NH,

NU). 2828 (Bethlehem): Royal Natal National Park,

bank of Tugela River, J. D. Ross I (NU). 2829

(Harrismith) : base of Van Reenen’s Pass, Schweickerdt

945. 2830 (Dundee): 8 km from Dundee on Wasbank

road, Ross 1256 (NH, NU). 2831 (Nkandla): Nkwa-

leni valley, McClean 975. 2832 (Mtubatuba):

Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ward 2701. 2929 (Under-

berg): 4,8 km S. of Estcourt, Ross 739 (NH, NU).

2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Golf road, Pietermaritzburg,

Ross 458 (K, NH, NU). 2931 (Stanger): New Guelder-

land, Stewart 84. 3030 (Port Shepstone): Umkomaas,

Ross 793 (NU).

The indumentum on the young branchlets,

leaves, peduncles and pods in typical var. woodii is

villous and distinctly golden, especially when young.

However, there is considerable variation in the

degree of pubescence and in the colour of the indu-

mentum. The young branchlets vary from glabrous

or subglabrous to densely pubescent, while the

indumentum varies in colour from golden to greyish-

white. Often in amongst the greyish-white indumen-

tum a faint tinge of gold is visible, especially at the

base of the petioles, spines and peduncles. Occasion-

ally the indumentum on the old shoots is greyish-

white while on young branchlets from the same plant

the indumentum is golden.

Var. woodii typically has yellowish-brown

papery bark that flakes off irregularly, whence the

common names “Paperbark Thorn” and “Papierbas-

doring”. Often, however, the bark does not flake or

peel off at all. Both forms frequently occur in the

same population. There seems to be a tendency for

specimens with non-peeling bark to have glabrous or

glabrescent branchlets and in Natal these plants are

often, but by no means always, confined to the

coastal areas. These plants sometimes seem to

occupy slightly different ecological conditions to

those occupied by the densely pubescent specimens

with papery peeling bark. However, these ± glabrous

specimens seem best regarded as ± glabrous forms of

var. woodii since they are otherwise indistinguishable

from specimens of var. woodii.

The typical forms of var. woodii and var. ver-

moesenii appear to be different but as they are linked

by so many and varied intermediates, and as diffi-

culty is frequently experienced in attempting to refer

specimens to one variety or the other with certainty,

it is no longer considered desirable to maintain both

of these varieties. Consequently, var. vermoesenii has

been relegated to synonymy under var. woodii.

The pods of A. sieberana, which dehisce very

slowly and usually only after they have been shed

from the plant, are eaten by livestock and by game

and are reputed to cause tainting of dairy produce

when eaten in quantity. The leaves contain large

amounts of prussic acid particularly when wilted and

have caused some stock losses.

In common with some other Acacia species, a

few flowers sometimes develop in the involucel on the

peduncle, giving the appearance of a smaller second-

ary capitulum below the main one.

A. sieberana has in the past been confused with

A. rehmanniana Schinz. The differences between the

two species are given under A. rehmanniana.

42. Acacia hebeclada DC., Cat. Hort.

Monsp. 73 (1813); Prodr. 2 : 461 (1825);

Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 109 (1970); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 775 (1973). Type:

Cape Province, Kuruman Distr., between

Kuruman [New Litakun] and the Matlowing

[Moshowing] River, Burchell 2267 (G, holo.;

K!, PRE!).

Low spreading shrub or tree 0,4-9 m

high, shrubs branching near ground-level or

with aerial stems arising from a subterranean

stolon, often forming large dense thickets;

crown in arborescent forms rounded with the

branches sometimes drooping to the ground

or flattened and spreading somewhat. Bark

dark grey- or reddish-brown to blackish,

fissured; young branchlets pale to dark grey-

or reddish-brown to purplish, sometimes

appearing as though whitewashed over a

Mimosoideae

101

purplish background, sparingly to densely

grey-pubescent or tomentose, sometimes

becoming glabrescent with age, epidermis

sometimes splitting and flaking minutely.

Stipules spinescent, in pairs, straight to

arcuate or hooked, either short and 0,4-

±1,5 cm long or up to 6 cm long and then

straight or very slightly recurved apically,

greyish-white to reddish, pubescent when

young but becoming subglabrous or glabrous;

“ant-galls” and other prickles absent. Leaves:

petiole 0,3-0, 9(1 ,9) cm long, densely spread-

ing-pubescent, adaxial gland present or

absent, rounded or elongated along the

petiole, up to 2 x 1,6 mm, often just below

lowest pinna pair; rhachis (0)1-4, 5(6) cm

long, sparingly to densely spreading-pubes-

cent, often with minute scattered glands, a

small gland often at the junction of the top

1-3 pinnae pairs and sometimes the lowest

pair; pinnae (1)4-9(12) pairs; rhachillae

(0,4)1 ,2-2(3, 4) cm long, sparingly to densely

spreading-pubescent; leaflets 7-18 pairs per

pinna, (1,5)2, 5-5(7) x (0,75)0,9-1,5(2)

mm, linear to linear- or obovate-oblong,

apex rounded to subacute, margins usually

with spreading cilia, sometimes cilia in-

conspicuous or absent, usually glabrous

beneath but sometimes sparingly appressed

pubescent. Inflorescences capitate, on axillary

peduncles, usually fascicled and scattered

along the shoots, seldom solitary. Flowers

yellowish-white or cream, sessile; peduncles

0,5 -2(4) cm long, sparingly to densely

spreading-pubescent, hairs on peduncle often

equalling or longer than its diameter, usually

eglandular, becoming glabrescent and thick

and ± woody with age; involucel at or

shortly above the base or occasionally to

almost halfway up the peduncle. Calyx

glabrous except for the apices of the lobes

which are sparingly to densely pubescent,

tube 1,2-1, 8 mm long, lobes 0, 5-0,8 mm

long. Corolla glabrous throughout or apices

of lobes sparingly to densely pubescent, tube

2, 5-3, 2 mm long, lobes 0,2-0, 6 mm long.

Stamen-fl laments free, up to 6,5 mm long;

anthers with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary up to 1,6 mm long, shortly stipitate,

glabrous. Pods yellowish- to greyish-brown,

4-21 X 1^,5 cm, up to 1,5 cm thick,

straight or nearly so, seldom ± falcate,

turgid, oblong-ellipsoid, cylindric or fusi-

form, apex rounded to acute or distinctly

pointed, erect or pendulous, finally longi-

tudinally dehiscent; valves thick, hard,

densely tomentellous outside, longitudinally

nerved, sometimes very conspicuously so,

sparingly to densely glandular. Seeds olive-

to reddish-brown, on a long funicle, 6-15 x

4-11 mm, subcircular-lenticular, sometimes

scarcely compressed; areole 5-12 x 2-7 mm.

Found in Angola, South West Africa, Botswana,

western Zambia, western Rhodesia, the Transvaal,

western Orange Free State and northern Cape

Province.

Pods erect, 4-12(14,5) x 1,5-4, 5 cm, straight

or nearly so:

Pods (1)1 ,5-2, 3(2, 5) cm wide, seed 7-9 X

5.5- 7 mm; flowering peduncles mostly

0,5-1, 5 cm long; low spreading shrub

or tree, often gregarious; widespread

in arid areas in South West Africa, the

Transvaal, Orange Free State and the

northern Cape (a) subsp. hebeclada

Pods 2, 5-3, 5(4, 5) cm wide; seed 10-15 X

7-10,5 mm; flowering peduncles mostly

1 . 5- 3 cm long, large riverine shrub or a

tree occuring in north-east South West

Africa (Caprivi Strip), .(b) subsp. chobiensis

Pods pendulous (at least when mature), 10-21

X 1-1,5 cm, often somewhat falcate; tree or

large shrub occurring in northern South West

Africa (c) subsp. tristis

(a) subsp. hebeclada.

Schreiber in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml.

Munchen 6 : 251 (1966); in F.S.W.A. 58 : 8

(1967).

A. hebeclada DC., Cat. Hort. Monsp. 73 (1813);

Prodr. 2 : 461 (1825); Benth. in Hook., Lond. J.

Bot. 1 : 499 (1842); in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 5 : 95

(1846); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 280 (1862); Benth. in Trans.

Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 504 (1875); Engl, in Bot.

Jahrb. 10 : 22 (1888); Marloth in Trans. S. Afr.

Phil. Soc. 5 : 270 (1889); Schinz in M6m. Herb.

Boiss. 1 : 112 (1900); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull.

1908 : 158 (1908); N.E. Br. in Kew Bull. 1909 : 107

(1909); Glover in Ann. Bolus Herb. 1 : 149, 1. 19/19,

19/20 (1915); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 :

355 (1915); Marloth, FI. S. Afr. 2 : 53, t.l8c (1925);

Milne-Redhead in Kew Bull. 1937 : 416 (1937);

Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 398, 399 (1946); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 2 : 294 (1965);

Leistner, Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 38 : 123, t.25

(1967); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 109 (1970) pro parte.

Type: Cape, Kuruman Distr., between Kuruman

[New Litakun] and the Matlowing [Moshowing]

River, Burchell 2267 (G, holo; Kl, PRE!). A. stoloni-

fera Burch., Trav. 2 : 241 (1824); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 284

(1862); Engl, in Bot. Jahrb. 10 : 22 (1888); Marloth

in Trans. S. Afr. Phil. Soc. 5 : 268 (1889); Schinz in

Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1:115 (1900); Sim, For. FI. Cape

Col. 211 (1907); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 160

(1908); in Kew Bull. 1922 : 331 (1922); FI. Transv.

2 : 340, fig. 58 (1932); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 836

(1930); Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 398, 418, 433, 632

(1946); O.B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 25 (1952).

102

Mimosoideae

Type: Cape Province, Hay Distr., Ongeluk’s-fontein,

between Griquatown and Kuruman, Burchell 2138

(K, holo.!). A. hebeclada var. stolonifera (Burch.)

Dinter in Feddes Repert. 15 : 80 (1917). Type as for

A. stolonifera Burch.

Found in South West Africa, Botswana, the

Transvaal, western Orange Free State and northern

Cape Province. Occurs in dry thomveld, bushveld,

savanna, open grassland and along dry water-

courses; often on sand or alluvium.

S.W.A. — 1824 (Kachikau): Caprivi Strip, near

Linyanti, Killick & Leistner 3164. 1917 (Tsumeb):

between Grootfontein and Otavi, Werdermann &

Oberdieck 2392. 1920 (Tsumkwe): Tsumkwe, 251 km

E. of Grootfontein, Story 6207. 2115 (Karibib):

Usakos, Marloth 1261. 21 16 (Okahandja); Okahandja,

Dinter 266. 2117 (Otjosondu): Quickbom, Bradfield

17. 2215 ^rekkopje): Okongava, Seydel 3158 (K).

2216 (Otjimbingwe) : farm Friedenau, in Khomas

Hochland, 25,6 km S W. of Windhoek, De Winter

2591. 2217 (Windhoek); Windhoek, Rogers 29513

(GRA). 2317 (Rehoboth): Uhlenhorst, farm Sib,

De Hoogh s.n. (K). 2519 (Koes): near Eindpaal, near

Auob River, Kinges 2001. 2616 (Aus): Kuibis ravine,

Pearson 8M9 (K). 2718 (Grunau): Klein Karas,

Dinter 4988.

TRANSVAAL. — 2329 (Pietersburg) : near Bande-

lierkop, Strey 7938. 2428 (Nylstroom): 3,2 km S. of

Warmbad on road to Pretoria, Codd 908. 2526

(Zeerust): Marico, J. van der Merwe 24. 2528

(Pretoria) : Grosvenor Square, Pretoria, Repton 3520.

2626 (Klerksdorp): 16 km from Lichtenburg on

Mafeking road, Morris 1167. 2627 (Potchefstroom) :

12,8 km E. of Potchefstroom, Prosser 1865. 2725

(Bloemhof): Boskuil, Sutton 121.

O.F.S. — 2726 (Odendaalsrus) : Bothaville, Goossens

1229. 2825 (Boshof): Smitskraal, Burtt Davy 9893.

2925 (Jagersfontein): on path to Fauresmith in poort,

Verdoorn sub Henrici 2406. 2926 (Bloemfontein): 19

km from Bloemfontein on road to Dealesville, Potts

2939.

CAPE. — 2620 (Twee Rivieren): Kalahari Gemsbok

National Park, 14,4 km N.E. of Twee Rivieren in bed

of Nossob River, Leistner 1493. 2623 (Morokweng):

Lolwanen, Burtt Davy 13850 (K). 2624 (Vryburg):

Taungs, Pole Evans sub PRE 15830. 2722 (Olifants-

hoek); 3,2 km S. of Olifantshoek, Leistner & Joynt

2735. 2723 (Kuruman): between Kuruman and the

Matlowing River, Burchell 2267. 2823 (Griekwastad) :

Ongeluk’s-fontein, between Griquatown and Kuru-

man, Burchell 2138 (K). 2824 (Kimberley): Barkly

West, Marloth 956. Grid ref. unknown: Vryburg

district, along Molopo River, De Winter 7832.

A. hebeclada subsp. hebeclada occurs either as a

low spreading shrub branching near ground level or

with stems arising from a subterranean stolon, or as a

tree. Plants often form large dense impenetrable

thickets several metres in diameter. In the Kalahari

these thickets are frequently utilized by the large

carnivores for shelter during the heat of the day.

Specimens of subsp. hebeclada are usually

readily distinguished from subsp. chobiensis which

just reaches our area. However, some specimens, but

not from our area, are difficult to place. In addition to

the smaller pods, subsp. hebeclada tends to have

shorter intemodes ± 1-1,5 cm long, smaller leaves

and shorter peduncles. Subsp. hebeclada has a

different distributional range and different ecological

preferences to subsp. chobiensis.

A. hebeclada subsp. hebeclada when in pod

cannot be mistaken. Flowering specimens, however,

particularly those with inadequate habit notes, can be

confused with A. luederitzii Engl. The pods in subsp.

hebeclada often persist on the plant for more than one

season so that it is possible to find flowers and the

previous season’s pods on a plant together. The

flowers are sometimes produced when the plants are

leafless.

(b) subsp. chobiensis {O.B. Miller)

Schreiber in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen

6 : 251 (1966); in F.S.W.A. 58 : 9 (1967).

Type: Botswana, Serondella, O.B. Miller

B/1069 (K, holo.!).

A. stolonifera Burch. weLV. chobiensis O.B. Miller in

J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 25 (1952). Type as above. A.

hebeclada sensu F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 85,

fig. 18A (1962); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 109 (1970) pro

parte.

Found in north-eastern South West Africa

(Caprivi Strip), northern Botswana, western Rhodesia

and Zambia. Occurs on alluvial soils . along river

banks, often partially submerged.

S.W.A. — 1719 (Runtu): Okavango River at Runtu,

De Winter & Marias 4915. 1724 (Katima Mulilo):

Lisikili, 24 km E. of Katima Mulilo, Codd 7091. 1821

(Andara): Andara, Merxmuller & Giess 1946.

Subspecies chobiensis occurs as a tree or large

shrub. The growth form is often hemi-spherical,

the lower branches touching the ground.

(c) subsp. tristis Schreiber in Mitt. Bot.

Staatssamml. Munchen 6 : 251 (1966); in

F.S.W.A. 58 : 9 (1967); Ross in Bothalia

11 : 131 (1973); Schreiber in Mitt. Bot.

Staatssamml. Munchen 11 : 117 (1973).

Type: Angola, Huila district, between Lopolo

e Ferrao da Sola, Welwitsch 1829 (LISU,

holo.; BMl, Kl).

A. tristis Welw. ex Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 349 (1871)

nom. illegit., non A. tristis R. Graham in Bot. Mag.

62 : t.3420 (1835); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond.

30 : 510 (1875); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 838 (1930)

pro parte excl. sp>ecim. Munro 453; Torre in C.F.A.

2 : 282 (1956). Type as above. A. hebeclada sensu

Harms in Warb., Kunene Samb. Exped. 243 (1903).

Found in southern Angola and in northern

South West Africa. Occurs in open bush, mixed

woodland and thomveld; usually on sandy soils.

S.W.A. — 1715 (Ondangua): 24 km W. of Ndola

Store on road to Ombalantu, De Winter 3632',

Oshikango, De Winter & Giess 7055. 1718 (Kuring-

Kuru); Makambu Camp, 32,8 km W. of Kuring-

Kuru on road to Katwitwi, De Winter <&. Marais 5015.

1813 (Ohopoho): near Ohopoho, De Winter &

Leistner 5305 ; 8 km N. of Ombombo, De Winter &

Leistner 5887.

Subspecies tristis grows as a tree with a rounded

or flattened and somewhat spreading crown, or as a

shrub. The narrow pendulous pods readily distinguish

subsp. tristis from subsp. hebeclada and subsp.

chobiensis.

Mimosoideae

103

FIG. 11. — Acacia stuhlmannii. 1, part of leafy branch, x 1 ; 2, gland on petiole, x 6; 3, leaflet x 6; 4, leaflet

from lowest part of pinna, x 6, all from Burn 5503; 5, part of flowering branch, x 1 ; 6, flower-head, x 2;

7, bract subtending flower, x 6; 8, flower-bud, x 6; 9, flower, x 6; 10, calyx, opened out, x 6; 11,

corolla, opened out, x 6; 12, stamens, x 6; 13, anther with part of filament, x 12; 14, ovary, x 6; 15, pod,

X 1; 16, seed, x 2, all from Burn 3400. Reproduced by permission of the Editor of Flora of Tropical

East Africa.

104

Mimosoideae

43. Acacia stuhimannii Taub. in Engl.,

Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. C : 194, t.21, E,F (1895);

Harms in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berl. 4 : 196,

fig.l (1906); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw.

Afr. 3,1 : 355, fig. 213 (1915); Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 836 (1930); Brenan, Checklist

Tang. Terr. 334 (1949); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Mimos. : 131, figs. 17/61, 19 (1959); in

F.Z. 3,1 : 110, 1. 16/20 (1970). Syntypes:

Tanzania: Dar es Salaam, Stuhlmann 6755

(B, t); Pangani, Stuhlmann 282 (B, f); Tanga,

Volkens 189 (B, f)l Amboni, Holst 2202

(K!, Z!); Tanzania/Kenya, Lake Jipe, Vol-

kens 2383 (B, t).

Obconical shrub to 2,5 m high,

branching from the base. Bark olive- to dark

reddish-brown; young shoots with spreading

golden villous hairs 1 , 5-3 mm long, hairs

later going greyish-white; branchlets olive-

to reddish-brown, longitudinally wrinkled,

with large yellowish somewhat transversely

elongated lenticels, becoming glabrescent

with age. Stipules spinescent, in pairs, 0,7-

6,5 cm long, straight or slightly deflexed,

sparingly to densely pubescent especially

basally, becoming glabrescent with age;

“ant-galls” and other prickles absent. Leaves

sparingly to densely clothed with spreading

whitish hairs: petiole 0,3-1 cm long, adaxial

gland usually present on primary leaves

but absent from secondary leaves; rhachis

2-5, 5(7, 5) cm long, a gland often at the

junction of the top 1-3 pinnae pairs or absent;

pinnae 4-12 pairs (occasionally leaves on

juvenile non-flowering shoots may have up to

17 pairs of pinnae and rhachides up to 9 cm

long); rhachillae 1,1-1, 9 cm long; leaflets

6-15 pairs per pinna, 2-5,5 x 0,6-1, 5 mm,

linear-oblong, apex subacute to acute,

glabrous beneath, margins usually with

appressed or spreading cilia. Inflorescences

capitate, on axillary peduncles, fascicled or

solitary, usually produced before the leaves.

Flowers white, sessile; peduncles 0,6-1 ,6 cm

long, densely hairy or tomentose, eglandular;

involucel basal or in lower half of the

peduncle, up to 3 mm long. Calyx sparingly

to densely pubescent apically, tube 1,6-2, 2

mm long, lobes up to 0,4 mm long. Corolla

sparingly to densely pubescent apically,

tube 2, 2-3, 2 mm long, lobes up to 0,5 mm

long. Stamen-filaments free, up to 6 mm long;

anthers with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary up to 1,4 mm long, sessile or very

shortly stipitate. Pods dark grey-brown to

black, densely clothed with long spreading

greyish- white hairs, 2,2-6, 5 x (0,9)1, 1-2, 2

cm, straight or somewhat curved, fibrous,

indehiscent, usually much attenuate basally,

the stipe up to 2 cm long. Seeds olive,

4,5-9 mm in diam., ellipsoid to subglobose,

minutely punctate; areole 4-6 x 2, 5-4, 5

mm, often indistinct.

Found in Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, south-

eastern Botswana, southern Rhodesia and the

northern Transvaal. Occurs in low lying areas or flats,

often in heavy alluvial soils; sometimes in Colopho-

spermum mopane veld.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort) : Dongola

Reserve, Farm Breslau 619, Codd & Dyer 3787 \ Codd

4323. 2328 (Baltimore): N. of Villa Nora, Strey &

Schlieben 8674; 12,8 km from Villa Nora on road to

Marnitz, Van der Schijff 5331 A. Grid ref. unknown:

Messina Distr., Limpopo River, Smuts & Gillett 4035.

A. stuhimannii has a very disjunct distribution in

Africa occurring in Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania in

the north and in Botswana, Rhodesia and the Trans-

vaal in the south. Although rather a variable species

in East Africa, A. stuhimannii is relatively uniform

in our area being always shrubby and with short

peduncles 0,6-1 ,6 cm long, and small pods 2, 2-6, 5

cm long and up to 2,2 cm wide.

44. Acacia redacta J. H. Ross in Bothalia

11 : 231 (1974). Type: Cape, Namaqualand,

22,4 km N. of Stinkfontein on way to

Jenkinskop, Werger 1518 (PRE, holo.!; K!).

Much branched shrub 0,3-0, 6 m high.

Bark dark grey-brown, flaking minutely;

young branchlets reddish-brown, densely

and persistently appressed pubescent, with

numerous small conspicuous dark purplish

glands scattered in amongst the hairs.

Stipules spinescent, in pairs, 0,8-1 ,4 cm long,

reddish-brown, straight or often deflexed,

slender. Leaves: petiole short, mostly 2-6 mm

long, grey-puberulous, adaxial gland absent;

pinna 1 pair; rhachillae 0,4-1, 8 cm long,

subglabrous or puberulous; leaflets 2-4 pairs

per pinna, 2-5,5 X 1,2-3, 5 mm, oblique,

oblong or elliptic or ± subrotund, apex

rounded or obtuse, sparingly to densely

appressed pubescent on both surfaces or on

the lower surface only, midrib and lateral

nerves not visible or inconspicuous beneath,

with minute reddish glands at the point of

attachment of the leaflets. Inflorescences

apparently capitate, reduced, on axillary

peduncles; flowers 2-4 per inflorescence or

rarely apparently solitary. Flowers apparently

pinkish; peduncles 2-6 mm long, conspi-

cuously glandular, usually densely appressed

pubescent. Calyx cupular, 0,8-1 ,2 mm long,

Mimosoideae

105

densely pubescent. Corolla 4-6 mm long,

lobes tinged with red or purple apically,

densely appressed pubescent or tomentellous.

Stamen-filaments 14-17 mm long, pinkish,

shortly connate basally and tubular for ± 2

mm. Ovary ±1,5 mm long, shortly stipitate.

pinkish-brown, 2, 6-3, 2 x 0, 9-1,1 cm,

linear-oblong, straight, 1-2-seeded, densely

appressed grey-puberulous, with small con-

spicuous dark purplish sessile glands among

the hairs, dehiscent, acute or acuminate

apically. Seeds not seen.

Restricted to the north western Cape Province.

Occurs most frequently on schistoid granite ridges.

CAPE. — 2817 (Vioolsdrif): 20,8 km N. of Stink-

fontein ( — CB), Leistner 340 1', 22,4 km N. of Stink-

fontein on way to Rosyntjieberg ( — CB), Werger 428 ;

22,4 km N. of Stinkfontein on way to Jenkinskop

( — CB), Werger 1518\ near Rosyntjieberg (— CB),

Van der Merwe 1828.

A. redacta differs from all other species in our

area in having reduced inflorescences which contain

only 2-4 flowers or, rarely, the flowers appear to be

solitary. This reduction in the number of flowers per

“head” is coupled with an increase in the size of the

individual flowers, the flowers being larger than in

most other species of African Acacia. A. redacta is

also unusual in that the stamen-filaments are shortly

united basally. The pods dehisce longitudinally from

the apex downwards and the two valves diverge.

More material is required and the flower colour needs

confirmation.

A. redacta appears to have a very restricted

distribution. The plants are of very small stature but

this is thought to be the result of the extreme and

inhospitable environment they occupy, an environ-

ment which is conducive to shrubbiness.

Insufficiently known species

45. Acacia sp.

Shrub; young branchlets glabrous,

yellowish- to reddish-brown, epidermis split-

ting and peeling away to reveal a rusty-red

inner layer. Stipules spinescent, in pairs, up to

3,2 cm long, straight. Leaves glabrous

throughout: petiole 0,5-2 cm long, primary

leaves with a large gland up to 4 x 2 mm

situated immediately above the pulvinus,

secondary leaves without a gland; rhachis

0-2 cm long, projecting at the end in a short

rigid persistent deflexed hook or claw, with

a slightly raised gland at the point of attach-

ment of each pinna pair; pinnae 1-2 pairs,

primary leaves with 2 pairs, secondary leaves

with 1 pair; leaflets 5-8 pairs per pinna,

8-18 X 3-9 mm, oblong to obovate-oblong,

acute or rounded apically, sometimes slightly

emarginate, midrib and usually several other

basal and lateral nerves raised and

conspicuous on the lower surface, glabrous

throughout. Inflorescences capitate, solitary

or fascicled on axillary peduncles, terminal.

Flowers sessile; peduncles 3, 2-4, 2 cm long,

glabrous but with few to many scattered

sessile glands; involucel at or near the middle

of the peduncle. Calyx very shortly lobed,

±2,25 mm long, glabrous except for apices

of lobes. Corolla ± 3 mm long, glabrous

except for apices of lobes. Stamens free, up to

6 mm long; anthers with a deciduous apical

gland. Ovary shortly stipitate, ± 1,25 mm

long; style ± 4 mm long. Pods immature,

3,5-7 X 0,9-1 cm, slightly curved to falcate,

apex obtuse or acute, probably longitudin-

ally dehiscent, valves distinctly venose,

glabrous, very sparingly glandular. Seeds

immature.

Known from a single gathering from the eastern

Transvaal.

TRANSVAAL. — 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): 10 km N.

of Burgersfort (-CB), W.F. Stuurman W34.

There are 9 sheets of Stuurman W 34 and they

exhibit quite a range of variation in leaflet shape and

size. Unfortunately there is no information on flower

colour, the ecological preferences of the plant, or the

species with which it was associated. It is not known

whether this was a single isolated plant or whether

it is locally common.

Stuurman W 34 does not match material of any

other Acacia species. Superficially the specimens look

like extremely robust specimens of A. karroo. How-

ever, they differ from A. karroo in having much

larger leaflets with ± raised and conspicuous venation

on the lower surface, longer peduncles and slightly

wider pods than in “typical” A. karroo. Although

there is no information on flower colour, it appears

as though the flowers were bright golden yellow as in

A. karroo.

The robust leaves and large leaflets of Stuurman

W 34 are reminiscent of A. robusta subsp. robust a but

the largest leaflets are larger than those recorded in

A. robusta and, in addition, differ in having some±

raised and conspicuous nerves on the lower surface.

In A. robusta the flowers are pale yellowish-white and

the involucel is near the base to just over ^ way up

the peduncle, while in Stuurman W 34 the involucels

are at or near the middle of the peduncle. The pods

are quite different and much smaller than those of

A. robusta.

From the limited material and information

available it appears that Stuurman W 34 is most

closely allied to A. karroo or to a related species.

More material and detailed field observations and

notes are required to enable the identity and affinities

of Stuurman W 34 to be established with certainty.

The possibility that Stuurman W 34 is of hybrid

origin cannot be excluded at this stage.

106

Mimosoideae

46. Acacia schlechteri Harms in Bot.

Jahrb. 51 : 367 (1914); Ross in Bothalia 11 :

234 (1974). Type: Mozambique, Ressano

Garcia, Schlechter 11901 (B, holo. f ; Z, iso!).

? Tree. Branchlets dark grey or blackish-

brown, young extremities very sparingly

pubescent. Prickles paired, recurved, short.

Leaves: petioles, rhachides and rhachillae

sparingly pubescent: petiole and rhachis

together ± 4-6 cm long; pinnae 2-5 pairs;

rhachillae 1-4 cm long; leaflets 3-6 pairs per

pinna, very variable in size and shape, 7-14 x

4-8 mm, obliquely obovate-oblong or oblong,

asymmetric basally, discolorous, glabrous

throughout or with few marginal cilia, some-

times with a small basal tuft of hairs to one

side of the midrib on the lower surface.

Inflorescences spicate; spikes 5-9 cm long,

axes sparingly pubescent. Calyx glabrous or

with occasional scattered hairs, sometimes

sparingly pubescent. Poffe unknown.

Young, in Candollea 15 : 123 (1955), recorded

A. schlechteri from the eastern Transvaal but the

specimen cited, and on which he based his description

of the pod, namely Rogers 18537 (PRE), is in fact

Albizia anthelmintica (A. Rich.) Brongn. The precise

identity of A. schlechteri is not absolutely certain but

no specimen matching the type or fitting the descrip-

tion has been recorded from our area.

A. schlechteri is possibly a local variant of A.

goetzei Harms subsp. goetzei. More material from the

type locality and field studies are required in an

attempt to establish the identity of A. schlechteri.

47. Acacia caliicoma Meisn. in Hook.,

Lond. J. Bot. 2 : 104 (1843). Type unknown.

? Tree. Branches unarmed, glabrous,

lenticellate. Stipules not evident. Leaves:

petiole and rhachis together 10 cm long,

terete, glabrous, petiole with an oblong

sessile adaxial gland; pinnae 8 pairs; rhachil-

lae 2,5-3,75 cm long; leaflets 12-14 pairs

per pinna, 14-16 x 6-8 mm, semihastate-

oblong, acute apically, rounded-truncate

basally, margins ciliate. Inflorescence a termi-

nal panicle, branchlets patent; peduncles

4-8 mm long, solitary or rarely paired.

Flowers in round heads, sessile, hermaphro-

dite. Calyx and corolla infundibuliform,

green, puberulous outside. Calyx half as

long as the corolla, shortly 5-lobed. Corolla

5 mm long, 5-lobed. Stamens ± 20; filaments

united below, reddish, exceeding the corolla.

Pods unknown.

Meisner based his description of A. caliicoma

on a specimen without fruits and of unknown proven-

ance, “loco natali incerto, aut Port Natal, aut Ins. S.

Yago Promontorii viridis”, seen in Krauss’s herba-

rium. No type specimen was cited and no specimen

bearing this name or any further reference to the

species in literature has been traced. Neither Harvey

in FI. Cap., vol. 2 (1862), nor Bentham in his revision

of Mimoseae in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., Vol. 30

(1875) mention A. caliicoma. The description suggests

that the specimen Meisner saw was not an Acacia but,

in the absence of a specimen, the precise identity of

A. caliicoma remains unknown.

Naturalized and cultivated species

The distribution of most of the naturalized and

cultivated species in our area is much wider than

indicated here but few specimens are available for

citation.

48. Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd., Sp. PI.

4 : 1083 (1806); Benth. in FI. Austral.

2 : 419 (1864); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 346 (1871);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 502

(1875); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 835 (1930);

Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 334 (1949);

Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 164 (1952);

Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 278 (1956); Keay in

F.W.T.A. ed.2, 1 : 499 (1958); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 111, fig. 16/38

(1959); in F.Z. 3,1 : 111 (1970); Ross, FI.

Natal 193 (1973); in Bothalia 11 : 465 (1975).

Type: Aldinus, Exact. Descr. Rar. Pl.Romae

Hort. Farnesiano 4 (1625) (lecto.l).

Mimosa farnesiana L., Sp. PI. 1 : 521 (1753); Ross

in Bothalia 11:471 (1975). Type as above.

Shrub or small tree to 4 m high; young

branchlets grey to reddish-brown or purplish,

epidermis not obviously peeling off, with

numerous somewhat transversely elongated

lenticels, glabrous or almost so. Stipules

spinescent, in pairs, usually short, up to

1 , 5(3) cm long, straight, slender, never infla-

ted; “ant-galls” and other prickles absent.

Leaves bipinnate: petiole sparingly to ±

densely pubescent, usually with a small gland ;

rhachis sparingly to dz densely pubescent,

often with a small gland below the junction of

the top pinna pair; pinnae 2-7 pairs; leaflets

10-21 pairs, 2-7 x 0,75-1,75 mm, midrib

and lateral nerves visible and somewhat

raised beneath, glabrous throughout or

with few inconspicuous marginal cilia.

Inflorescences capitate, on axillary peduncles,

solitary or in pairs or threes. Flowers bright

golden-yellow, sweetly scented; peduncles

sparingly to ± densely pubescent basally,

sparingly glandular; involucel apical. Calyx

and corolla glabrous except for the apices of

the lobes. Pods dark brown to blackish,

4-7,5 X 0,9-1, 5 cm, straight or curved.

Mimosoideae

107

subterete and turgid, glabrous, tardily dehis-

cent, finely longitudinally striate. Seeds chest-

nut-ljrown, 7-8 X 5,5 mm, elliptic, thick, only

slightly compressed; areole 6-7 x 4 mm.

Probably a native of tropical America, doubt-

fully so in Africa. Widely introduced in the tropics

and often becoming wild. Only planted or an escape

from cultivation in our area.

TRANSVAAL.— 2528 (Pretoria): Wonderboom

Poort, at the footpath of stones laid across the

Aapies River, Gerstner 5519. 2531 (Komatipoort) :

Komatipoort, Pole Evans sub PRE 18281.

NATAL. — 2930 (Pietermaritzburg) : Durban

Botanic Gardens, Ross 1714.

CAPE. — 2824 (Kimberley): Kimberley, Wilman

sub BOL 15701.

A. farnesiana is grown for ornament and for its

fragrant flowers which are used to make perfume.

The pods of A. farnesiana are very distinctive and

enable the species to be easily recognized. In the

absence of pods, it will be helpful to recall that no

other African Acacia has the following combination

of characters: absence of “ant-galls”, leaflets with the

lateral nerves raised and somewhat prominent

beneath, apical involucels, and bright golden-yellow

flowers in non paniculate heads.

A further very significant distinguishing feature of

A. farnesiana is that the anthers lack, even in bud, the

small deciduous apical gland which is present in all of

the indigenous capitate-flowered acacias occurring

in our area.

49. Acacia mearnsii De Wild., PI.

Bequaert. 3 : 61 (1925); Brenan in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Mimos. ; 95, fig. 15/21 (1959);

Brenan «& Melville in Kew Bull. 14 : 37

(1960); Tindale in Beadle, Evans & Carolin,

Handb. Vase. PI. Sydney Distr. & Blue Mts.

231 (1962); Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 111 (1970);

Court in Willis, Handb. PI. Victoria 2 : 243

(1972); Tindale in Beadle, Evans & Carolin,

FI. Sydney Region 275 (1972); Ross, FI.

Natal 193 (1973); in Bothalia 11 : 465 (1975).

Type: Kenya, near Thika, Mearns 1092

(BR,lecto.;BM.!).

A. decurrens sensu Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 853

(1930) saltern pro parte, non Willd. sensu stricto.

A. mollissima sensu auct. mult., Benth. in Hook.,

Lond. J. Bot. 1 : 385 (1842); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 345 (1932); Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 333

(1949); Salter in Adamson & Salter, FI. Cape Penins.

454 (1950); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 82 (1962), non

Willd.

Unarmed tree up to 15 m high with a

conical or rounded crown; bark grey-brown

to blackish, smooth or rough on very old

trunks; young branchlets angular; all parts

(except flowers) ± densely pubescent or

puberulous, indumentum on young parts

often golden. Leaves bipinnate: petiole

1-2,5 cm long, often with a gland above;

rhachis usually 4-12 cm long, with numerous

raised glands all along its upper surface both

at and between the junctions of the pinnae

pairs; pinnae 8-21 pairs; leaflets 15-70 pairs,

1,5-4 X 0,5-0,75 mm, linear-oblong,

appressed-pubescent or glabrous beneath,

margins usually with cilia. Inflorescences

capitate, in terminal panicles. Flowers pale

yellow, fragrant; peduncles 2-6 mm long.

Calyx sparingly pubescent especially towards

the apices of the lobes. Corolla glabrous or

almost so. Pods (1,6)3-10 x 0,5-0, 8 cm,

jointed, almost moniliform, ± grey- puberu-

lous, dehiscing longitudinally along one

margin only, straight or slightly curved.

Seeds black, ih 5 x3,5 mm, elliptic, com-

pressed, smooth; caruncle conspicuous;

areole 3,5x2 mm.

Introduced from Australia and now widespread

in parts of the Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal and the

Cape Province.

TRANSVAAL. — 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Belvedere

26N forest, ± 29 km from Pilgrim’s Rest, Davidson &

Mogg 33515. 2528 (Pretoria): Waterkloof, Pretoria,

Schlieben 10090. 2530 (Lydenburg): 26,4 km S.S.E. of

Lydenburg, D. Morris 58.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): 10 km W. of

Mbabane on main road to Transvaal, Brummitt

12423 (K). 2731 (Louwsburg): 3,2 km E. of Goedge-

gun, Ross 1767.

NATAL. — 2929 (Underberg): Cathkin Peak area,

Strey 7809. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Winterskloof,

Ross 2129 \ Ross 2131. 3030 (Port Shepstone):

Mtwalume, Wood 10589.

CAPE. — 3318 (Cape Town): Ida’s Valley, bottom

of Hell’s Hoogte Pass, Stellenbosch, Thompson 837.

3319 (Worcester): Bain’s Kloof, White 5657. 3225

(Somerset East): Glen Avon Falls area, P. T. van der

Walt 190. 3326 (Grahamstown) : Grahamstown,

Troughton 49.

A. mearnsii is the well-known Black Wattle which

is economically important for the tannin content of

the bark. The wood is used for firewood and for

building.

By a strange mischance A. mearnsii, the earliest

valid name for this Australian species, is based on a

specimen collected in Kenya and thought by De

Wildeman to be endemic there.

50. Acacia dealbata Link, Enum. Hort.

Berol. 2 : 445 (1822), non A. dealbata

A. Cunn. (1825); Benth. in FI. Austral.

2 : 415 (1864); in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond.

30 : 497 (1875); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 346 (1932); Brenan, Checklist Tang.

Terr. 332 (1949); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos.

: 50 (1959); Salter in Adamson & Salter,

FI. Cape Penins. 455 (1950); Tindale in

Beadle, Evans & Carolin, Handb. Vase. PI.

108

Mimosoideae

Sydney Distr. & Blue Mts. 231 (1962);

Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 112 (1970); Court in

Willis, Handb. PI. Victoria 2 : 245 (1972);

Tindale in Beadle, Evans & Carolin, FI.

Sydney Region 273 (1972); Ross, FI. Natal

193 (1973); in Bothalia 11 : 465 (1975).

Type: a plant cultivated at Berlin.

A. decurrens var. mollis Lindl. in Bot. Reg. 5 : t.371

(1819).

Unarmed shrub or tree up to 15 m high

with a conical or rounded crown; bark grey-

brown to blackish, smooth or rough on very

old trunks; young branchlets usually densely

short-pubescent, rarely subglabrous, ± grey-

pruinose, indumentum grey or sometimes

yellowish at first and then grey. Leaves

bipinnate, often glaucous; petiole 0,5-2 cm

long, eglandular; rhachis 2,5-10 cm long,

with a raised gland on its upper surface at the

junction of each pair of pinnae, but without

other glands in between the pinnae pairs as in

A. mearnsii; pinnae (5)10-26 pairs; leaflets

in 17-50 pairs, 2-5,5 x 0,4-0, 7 mm,

linear-oblong, sparingly to densely pubes-

cent or glabrous beneath, margins with or

without cilia. Inflorescences capitate, panicled

or racemose. Flowers bright yellow; peduncles

densely pubescent, up to 6 mm long. Calyx

and corolla glabrous except for apices of the

lobes. Pods 3-8 x 0,7-1 ,3 cm, not or only

slightly moniliform, dehiscing longitudinally

along one margin only, straight or slightly

curved. Seeds brown to blackish-brown,

5-6 X 3-3,5 mm, elliptic, compressed,

smooth; caruncle conspicuous; areole

3,5-4 X 0,75-1, 5 mm.

Introduced from Australia.

TRANSVAAL. — 2526 (Zeerust): Swartruggens,

Sutton 1031. 2528 (Pretoria); E. of Pretoria, Kinges

1781. 2529 (Witbank): Loskop Dam Reserve,

Theron 1752. 2531 (Komatipoort); Kruger National

Park, Pretoriuskop-Seekoeigat, Van der Schijff

3177. 2628 (Johannesburg): Melville Koppies,

Johannesburg, MacNae 1161 (BOL). 2629 (Bethal):

Ermelo, Burtt Davy 594.

NATAL. — 2730 (Vryheid): near Grootspruit, Strey

8053. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Hilton Road, Ross

2!05\ farm Mountain Glen, Dargle, Taat 1025.

LESOTHO. — 2927 (Maseru); Roma, Ruch 16;

Mamathe’s Jacot-Giiillarmod 1426.

CAPE. — 3318 (Cape Town): Cape Town, Gerstner

6147. 3326 (Grahamstown); 1820 Settlers Nature

Reserve, Troughton 227.

A. dealbata, commonly known as the Silver

Wattle, is sometimes confused with A. mearnsii. It

differs from the latter in lacking the glands in between

the pinnae pairs along the upper surface of the leaf-

rhachis, in being more pruinose, and in having wider

usually less moniliform pods.

51. Acacia decurrens Willd., Sp. PI. 4 :

1072 (1806); Benth. in FI. Austral. 2 : 414

(1864); in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lend. 30 : 496

(1875); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 345

(1932); Tindale in Beadle, Evans & Carolin,

Handb. Vase. PI. Sydney Distr. & Blue Mts.

230 (1962); Court in Willis, Handb. PI.

Victoria 2 ; 244 (1972); Tindale in Beadle,

Evans & Carolin, FI. Sydney Region 273

(1972); Ross, FI. Natal 193 (1973); in

Bothalia 1 1 : 466 (1975). Type from Australia,

unknown.

Mimosa decurrens Donn, Hort. Cant. 1 : 114 (1796)

nomen nudum.

Unarmed tree up to 12 m high with a

conical or rounded crown; young branchlets

prominently angled, sometimes with wing-

like ridges 1-2 mm high, glabrous or the very

young shoots slightly tomentose-pubescent.

Leaves bipinnate, green, decurrent: petiole

angular, 1,5-3, 5 cm long, often eglandular;

rhachis 3-10 cm long, with a raised gland

just below the junction of each pinna pair;

pinnae (5)8-15 pairs; leaflets 15-35 pairs,

6-15 X 0,3-0,75 mm, linear, usually

glabrous throughout. Inflorescences capitate,

panicled or racemose. Flowers bright golden-

yellow; peduncles 2-5 mm long. Calyx

sparingly pubescent on apices of lobes.

Corolla glabrous or almost so. Pods brown or

dark brown, 3,5-10 X 0,4-0, 7 cm, not or

only slightly moniliform, dehiscing longitu-

dinally along one margin only, straight or

slightly curved. Seeds brown to blackish-

brown, ± 5 X 3,5 mm, elliptic, compressed,

smooth; caruncle conspicuous; areole ±

3,5x2 mm.

Introduced from Australia.

TRANSVAAL.— 2630 (Carolina): 8 km from

Carolina on road to Badplaas, Brummitt 12418 (K).

NATAL.— 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Winterskloof,

Ross 2130.

CAPE. — 3318 (Cape Town): Stellenbosch, Garside

1246 (K).

A. decurrens, commonly known as the Green

Wattle, is readily distinguished by its long narrow

leaflets from all of the other introduced Acacia

species with bipinnate leaves in our area.

A. decurrens is usually attributed to “(Wendl.)

Willd.” with Mimosa decurrens Wendl., Bot. Beob. 57

(1798), being taken as the basionym. However,

Willdenow cited only Mimosa decurrens Donn, Hort.

Cant. 1:114 (1796) which is a nomen nudum. As he

Mimosoideae

109

provided no reference to Wendland, either direct or

indirect, Willdenow’s binomial must be treated as a

new name.

52. Acacia baileyana F. Muell. in Trans.

& Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria 24 : 168 (1887);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum-Mimos. : 50

(1959); Tindale in Beadle, Evans &. Carolin,

Handb. Vase. PI. Sydney Distr. & Blue Mts.

231 (1962); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1: 112 (1970);

Court in Willis, Handb. PI. Victoria 2 ; 244

(1972); Tindale in Beadle, Evans «& Carolin,

FI. Sydney Region 273 (1972); Ross in

Bothalia 1 1 : 466 (1975). Type from Australia.

Unarmed shrub or tree up to 5 m high;

young branchlets subglabrous to sparingly

pubescent. Leaves bipinnate, glaucous: petiole

very short, 2-8 mm long; rhachis 0-1,2 cm

long, with a gland at the junction of each or

only the top few pinnae pairs; pinnae (1)2-4

pairs, crowded; leaflets 12-20 pairs, 3-7 x

0,8-1, 5 mm, linear-oblong, often slightly

falcate, glabrous throughout or with few

marginal cilia. Inflorescences capitate, in

axillary racemes or panicles longer than the

leaves. Flowers bright yellow; peduncles

2-5 mm long. Calyx and corolla glabrous or

almost so. Pods brown, 4-10 x 0,8-1, 4 cm,

straight or slightly curved, margins entire or

only slightly and irregularly constricted

between some of the seeds, dehiscing longi-

tudinally along one margin. Seeds blackish,

±6x3 mm, smooth; caruncle conspicuous;

areole ±5x2 mm.

Introduced from Australia.

TRANSVAAL. — 2528 (Pretoria): Prince’s Park,

Repton IB. 2626 (Klerksdorp): near Rooijantjies-

fontein, Kinges 1475.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): 10 km W. of

Mbabane on main road to Transvaal, Bmmmitt 12425

(K).

NATAL. — 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Manderston,

Ross 1203.

CAPE. — 3125 (Steynsburg): Grootfontein, Theron

612. 3326 (Grahamstown): Grahamstown, Troughton

65.

53. Acacia armata R.Br. in Ait.f. Hort.

Kew, ed. 2, 5 : 463 (? Dec. 1813); DC,

Prodr. 2 : 449 (1825); Benth. in FI. Austral.

2 : 347 (1864); in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond.

30 : 461 (1875); Salter in Adamson & Salter,

FI. Cape Penins. 453 (1950); Beadle, Evans

& Carolin, Handb. Vase. PI. Sydney Distr.

& Blue Mts. 224 (1962); Court in Willis,

Handb. PI. Victoria 2 : 216 (1972); Beadle,

Evans & Carolin, FI. Sydney Region 265

(1972); Ross in Bothalia II ; 466 (1975).

Type: South Australia, Bay IX Memory

Cove, Kangaroo Island, R. Brown (BM,

holo.!; E).

Shrub up to 3 , 5 m high ; young branch-

lets reddish-brown or brown, angular-striate,

usually hirsute-pubescent, seldom glabrous.

Stipules spinescent, in pairs, slender, divari-

cate, up to 1 cm long. Leaves phyllodic,

apparently simple, 0,5-1 (1,5) x 0,2-0, 6

cm, obliquely-ovate to oblong or narrowly

lanceolate, undulate, with a single nearly

centric midrib, apex obtuse or distinctly

mucronate, glabrous throughout or some-

times with hairs on the margins and on the

midrib. Inflorescences capitate, on axillary

peduncles which are about as long as the

phyllodes. Flowers bright yellow. Calyx

lobed but not separating into sepals, ± half

as long as the corolla. Petals narrow, gla-

brous. Pods straight or ± falcate, 2,5-6 x

0,2-0, 6 cm, dehiscent, villous, rarely gla-

brous or hispid. Seeds dark brownish-black,

± 7x 2,5 mm, smooth; caruncle conspi-

cuous.

Introduced from Australia.

CAPE. — 3318 (Cape Town): Cape Peninsula,

Rhodes Estate, Salter 7619 (BOL); above Rhodes

Memorial and Groote Schuur Hospital, Gerstner

6141.

It is quite probable that A. paradoxa DC., Cat.

Hort. Monsp. 74 (Feb.-Mar. 1813), is an earlier name

for this species. However, until this has been definitely

established, the name A. armata is retained.

54. Acacia podalyriifolia A. Ciinn. ex

G. Don, Gen. Syst. 2 : 405 (1832); Benth.

in FI. Austral. 2 : 374 (1864); in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 474 (1875); Brenan, Check-

list Tang. Terr. 332 (1949); in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Mimos. : 51 (1959); Beadle, Evans

& Carolin, Handb. Vase. FI. Sydney Distr.

& Blue Mts. 225 (1962); Brenan in F.Z.

3,1 : 113 (1970); Beadle, Evans & Carolin,

FI. Sydney Region 267 (1972); Ross, FI.

Natal 193 (1973); in Bothalia 11 : 466 (1975).

Type: Australia, Queensland, Birnam

Range, Brisbane River, A. Cunningham

157/1828 (K, holo.!).

Unarmed shrub or small tree up to 6 ni

high; young branchlets densely grey-pubes-

cent. Leaves phyllodic, apparently simple,

glaucous, mostly 1,5-4 x 1-2 cm, ovate to

elliptic or elliptic-oblong, often oblique, with

a single main longitudinal nerve and finely but

distinctly penninerved, sparingly to densely

pubescent, with 1 or 2 marginal glands.

110

Mimosoideae

Inflorescences capitate, in axillary racemes

which are usually longer than the phyllodes,

mostly terminal. Flowers bright yellow;

peduncles pubescent, up to 7 mm long.

Calyx less than half as long as the corolla,

pubescent apically. Petals ± free, hirsute.

Pods brown, glabrous or pubescent, 4-8 , 5 x

1,5-2 cm, straight or almost so, flattened,

margins often ± undulate, dehiscing longi-

tudinally. Seeds dark brownish-black, 6-7 x

± 3,5 mm, smooth, compressed; caruncle

conspicuous; areole 3,5-4 x ± 1 ,5 mm.

Introduced from Australia.

TRANSVAAL. — 2528 (Pretoria) : Riviera, Pretoria,

Schlieben 10083.

NATAL. — 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): slopes below

World’s View, Ross 2104.

CAPE. — 3318 (Cape Town): Stellenbosch, Louw

5. 3326 (Grahamstown) : Grahamstown, Troughton 44.

55. Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl.,

Comm. Acac. 26 (1820); Benth. in FI.

Austral. 2 : 364 (1864); in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 469 (1875); Court in Willis,

Handb. PI. Victoria 2 : 229 (1972); Maslin

in Nuytsia 1(4) : 334(1974); Ross in Botha-

lia 11 : 467 (1975). Type from Western Aus-

tralia, Labillardiere (FI, lecto.).

Mimosa saligna Labill., PI. Nov. Holl. 2 : 86, t.235

(1806). Type as above.

Acacia cyanophylla Lindl., Bot. Reg. 25 : Misc. 45

(1839); Benth. in FI. Austr. 2 : 364 (1864); in Trans.

Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 469 (1875); Salter in Adamson &

Salter, FI. Cape Penins. 454 (1950); F. White, For. FI.

N. Rhod. 82 (1962); Roux & Middlemiss in S. Afr. J.

Sci. 59 : 286 (1963); Henderson & Anderson, Mem.

Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 37 : 170, fig. 84a, b, c (1966);

Brenan in F.Z. 3,1 : 112 (1970); Beadle, Evans &

Carolin, FI. Sydney Region 269 (1972); Ross, FI.

Natal 193 (1973). Type from Australia.

Unarmed shrub or tree up to 10 m high;

young branchlets slightly angular, glabrous.

Leaves phyllodic, apparently simple, glabrous,

mostly 8-22 x 0,5- 1,4 cm (the lower ones

sometimes much longer and 4 cm or more

wide), usually narrow, linear-lanceolate to

linear-oblong or oblanceolate, straight or

slightly falcate, much narrowed basally,

with a single main longitudinal nerve and

finely but distinctly penninerved, sometimes

glaucous, with a basal gland (on young plants

and coppice shoots bipinnate leaves are

sometimes produced at the apex of the

phyllode). Inflorescences globose, 6,5-9 mm

in diameter, in short axillary racemes.

Flowers bright yellow; peduncles 0,6-2, 2 cm

long. Calyx slightly pubescent apically.

Corolla glabrous. Pods brown, 5,5-15 x

0,5-0, 6 cm, straight or slightly falcate,

flattened, margins slightly constricted between

some of the seeds, dehiscing longitudinally.

Seeds dark brown, 5-7 X 2,75-3,5 mm,

smooth, compressed; caruncle conspicuous;

areole 3,5-5 x i; 1,5 mm.

Introduced into the Cape Province from Australia

and now fairly widespread from the Cape Peninsula

to the eastern Cape; also introduced into Natal more

recently.

S.W.A. — 2615 (Luderitz): Luderitz, Kinges 2736.

TRANSVAAL. — -2528 (Pretoria) : Sunnyside,

Repton 1861.

NATAL. — 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Botha’s Hill,

Ross 2132. 2931 (Stanger): Virginia Airport, Ross

2139.

CAPE. — 3318 (Cape Town): Ida’s Valley, bottom

of Hell’s Hoogte Pass, Stellenbosch, Thompson 836.

3325 (Port Elizabeth): Port Elizabeth, Begg s.n.

(GRA). 3326 (Grahamstown): road from Port

Elizabeth to Grahamstown, Wells 2603. 3418 (Simons-

town): Tokai, Burtt Davy sub FHO 20021 (K). 3422

(Mossel Bay): Sedgefield, farm Karawater, bank of

Karatara River, Ross 2410.

A. saligna, commonly called the “Port Jackson

Willow” on account of its pendulous branches and

phyllodes, was introduced on the Cape Flats in the

1870’s in an attempt to stabilize the shifting dune

sands. It proved highly successful for this purpose and

soon started spreading by natural means. A. saligna

is now found far beyond the area of the Cape Flats and

has become a serious menace in many parts of the

Cape Peninsula and on the mainland by invading and

displacing the indigenous vegetation. A. saligna

coppices freely when cut down and in many areas

occurs in dense stands. The wood is relatively soft and

the branches are brittle.

56. Acacia pycnantha Benth. in Hook.,

Lond. J. Bot. 1 : 351 (1842); Benth. in

FI. Austral. 2 : 365 (1864); in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 469 (1875) ; Salter in Adamson

& Salter, FI. Cape Penins. 455 (1950);

Beadle, Evans & Carolin, Handb, Vase.

PI. Sydney Distr. & Blue Mts. 226 (1962);

Court in Willis, Handb. PI. Victoria 2 : 226

(1972); Beadle, Evans & Carolin, FI. Sydney

Region 269 (1972); Ross in Bothalia 1 1 : 467

(1975). Type from Australia.

Unarmed shrub or tree up to 10 m high;

young branchlets terete or almost so, gla-

brous. Leaves phyllodic, apparently simple,

glabrous, 10-20 x (1)1, 5-3 cm, obovate-

lanceolate, distinctly falcate, mostly obtuse

apically, narrowed basally, with a single

main longitudinal nerve and finely but

distinctly penninerved, margin nerve-like,

with a fairly large marginal gland near the

Mimosoideae

111

base (on young plants and coppice shoots

bipinnate leaves are sometimes produced at

the apex of the phyllode). Inflorescences

globose, in axillary racemes or panicles.

Flowers bright yellow; peduncles stout,

up to 7 mm long. Calyx about f as long as the

corolla, pubescent apically. Corolla ± glab-

rous. Pods brown, 6-12x0, 4-0 , 7 cm, straight

or slightly curved, flattened, margins slightly

constricted between some of the seeds,

dehiscing longitudinally. Seeds dark

brownish-black, 5-7 x 2,75-3,5 mm,

smooth, compressed; caruncle conspicuous.

Introduced from Australia.

CAPE. — 3318 (Cape Town): Pinelands, Salter 8767;

Cape Town University, Leighton sub BOL 25537.

3418 (Simonstown) : Somerset West, Parker 3517 (K).

3420 (Bredasdorp) : Potteberg, Van Niekerk sub BOL

23359.

57. Acacia longifolia (Andr.) Willd.,

Sp. PI. 4 : 1052 (1806), non A. longifolia

Paxt. (1846); Benth. in FI. Austral. 2 : 397

(1864); in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 487

(1875); Salter in Adamson & Salter, FI. Cape

Penins. 454 (1950); Beadle, Evans & Carolin,

Handb. Vase. PI. Sydney Distr. & Blue Mts.

228 (1962); Henderson & Anderson, Mem.

Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 37 : 170, fig. 84d, e, f (1966);

Court in Willis, Handb. PI. Victoria 2 : 241

(1972); Beadle, Evans & Carolin, FI. Sydney

Region 272 (1972); Ross, FI. Natal 193

(1973); in Bothalia 11 : 467 (1975). Type

from Australia.

Mimosa longifolia Andr., Bot. Rep. t.207 (1802).

Type as above.

Unarmed shrub or tree to 8 m high;

young branchlets angular, glabrous or the

young shoots minutely pubescent. Leaves

phyllodic, apparently simple, glabrous, 6-18

X 0,7-2 cm, linear-lanceolate or narrowly

oblong to oblanceolate, straight or almost so,

mucronate apically, sometimes obliquely so,

narrowed basally, with 2-5 prominent longi-

tudinal nerves and faintly or conspicuously

anastomosing almost longitudinal veins

between the nerves. Inflorescences spicate,

axillary, solitary or in pairs; spikes up to

4 cm long. Flowers bright yellow, sessile.

Calyx very short. Corolla glabrous. Pods

brown, 7-14 x 0,4-0, 6 cm, cylindrical,

straight or slightly curved, margins

constricted between the seeds, dehiscing

longitudinally along both margins, valves

longitudinally wrinkled or striate, acuminate

apically, glabrous. Seeds dark brownish-

black, 4-7 X ±2,5 mm, more or less oblong,

smooth, compressed ; areole ± 3 , 5 x 1 , 5 mm ;

funicle not much folded, thickened almost

from the base into a small ± cupular aril

enclosing the apex of the seed.

Introduced from Australia.

TRANSVAAL. — 2627 (Potchefstroom) : Rand-

fontein, Barnard sub PRE 32 122. 2628 (Johannesburg):

Johannesburg, Moss 5258 (BM).

NATAL. — 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Town Bush

Valley, 1 ,6 km W. of Cascade Falls, Ross 1281 (NU);

Hilton Road, Ross 2106.

CAPE. — 3318 (Cape Town): Rondebosch, lower

slopes of Devil’s Peak behind University, White 5002.

3319 (Worcester): Franschhoek. Van der Merwe 1209.

3325 (Port Elizabeth): 24 km up Elands River road,

Acocks 21275. 3326 (Grahamstown) : road from Port

Elizabeth to Grahamstown, Wells 2602. 3418

(Simonstown) : near Wynberg, Schlechter 1061 (GRA).

3419 (Caledon): Kogelberg Reserve, Paardeberg,

Grobler 17140. 3422 (Mossel Bay): Mossel Bay,

Hutchinson s.n. (K).

A. longifolia is commonly known as the Golden

Wattle. Like several of the other introduced Austra-

lian species, A. longifolia is also invading and dis-

placing the indigenous vegetation in some areas.

A. longifolia is a variable species. Although

some of the extremes look very different, they are

connected by an almost continuous range of inter-

mediates and consequently cannot be separated

satisfactorily. Bentham l.c. :397 (1864) enumerated

six forms of A. longifolia.

Beadle, Evans & Carolin l.c. 228 (1962) recog-

nized two varieties, namely, var. longifolia and var.

sophorae (Labill.) F. Muell. ex Benth. Var. sophorae

has mostly obovate-oblong, oblanceolate or oblong-

elliptic phyllodes 1,2-3, 6 cm wide and 5-12 cm

long, in contrast to the linear or linear-lanceolate

phyllodes 0,3-1 cm wide and 7,5-13 cm long of var.

longifolia. Although there is no distinct morphological

discontinuity between the two, in Australia var.

sophorae has somewhat different ecological prefe-

rences and tends to occur as a low plant along the

coastal sand-dunes, while var. longifolia grows into a

larger plant. Specimens from our area are often

difficult to place in one variety or the other with

certainty.

58. Acacia cyclops A. Cunn. ex G. Don,

Gen. Syst. 2 : 404 (1832); Benth. in FI.

Austral. 2 : 388 (1864); in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 481 (1875); Salter in Adamson

& Salter, FI. Cape Penins. 454 (1950); Roux

in S. Afr. J. Sci. 57 : 99 (1961); Roux &

Middlemiss in S. Afr. J. Sci. 59 : 286 (1963);

Middlemiss in S. Afr. J. Sci. 59 : 419 (1963);

Henderson & Anderson, Mem. Bot. Surv.

S. Afr. 37 : 172, fig. 85 (1966); Ross in

Bothalia 11 : 468 (1975). Syntypes: Western

Australia, King George’s Sound, A. Cunning-

ham 104/1818 (K!), 328/1821 (K!).

112

Mimosoideae

A. cyclopis A. Cunn. ex Loudon, Hort. Britt. 407

(1830) nomen nudum.

Unarmed shrub or small tree up to 6 m

high; young branchlets usually angular

and glabrous. Leaves phyllodic, apparently

simple, glabrous, 3-9 X 0,6- 1,5 cm,

narrowly-oblong, usually ± straight, some-

times slightly falcate, obliquely mucronate

apically, narrowed basally, with 3-5 promi-

nent longitudinal nerves and anastomosing

almost longitudinal veins. Inflorescences glo-

bose, solitary or two or three in short

axillary racemes. Flowers bright yellow;

peduncles up to 7 mm long. Calyx pubescent

apically, more than half as long as the corolla.

Petals free. Pods brown, 5-15 x 0,8-1 ,3 cm,

oblong, falcate or variously coiled or spirally

twisted, flattened, margins not constricted

between the seeds, dehiscing longitudinally

along both margins. Seeds dark brown,

5-7 X 3-4 mm, smooth, compressed;

areole ±4x2 mm; funicle thickened,

bright red or orange, encircling the seed in a

double fold.

Introduced into the Cape Province from

Australia and now widespread in coastal areas from

Lambert’s Bay in the north-west to Kidd’s Beach in

the north-east.

S.W.A. — 2615 (Luderitz): Luderitz, Kinges 2732.

CAPE. — 3318 (Cape Town): Hell’s Hoogte,

Stellenbosch, Taylor 7298. 3325 (Port Elizabeth):

Port Elizabeth, Theroii 1142. 3326 (Grahamstown):

Kowie River, IVells 2580. 3418 (Simonstown): Cape

Peninsula, Rodin 3287A. 3419 (Caledon): near

Caledon, Gilliland A62 (BM). 3422 (Mossel Bay):

Sedgefield, farm Karawater, bank of Karatara River,

Ross 2408. 3423 (Knysna): bank of Lagoon, road to

Knysna Heads, Bos 935.

Like A. saligna, A. cyclops was introduced on the

Cape Flats in the 1870’s in an attempt to stabilize

the shifting dune sands. It proved highly successful

for this purpose and soon started spreading by

natural means. A. cyclops is now found far beyond

the area of the Cape Flats and has become a serious

menace in many parts of the Cape Peninsula and on

the mainland by invading and displacing the indige-

nous vegetation. In many areas A. cyclops occurs in

dense almost impenetrable stands.

Unlike A. saligna, A. cyclops does not usually

coppice when cut down. The wood of A. cyclops

provides a useful firewood.

A. cyclops is commonly known as “Rooikrans”

on account of the bright red funicle which encircles

the seed. The pods usually remain attached to the

plant long after the ripe seeds have been shed.

A number of species of birds feed on the con-

spicuous funiclcs and assist in the distribution of A.

cyclops (see Middlemiss in S. Afr. J. Sci. 59 : 419,

1963).

59. Acacia melanoxylon R.Br. in Ait.f.

Hort. Kew ed. 2,5 : 462 (1813); Benth. in

FI. Austral. 2 ; 388 (1864); in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 481 (1875); J. Phillips in

Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 14 : 291 (1931);

Salter in Adamson & Salter, FI. Cape Penins.

454 (1950); Beadle, Evans & Carolin, Handb.

Vase. PI. Sydney Distr. & Blue Mts. 227

(1962); Court in Willis, Handb. PI. Victoria

2 : 236 (1972); Beadle, Evans & Carolin,

FI. Sydney Region 270 (1972); Ross, FI.

Natal 193 (1973); in Bothalia 11 : 468 (1975).

Type: Tasmania, Port Dalrymple, R. Brown

(BM, holo.l).

Unarmed tree up to 20 m high; young

branchlets angular, glabrous or the young

shoots minutely pubescent. Leaves phyllodic,

apparently simple, glabrous, mostly 6-12 x

0,6 -1,2(2, 5) cm, linear-lanceolate to ob-

lanceolate or narrowly obovate, straight to

falcate, narrowed basally, with 3-7 promi-

nent longitudinal nerves and a conspicuous

reticulate venation between the longitudinal

nerves (on young plants bipinnate leaves are

sometimes produced at the apex of the phyl-

lode). Inflorescences globose, solitary or in

short axillary racemes. Flowers pale yellowish-

white; peduncles up to 6 mm long. Calyx

more than half as long as the corolla. Corolla

glabrous. Pods brown, 5-15 x 0,6-0, 8 cm,

oblong, falcate or variously coiled or spirally

twisted, flattened, margins thickened, not

constricted between the seeds, dehiscing

longitudinally along both margins. Seeds

dark brownish-black, 4-5 x ±2,5 mm,

smooth, compressed; areole ±3x1 mm;

funicle very long, thickened, almost encircling

the seed in a double fold.

Introduced from Australia.

TRANSVAAL. — 2528 (Pretoria): Wonderboom

Reserve, Repton 1871. 2627 (Potchefstroom): Krugers-

dorp, Webster sub PRE 32118. 2628 (Johannesburg):

around Johannesburg, Moss 7082 (BM).

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): 1,6 km from

Hlatikulu on Sitobela road, Ross 1759.

NATAL. — ^2730 (Vryheid): Donkerhoek, Devenisli

1020. 2929 (Underberg): farm Vergelegen, Umkomaas

River near Lesotho border, Rissik s.n. 2930 (Pieter-

maritzburg): slope below World’s View, Ro.ss 2128.

LESOTHO. — 2927 (Maseru): Masoeling, Jacoi-

Guilkirmod 2605.

CAPE. — 3219 (Wuppertal): Cedar Mts., Algeria

forest reserve. Bos 516. 3318 (Cape Town): Ronde-

bosch, near University of Cape Town, White 5066.

3326 (Grahamstown): Grahamstown, Roux sub PRE

32121. 3422 (Mossel Bay): Sedgefield, farm Kara-

watcr, banks of Karatara River, Ross 2409.

Mimosoideae

113

A. melanoxylon, the well-known Blackwood,

yields a good timber which is used in the manufacture

of furniture. Like several of the other introduced

Australian species, A. melanoxylon is also invading

and displacing the indigenous vegetation in some

areas.

In addition to the species dealt with in

some detail above, several species are

cultivated in our area. At present, however,

there is no evidence to suggest that any of

them have become naturalized. The species

cultivated are :

60. Acacia data A. Cimn. ex Benth. in

Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 1 : 383 (1842), non

A. elata Wallich, Cat. 5233 (1832) nomen

nudum, non A. elata R. Grab.; Benth. in

FI. Austral. 2 : 413 (1864); in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 495 (1875); Summerh. in

Bot. Mag. 154 : t.9214 (1930); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. ; 50 (1959); in

F.Z. 3,1 : 111 (1970); Tindale in Beadle,

Evans & Carolin, FI. Sydney Region 272

(1972); Ross in Bothalia 11 : <69 (1975).

Type from New South Wales, Australia.

A. terminalis sensu Court in Handb. PI. Victoria

2 : 242 (1972).

Lfnarmed tree. Leaves bipinnate, large,

30-40 cm long; pinnae 3-5 pairs; leaflets

8-15 pairs per pinna, mostly 2-6 x 0,4-1

cm, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, often

somewhat falcate, usually finely pubescent

at least on the lower surface. Flowers pale

yellow, in round heads, arranged in axillary

racemes or panicles. Pods ± 9-15 x 0,9-1 ,3

cm, linear-oblong, straight or curved, the

margins irregularly constricted between the

seeds, compressed, dehiscing along both

margins.

A. elata is easily distinguished from all of the

other species with bipinnate leaves by its large

leaflets.

Recorded from Krugersdorp in the Transvaal,

Gerstner 6671, and Stellenbosch in the Cape, Taylor

7968, but much more widely cultivated.

61. Acacia visite Griseb. in Abh. K. Ges.

Wiss. Gottingen 19 : 135 (1874); Ross in

Bothalia 11 ; 469 (1975). Type from Argen-

tina.

Unarmed tree. Leaves bipinnate; pinnae

2-7 pairs; leaflets 24-38 pairs per pinna,

6-9 X 0,8-1,25(2) mm, linear or linear-

oblong, acute apically, midrib almost margi-

nal throughout its length and usually pubes-

cent. Flowers in round heads; inflorescences

solitary, paired or fascicled in the axils of

the leaves. Pods 7-12 x 1,4-1, 9 cm, valves

thin, dehiscing longitudinally.

Recorded from Capital Park, Pretoria, Repton

1880; Grounds of Division of Botany, Pretoria,

Verdoorn sub PRE 32344, Schlieben 10106; Mr

Loock’s garden in Pretoria, Gerstner sub PRE 32346;

Bloemfontein, Potts 3219.

62. Acacia cultriformis A. Cunn. ex

G. Don, Gen. Syst. 2 : 406 (1832); Benth. in

FI. Austral. 2 : 375 (1864); in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 474 (1875); Brenan in F.Z.

3,1 : 113 (1970); Ross in Bothalia 11 : 469

(1975). Type from New South Wales,

Australia.

Unarmed shrub or small tree; young

branchlets angular, glabrous. Leaves phyl-

lodic, apparently simple, 0,8-3 x 0,^1,1

cm, obliquely obovate-lanceolate to ovate-

triangular, glaucous, glabrous, with a single

main longitudinal nerve and finely penni-

nerved, usually with 1 marginal gland, some-

times on a prominent angle. Flowers in

small round heads, arranged in axillary

racemes which are longer than the phyllodes

and are often ± aggregated terminally.

Pods 5-9 X 0,5 -0,7 cm, linear-oblong,

glabrous, longitudinally dehiscent.

Recorded from Stellenbosch, Garside 1248 (K).

A. cultriformis differs from A. podalyriifolia in

being glabrous and in having narrower pods.

63. Acacia retinodes Schlechtend. in

Linnaea 20 : 664 (1847); Benth. in FI.

Austral. 2 : 362 (1864); in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 30 : 468 (1875); Stapf & Ballard,

Bot. Mag. 153 : t.9177 (1929); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 51 (1959); Court

in Willis, Handb. PI. Victoria 2 : 227 (1972);

Ross in Bothalia 11 : 469 (1975). Type from

Australia.

Unarmed glabrous shrub or small tree.

Leaves phyllodic, apparently simple, linear-

lanceolate to -oblong or oblanceolate, straight

or slightly curved, 4,5-17 cm long, up to

1 , 5 cm wide, narrowing gradually towards

the base, with a single main longitudinal

nerve and finely but distinctly penninerved.

Flowers in round heads up to 6 mm in

diameter; inflorescences on peduncles 3-6 mm

long, arranged in short axillary racemes.

Pods 7-12 X 0,5-0, 7 cm, linear-oblong,

flattened, longitudinally dehiscent; funicle

encircling the seed in a double fold.

114

Mimosoideae

Recorded from Roodeplaat near Pretoria,

Du Toil 105, 151, Schlieben & Mendelsohn 12717.

A. retinodes differs from A. saligna in haying

smaller flower-heads, shorter peduncles and funicles

which encircle the seeds in a double fold.

64. Acacia fimbriata A. Cum. ex G. Don,

Gen. Syst. 2 : 406 (1832); Beadle, Evans &

Carolin, FI. Sydney Region 267 (1972);

Ross in Bothalia 11 ; 469 (1975). Type from

New South Wales, Australia.

Unarmed shrub or small tree. Leaves

phyllodic, apparently simple, linear to nar-

rowly oblong-elliptic, 2-4,5 cm long, 2-5

mm wide, narrowed basally, with a single

main longitudinal nerve, margins typically

densely ciliate, usually with a rounded gland

near the base. Flowers in small round heads,

arranged in axillary racemes. Pods linear-

oblong, straight, flattened, up to 7 cm long

and 7 mm wide, dehiscent.

Recorded from the Grounds of the Union

Buildings, Pretoria, Repton 2640, Schlieben 10084,

Schlieben & Mendelsohn 12881; Grahamstown,

Troughton 228.

65. Acacia adunca A. Cunn. ex G. Don,

Gen. Syst. 2 : 406 (1832); Maiden, For.

FI. New South Wales 5, part 46 : 113-118,

t.l73 (1911); Ross in Bothalia 11 : 469 (1975).

Type: Australia, New South Wales, Hunters

River, Cunningham 19I\%H (K, holo.l).

A. accola Maiden & Betche in Proc. Linn. Soc.

New South Wales 31(4) : 734 (1907). Syntypes from

Australia.

Unarmed small tree; young branchlets

angular, glabrous. Leaves phyllodic,

apparently simple, 5-12 cm long, 1,5-3 mm

wide (in our area), linear, with a single

main longitudinal nerve, usually with an

oblique slightly recurved point apically, a

fairly conspicuous marginal gland situated

a short distance above the base. Flowers in

small round heads, arranged in short axillary

racemes which are mostly aggregated ter-

minally. Pods reddish-brown when mature,

7-10 X 0,8-1 cm, oblong, margins often

irregularly constricted, valves thin, umbonate

over the seeds, longitudinally dehiscent.

Recorded from the Groot Drakenstein in the

Cape Province, Voorliglingsbeampte C4.

66. Acacia maidenii F. Muell. in Linn.

Soc. New South Wales Macleay Mem. Vol.

222 ; t.29 (1893); Court in Willis, Handb.

PI. Victoria 2 : 240 (1972); Beadle, Evans

& Carolin, FI. Sydney Region 271 (1972);

Ross in Bothalia 11 : 470 (1975). Type from

New South Wales, Australia.

Unarmed small to medium-sized tree.

Leaves phyllodic, apparently simple, 6-15 x

0,8-1, 5 cm, with 3-7 main longitudinal

nerves and almost anastomosing longitudinal

veins. Flowers in elongate spikes up to 4 cm

long, spikes axillary, solitary or in twos or

threes. Pods 4-12 cm long, 3-5 mm wide,

variously coiled or twisted, pubescent.

Recorded from the Caledonian Grounds,

Pretoria, Repton 3766.

Differs from A. longifolia in having pubescent

coiled pods.

67. Acacia viscidula A. Cunn. ex Benth.

in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 1 : 363 (1842); in

FI. Austral. 2 : 387 (1864); in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 480 (1875); Ross in Bothalia

11 : 470 (1975). Type: Australia, New South

Wales, banks of Lachlan River, Fraser (K,

holo.l).

Unarmed shrub or small tree; young

branchlets angular, mostly sparingly pubes-

cent, viscid. Leaves phyllodic, apparently

simple, 4,5-10 cm long, 1,25-3 mm wide,

linear, narrowed basally, with several longi-

tudinal nerves. Flowers in small round heads,

on axillary peduncles, solitary or paired,

rarely fascicled ; peduncles up to 5 mm long,

pubescent. Sepals free or shortly united

basally. Corolla pubescent. Pods 4-7 cm

long, 3-3,5 mm wide, linear, sparingly to

densely pubescent, longitudinally dehiscent.

Recorded on the Cape Peninsula on the slopes

below the ruins of Lady Anne Barnard’s cottage,

Salter 9044.

68. Acacia pendula A. Cunn. ex G. Don,

Gen. Syst. 2 : 404 (1832); Benth. in FI.

Austral. 2 : 383 (1864); in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 30 : 479 (1875); Court in Willis,

Handb. PI. Victoria 2 : 238 (1972); Ross in

Bothalia 11 : 470 (1975). Type from New

South Wales, Australia.

Unarmed tree or shrub. Leaves phyll-

odic, apparently simple, linear to linear-

oblong or lanceolate, 4,5-8 cm long, 3-9

mm wide, narrowed towards the base,

coriaceous, with several inconspicuous longi-

tudinal nerves, often greyish or glaucous.

Flowers in small round heads, usually

arranged in very short axillary racemes.

Pods oblong, flattened, 4-8 x 0,8-1, 8 cm,

the margins bordered by a narrow wing

0,5-2 mm wide.

Recorded from a Johannesburg park, Hobson

sub PRE 32341 ; Middelburg, Cape, Loock sub PRE

32340.

Mimosoideae

115

3447 3. LEUCAENA

Leucaena Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 416 (1842); Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 594 (1865);

Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 ; 337 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 442 (1875); Taub. in

Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 115 (1892); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 814 (1930); Gilbert & Boutique in

F.C.B. 3 : 231 (1952); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 495 (1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Mimos. : 48 (1959); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 281 (1964); Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z. 3, 1 ; 53

(1970). Type species: L. diversifolia (Schlechtd.) Benth., fide Williams in Taxon 13 ; 300

(1964).

Trees or shrubs, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate, a gland often present at the junction of the

lowest pair of pinnae, petiole and rhachis otherwise eglandular or rarely with glands between

other pairs of pinnae; pinnae each with one to many pairs of leaflets. Inflorescences capitate,

pedunculate, axillary, 1-3 together, often racemosely aggregated. Flowers hermaphrodite,

sessile, 5-merous. Calyx gamosepalous, 5-toothed. Petals, 5, free, pubescent or glabrous

outside. Stamens 10, free, fertile; anthers mostly eglandular apically. Ovary pubescent or

sometimes glabrous. Pods oblong or linear-oblong, usually thinly subcoriaceous, compressed,

dehiscing into 2 non-recurving valves. Seeds lying ^transversely in the pod, compressed,

brown, smooth, unwinged, with endosperm.

A genus of ±50 species, one widespread in the tropics and subtropics (Z.. leucocephala), one in the Pacific

islands, the rest in tropical America.

The generic name is derived from teukos, the Greek word for white; in allusion to the flowers of these

plants.

Leucaena leucocephala {Lam.) De Wit

in Taxon 10 : 54 (1961); Brenan & Brummitt

in F.Z. 3,1 ; 53, t.l4 (1970); Ross, FI. Natal

193 (1973). Type an American plant culti-

vated in France.

Mimosa leucocephala Lam., Encycl. Meth. Bot.

1:12 (1783). Type as above. M. glaiica sensu L., Sp.

PI. ed. 2,2 : 1504 (1763) pro parte, non L., Sp. PI.

1 : 520(1753).

Leucaena glauca%ens,\\&uc\.. mult. : Benth. in Hook.,

J. Bot. 4 : 416 (1842); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 337 (1871);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 443 (1875);

Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 814 (1930); Gilbert &

Boutique in F.C.B. 3 ; 231 (1952); Torre in C.F.A.

2 : 268 (1956); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2,1 ; 495

(1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 48

(1959).

Unarmed shrub or small tree to 4 m

high; young branchlets densely grey-puberu-

lous. Leaves grey-puberulous: petiole 2-4,5

cm long, often with a gland at the junction of

the lowest pair of pinna, glands otherwise

absent; rhachis (2,5)7-15 cm long; pinnae

(2)3-8 opposite pairs; rhachillae 4-8,5 cm

long; leaflets 7-20 pairs, 7-15 x 1 ,5-4 mm,

obliquely oblong-lanceolate, acute apically,

puberulous on the margins and sometimes

also on the midrib beneath, sometimes

glabrous throughout. Flowers white to pale

yellowish-white, in heads up to 1,8 cm in

diameter; peduncles up to 3,5 cm long, grey-

puberulous. Calyx 2-3,5 mm long, densely

pubescent apically. Petals 3,5-5 mm long,

puberulous apically. Stamens 10, free, fila-

ments 6-7 , 5 mm long ; anthers with scattered

hairs. Ovary up to 2 mm long, densely

pubescent apically. Pods light to dark brown,

10-18 X 1,4-1, 8 cm, with a stipe up to

2,5 cm long, oblong, compressed, thinly

subcoriaceous, raised over the seeds,

dehiscing into 2 non-recurving valves. Seeds

7-9 X 3 , 5-5 mm, elliptic to obovate, glossy.

Widespread in the tropics and subtropics,

possibly native only in the New World. Introduced

into our area, sometimes escaping and becoming

naturalized in Natal.

NATAL. — 2831 (Nkandla): Empangeni, Lawn

1599 (NH). 2930 (Pietermaritzburg); Durban Berea

Lansdetl sub NH 15939. 2931 (Stanger): Nyoni,

Gerstner sub NH 22631; 6,4 km N. of Stanger,

Edwards 3307; Stanger, Ross 859; New Guelderland,

Stewart 130 (NH).

The hairs on the anthers (visible with a hand

lens) are a most useful diagnostic character of L.

leucocephala, and distinguish it from all other Mimo-

soideae in our area.

ii6

Mimosoideae

FIG. 12. — Leucaena leucocephala. 1, flowering branch, x Lemos & Balsinhas 22; 2, part of stem to show

indumentum, x 4; 3, leaflet, x 3; both from Faulkner 576; 4, flower, x 4, 5, petal, x 4; 6, stamen, x 4;

7, two views of anther, x 8; 8, ovary, x 4, all from Lemos & Balsinhas 22; 9, cluster of pods, X J ; 10, pod,

X i; 11, seed, x 1, all from Faulkner 576. Reproduced by permission of the Editorial Board of Flora

Zambesiaca.

Mimosoideae

117

3449 4. MIMOSA

Mimosa L., Sp. PI. 1 : 516 (1753); Gen. PI. ed. 5 : 233 (1754); DC., Prodr. 2 : 425 (1825);

Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 4; 358 (1841); Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 593 (1865); Oliv. in

F.T.A. 2 : 335 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 388 (1875); Taub. in Pflanzenfam.

3, 3 : 115 (1892); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 390 (1915); Fawc. & Rendle, FI. Jam.

4 : 132 (1920); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 811 (1930); Phill., Gen. 391 (1951); Gilbert &

Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 228 (1952); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 42 (1959); Hutch.,

Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 282 (1964); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 18 (1967); Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z. 3,

1 : 47 (1970). Type species: M.pudica L.

Herbs or shrubs, rarely trees (not in our area), sometimes scrambling or climbing, usually

armed with prickles. Leaves sensitive, bipinnate or the pinnae seeming almost digitate on

account of the very short rhachis, rarely (not in our species) absent or modified to phyllodes ;

pinnae in 1-21 pairs; pinnae each with few to many pairs of leaflets; stipules often persistent.

Inflorescences of ovoid or subglobose heads or (not in our species) spikes, which are peduncu-

late, axillary, solitary or more usually clustered and often aggregated. Flowers hermaphrodite

or male, small, sessile. Calyx often very small and almost inconspicuous. Corolla gamopetalous,

4- or sometimes 3-, 5- or 6-lobed. Stamens free, as many as or twice as many as the corolla-

lobes, fertile; anthers eglandular apically. Ovary usually sessile; stigma terminal. Pods straight

or circinate, flat, in our species densely bristly or prickly ; at maturity the valves between the

margins splitting ^transversely into 1 -seeded segments or rarely (not in our species) remaining

entire, the margins persisting as an empty frame. Scci/s±compressed, smooth.

A genus of ± 500 species, widely distributed through the tropics but the vast majority of species found

in South America. One species is indigenous in Southern Africa and one species has b^me naturalized.

The name Mimosa is derived from the Greek word mimos, a mimic. This is in reference to the sensitive

collapse of the leaves of some species when touched.

Pinnae in (2)4-14 pairs, pinnately arranged along the rhachis which is longer than the petiole; leaves with

a straight, erect or forward-pointing, slender prickle at the junction of each pinna pair; sta-

mens 8 1. M. pigra

Pinnae in 1-2 pairs, subdigitately arranged on the very short rhachis which is much exceeded by the petiole;

leaves without prickles on the petiole or rhachis (sometimes bristly hairs may be present); stamens 4

2. M. pudica

1. Mimosa pigra L., Cent. PI. 1 : 13

(1755); Fawc. & Rendle, FI. Jam. 4 : 135

(1920); Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 346

(1949); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 :

230 (1952); O. B. MUler in J.S. Afr. Bot. 18 :

34 (1952); Brenan in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard.

8 : 429 (1954); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 268

(1956); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 495

(1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum-Mimos. :

43, fig. 13 (1959); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod.

93 (1962); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 18

(1967); Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z. 3, 1 : 49,

t. 13 (1970); Ross, FI. Natal 193 (1973).

Type: Aeschynomene spinosa quinta Com-

melin, Rar. PI. Amst. 59, t. 30 (1697) (lecto!).

Mimosa asperata L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2 : 1312

(1759); Willd., Sp. PI. 4 : 1035 (1806); DC, Prodr.

2 : 428 (1825); DC, M6m. Leg. t.63 (1827); Benth. in

Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 400 (1842); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 335

(1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 437

(1875); Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1908 : 162 (1908);

Eyles in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 5 : 363 (1916);

Bak. f , Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 812 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 333 (1932). Type: Origin unknown. Herb.

Linnaeus No. 1228-32 (LINN, holo.!).

Shrub to 3 m high, sometimes scandent

or rambling; stems armed with broad-based

prickles up to 7 mm long, also usually

appressed- or sometimes spreading-setose.

Leaves sensitive; petioles, rhachides and

rhachillae usually setulose: petiole 0,3-1, 4

cm long; rhachis 2-12 cm long, with a

straight, erect or forward-pointing, slender

prickle up to 1 cm long at the junction of each

of the (2)4-14 pairs of pinnae, often with

other stouter, spreading or deflexed prickles

between the pinnae pairs ; rhachillae 1 , 8-3 , 6

cm long; leaflets in 18-33 pairs, 3-9 x 0,5-

118

Mimosoideae

1,25 mm, linear-oblong, i appressed-

pubescent, particularly on the lower surface,

margins often setulose, venation nearly

parallel to the midrib. Stipules up to 5 mm

long, often persistent. Flowers pink or mauve,

in subglobose pedunculate heads ± 1 cm in

diameter, 1-2 in the axils of the upper leaves;

peduncles 1-3 cm long, setulose. Calyx

minute, 0,75-1 mm long, laciniate. Corolla

tubular-campanulate, 2-3 mm long, lobes

usually densely pubescent or minutely

setulose apically. Stamens 8, free, up to 6 mm

long; anthers eglandular apically. Ovary

sessile, up to 2 mm long, densely villous.

Pods clustered, brown, compressed, straight

or slightly falcate, 2,5-7 x 0,8-1, 2 cm,

bristly all over, breaking up transversely

into segments 3-5 mm long, the margins

persisting as an empty frame. Seeds olive-

brown, narrowly elliptic, up to 7 x 3,5 mm,

smooth.

Widespread in tropical Africa and America, also

in Madagascar and Mauritius. Found on sand or

alluvium by rivers and pans and in swamps.

S.W.A. — 1712 (Posto Velho): bank of Kunene

River at Otjinungua, De Winter & Leistner 5779.

1714 (Ruacana Falls): banks of Kunene River, near

Ruacana Falls, De Winter 3657. 1719 (Runtu): river

bank at Runtu, behind Native Commissioner’s hut,

De Winter 3721. 1821 (Andara): Andara Mission

Station, De Winter 4148.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve ( — CC), Moll & Strey 3764', Ndumu Game

Reserve, N.E. shore of Nyamiti Pan ( — CD), Ross

1933.

There is some doubt whether M. pigra occurs

indigenously in the Transvaal. Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 333 (1932), recorded it from the Transvaal

stating: “collected by the writer in 1904 (Davy “1535”)

in subtropical Transvaal (probably nr. Barberton),....;

the precise locality is uncertain, however, as the

labels of M. asperata and Acacia karroo (Davy 1535)

appear to have been transposed.” The specimen

referred to, namely, Burtt Davy “1535” is M. pigra

but, as indicated, the locality of collection is not

certain.

Repton 401 labelled “probably from northern

Transvaal” and Grobbelaar 302 from the garden of a

house in Groblersdal are the only other specimens

examined from the Transvaal. The origin of all

three specimens is therefore uncertain. It is possible

that M. pigra occurs indigenously in the Transvaal,

but its occurrence needs confirmation.

2. Mimosa pudica L., Sp. PI. 1 : 518

(1753); Willd. in L., Sp. PI. ed. 4, 4 ; 1031

(1806); DC., Prodr. 2 : 426 (1825); Benth.

in Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 367 (1841); Benth. in

Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 397 (1875);

Fawc. & Rendle, FI. Jam. 4 : 133 (1920);

Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 ; 812 (1930);

Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 346 (1949);

Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 229 (1952);

Brenan in Kew Bull. 10 : 184 (1955); Keay

in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 495 (1958); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 46 (1959); Brenan

& Brummitt in F.Z. 3, 1 : 51 (1970). Type:

A specimen of a cultivated plant in Hort.

Cliffort., Linnaeus (BM, lecto. !).

var. hispida Brenan in Kew Bull. 10 : 186

(1955); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 46

(1959). Type: Java, Junghuhn 719 (K, holo.!).

Annual or perennial herb, sometimes

woody below, up to 1 m high, often prostrate

or straggling; stems ± sparsely armed with

prickles 2-5 mm long, in addition varying

from densely hispid (in our variety) to almost

subglabrous. Leaves sensitive, unarmed;

petioles and rhachillae usually setulose:

petiole 1-5,5 cm long; rhachis very short so

that the 2 (rarely only 1) pairs of pinnae are

subdigitate; rhachillae 2, 5-8, 8 cm long;

leaflets 10-26 pairs, 6-12,5(15) x 1,2-2,75

(3) mm, linear-oblong, margins setulose,

venation diverging from and not nearly

parallel to the midrib. Stipules 8-14 mm

long, persistent. Flowers pink or lilac, in

shortly ovoid pedunculate heads ± 1-1 ,3 cm

long and 0,6-1 cm wide, 1-5 together from

the axils; peduncles 1^ cm long, setulose.

Calyx minute, ± 0,2 mm long. Corolla

tubular-campanulate, 2-2,25 mm long, lobes

densely grey-puberulous apically. Bracteoles

1,8-2, 2 mm long, longer than the corollas

in bud, their margins ciliate with setiform

hairs which project from 1-1,5 mm beyond

the corolla when in bud. Stamens 4, free,

up to 5,5 mm long; anthers eglandular

apically. Pods clustered, brown, compressed,

straight or slightly falcate, 1-1,8 x 0,3-0, 5

cm (excluding the prickles), densely setose -

prickly on the margins, breaking up trans-

versely into segments, the margins persisting

as an e.mpty frame. Seeds olive-brown, ±

3,5x3 mm.

Pantropical. Found in disturbed areas. Intro-

duced into our area but showing signs of becoming

established in some localities.

NATAL. — 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Natal Herba-

rium Grounds, H. M. Forbes 1242 (NH); Durban

Botanic Gardens, Ross 1993. 3030 (Port Shepstone):

Umbogintwini valley. Ward 6212 (E, NH).

Mimosoideae

119

FIG. 13. — Mimosa pigra. 1, part of flowering stem, x 1 ; 2, setiform hair from peduncle, x 6; 3, part of pinna

showing leaflets closed up in “sleeping” condition, x 4; 4, leaflet, x 4; 5, bract subtending flower, x 6;

6, flower-bud, x 6; 7, flower, \ 6; 8, calyx, opened out, x 6; 9, corolla and stamens, opened out, x 6;

10, ovary, x 6; 1 1, pods, x 1 ; 12, seed, 3, all from Harris 45. Reproduced by permission of the Editor of

Flora of Tropical East Africa.

120

Mimosoideae

3450 5. DESMANTHUS

Desmanthus Willd., Sp. PI. 4 : 1044 (1806) nom. conserv,; Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 592

(1865); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 334 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 385 (1875);

Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 117 (1892); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 392 (1915);

Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 ; 811 (1930); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 281 (1964). Type species:

D. virgatus (L.) Willd.

Trees, shrubs or perennial herbs, unarmed. Stipules setaceous, persistent. Leaves bipinnate 5

a gland often present at the junction of the lowest pair of pinnae; pinnae each with several to

many pairs of small leaflets. Inflorescences capitate, pedunculate, axillary, solitary. Flowers

5-merous, in ovate-globose heads, all hermaphrodite or the lower neuter and sometimes

without petals but with short staminodes. Calyx campanulate, shortly dentate. Petals free or

cohering slightly. Stamens 10 or 5, free, exserted; anthers eglandular apically. Ovary subsessile;

style subulate or thickened above, stigma terminal. Pods linear, straight or±falcate, com-

pressed, dehiscing into 2 valves, continuous within or subseptate between seeds. Seeds lying

lengthwise or obliquely in the pod, compressed.

A genus of ± 22 species occurring mainly in the tropics and subtropics of the New World. One species

has become naturalized in our area.

Desmanthus is derived from the Greek words desme, a bundle and anthos, a flower.

Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd., Sp. PI.

4 : 1047 (1806); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 334 (1871);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 385

(1875); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3:811 (1930);

Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 267 (1956); Ross, FI.

Natal 194 (1973). Type from India, Herb.

Linnaeus No. 1228.13 (LINN., holo.!).

Mimosa virgata L., Sp. PI. 1 : 519 (1753). Type as

above.

Unarmed perennial herb or suffrutex up

to 1 m high; young stems ± angular owing

to the prominent decurrent striations from

the base of each petiole, subglabrous to

sparingly puberulous. Leaves sparingly to

densely puberulous: petiole 0,2-1, 8 cm

long, usually with a large flattened discoid or

ellipsoid gland immediately below the junc-

tion of the lowest pinna pair; rhachis 1-5,5

cm long; pinnae 3-5(7) opposite pairs,

rhachillae 1^ cm long; leaflets 9-20 pairs,

3-8 X 0,8-1, 5 mm, linear to linear-oblong,

acute apically, glabrous throughout or with

marginal cilia. Stipules setaceous, up to 5

mm long, linear, persistent. Flowers white to

pale yellowish- white, in heads up to 0,8 cm

in diameter; peduncles up to 5 cm long.

Calyx campanulate, tube up to 2 , 5 mm long,

lobes up to 1,5 mm long, glabrous. Petals

free, up to 4 mm long, glabrous. Stamens 10,

filaments free, linear, 5,5-7 mm long; anthers

eglandular apically. Ovary subsessile,

glabrous; style slightly thickened above.

Pods dark brown, 4-8 cm long, up to 4 mm

wide, linear, straight or slightly curved,

thinly subcoriaceous, compressed, dehiscing

longitudinally. Seeds up to 3 X 2 mm,

slightly compressed, sometimes somewhat

angular, lying ± obliquely in the pod, dark

brown ; areole small, up to 1 , 5 X 1 mm.

Found mainly in the tropics and subtropics of the

New World, naturalized elsewhere. Introduced into

our area and now established in a few localities in

Natal.

NATAL. — 2832 (Mtubatuba) : Charters Creek Rest

Camp, Ross & Moll 5087. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg):

Jesmond Road, Pietermaritzburg, K. D. Huntley 820

(NH, NU); Bisley, Ross 953.

3451 6. NEPTUNIA

Neptunia Lour., FI. Cochinch. 653 (1790); Guill. & Perr., FI. Seneg. 238 (1832); Benth. in

Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 354 (1841); Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 592 (1865); Oliv. in F.T.A.

2 : 333 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 383 (1875); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3»

3 : 118 (1892); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 403 (1915); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 808 (1930); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 198 (1952); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 267 (1956);

Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 496 (1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 40 (1959);

Mimosoideae

121

Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 291 (1964); Windier in Austr. J. Bot. 14 : 379 (1966); Schreiber in

F.S.W.A. 58 : 18 (1967); Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z. 3, 1 : 45 (1970). Type species: N. oleracea

Lour.

Herbs, aquatic or terrestrial, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate, frequently sensitive; pinnae each

with several to numerous pairs of leaflets. Stipules persistent or deciduous. Inflorescence

a globose to ellipsoid head, pedunculate, usually solitary and axillary. Flowers dimorphic, in the

upper part of the head hermaphrodite, in the lower part male or neuter with elongate stami-

nodes. Calyx 5-toothed. Petals 5, free or ±united. Stamens 5 or 10, free, exserted, all fertile

in hermaphrodite flowers; anthers glandular or eglandular apically. Pods clustered, membra-

nous to subcoriaceous, oblong to subcircular, compressed, dehiscent. Seeds ±compressed,

oblong-ellipsoid to obovoid, smooth.

A genus of 1 1 species, widely distributed and mostly tropical. Only one species in Africa.

The generic name Neptunia is derived from Neptunus, latin for Neptune, the god of the sea, rivers and

fountains; in allusion to its watery habitat.

Neptunia oleracea Lour., FI. Cochinch.

654 (1790); Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 354

(1841); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 334 (1871); Benth.

in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 383 (1875);

Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 267 (1956); Keay in

F.W.T.A. ed. 2,1 : 496 (1958); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 40, fig. 12 (1959);

Windier in Austr. J. Bot. 14 : 401, fig. 10

(1966); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 18 (1967);

Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z. 3,1 : 45, t.l2

(1970); Ross, FI. Natal 194 (1973). Type:

Cochinchina, Loureiro (BM, ? holo.!).

Mimosa natans L.f., Suppl. 439 (1781) nomen

confusum. Type: India (Tranquebar), Koenig 1777,

Herb. Linnaeus No. 1228.4 (LINN, holo.!). M.

prostrata Lam., Encycl. 1 : 10 (1783), excl. j8 M. natans

L.f., nom. illegit. Types: Niti — todda — vaddi Rheede

Hort. Malabar. 9 : 35, t. 20 (1689) (syn.i); Mimosa

orientalis non spinosa .... Pluk., Almagest. Bot. 252,

t. 307 fig. 4 (1696) (syn.i).

Desmanthus stolonifer DC., Prodr. 2 : 444 (1825).

Type: Senegal, Perrottet (G — DC).

Neptunia stolonifera (DC.) Guill. & Perr., FI.

Seneg. 239 (1832). Type as for Desmanthus stolonifer.

N. prostrata (Lam.) Baill. in Bull. Soc. Linn. Par.

1 : 356 (1883); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 809 (1930);

Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 198 (1952). Syntypes

as for Mimosa prostrata Lam. N. natans (L.f.) Druce

in Rep. Bot. Soc. Exch. Club Br. Isl. 1916 : 637

(1917); Schreiber in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Miinchen

2 : 285 (1957). Type as for Mimosa natans L.f.

Aquatic herb with swollen, creeping stems,

floating or prostrate near the water’s edge,

with fibrous roots especially at the nodes,

glabrous or rarely puberulous when young.

Leaves very sensitive: petiole 2-6,5 cm long,

eglandular; rhachis 1-4,5 cm long, eglandu-

lar; pinnae 2-4 pairs; rhachillae 1-6,5 cm

long; leaflets 7-22 pairs, 5-16 x 1,5-4 mm,

oblong, basal ones smaller, glabrous or

sparsely ciliate on the margins. Stipules

obliquely-ovate, 5-9 x 3-5 mm, thin,

membranous, faintly nerved. Inflorescences

pedunculate, solitary in the axils of the

leaves. Flowers yellow, in heads 1-2 cm long;

peduncles 6,5-20 cm long, glabrous. Calyx

1-3 mm long, glabrous. Petals 2,5-4 mm

long, free or margins ± cohering. Stamens

10, free, 6-9 mm long; anthers eglandular

apically even in bud; staminodes petal-like,

7-20 X 0,5-1 mm. Ovary 1,2-2 mm long,

stipitate, glabrous; style slender, elongate.

Pods clustered, bent almost at right angles

to the short basal stipe, 1,3-2, 8 x 0,8- 1,2

cm, broadly oblong, compressed, membra-

nous-coriaceous, dehiscent. Seeds 4-5,5 x

2, 7-3, 5 mm, i compressed, brown.

Found in the tropics of the Old and New Worlds.

Occurs in and near fresh water rivers, pools, lakes and

swamps; sometimes in stagnant water.

S.W.A.— 1719 (Runtu): W. of Runtu, Volk 1918

(M). 1816 (Namutoni) : 64 km N. of Namutoni on

road to Ondangua, De Winter & Giess 6810. 1820

(Tarikora): Omuramba 59, 2 km W. of Andara,

Merxniuller & Giess 2075. Grid ref. unknown :

Omuramba Omatako, Dinter 7189; Amboland,

Rautanen 313 (K).

TRANSVAAL. — 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National

Park, Machayi Pan, near Punda Milia, Stephen 339;

Pan in Nwambiya sandveld, Brynard & Pienaar 4248.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Namannini Pan,

Pongola Flood Plain, Tinley 579. 2732 (Ubombo):

Mkuzi Game Reserve, Ward 3069; Pongola River near

Otobotini, Vahrmeijer & Tolken 991.

FIG. 14. — Neptunia oleracea. 1, part of flowering stem, x 2; 2, leaflet, x 2; 3, stipule, x 2; 4, fertile flower,

X 2; 5, anther, x 10; 6, ovary, x 5; 7, neuter flower, x 2; 8, staminode from neuter flower, x 2, all

from 6133; 9, part of fruiting stem, X 2; 10, seed, x 2, both from Peter 44973. Reproduced by

permission of the Editor of Flora of Tropical East Africa.

Mimosoideae

123

3452 7. DICHROSTACHYS

Dichrostachys {DC.) Wight & Arn., Prodr. FI. Ind. Or. : 271 (1834) nom. conserv.; Harv. in

F.C. 2 : 278 (1862); Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 592 (1865); Harv., Gen. PI. ed. 2 : 92

(1868); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 332 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 381 (1875);

Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 118 (1892); Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 53 (1909); Harms in Engl.,

Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 396 (1915); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 807 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 349 (1932); Phill., Gen. 392 (1951); Gilbert «& Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 198 (1952);

Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 265 (1956); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 36 (1959); Hutch.,

Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 291 (1964); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 14 (1967); Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z.

3, 1 : 37 (1970). Type species : D. cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn.

Desmanthus Willd. sect. Dichrostachys DC., Mem. Leg. 12 : 428 (1826).

Cailliea Guill. & Perr. in Guill., Petr. & A. Rich., FI. Sen. : 239 (1832).

Shrubs or small trees; unarmed or (in our species) some abbreviated lateral shoots

terminating in spines; prickles absent. Leaves bipinnate; rhachis glandular at the insertion of

some at least of the pinnae; each pinnae with several to many pairs of leaflets. Inflorescences

of axillary spikes, solitary or appearing fascicled; upper part of spike cylindric, of herma-

phrodite flowers, lower part broader, of differently coloured neuter flowers. Calyx shortly

5-toothed. Petals 5, ± united below. Stamens 10, all fertile in hermaphrodite flowers; anthers

(in our species) with a stalked apical gland which is deciduous. Staminodes of neuter flowers

elongate, without anthers. Pods clustered, coriaceous, narrowly oblong or linear, compressed,

usually irregularly contorted or spiral, indehiscent or opening irregularly or (not in our

species) dehiscent. Seeds (in the African species at least) ± compressed, ovoid to ellipsoid,

smooth.

A genus of ± 20 species in the tropics of the Old World from Africa to Australia, most species in Madagascar.

One species occurs in our area. The generic limits are in need of revision.

The generic name Dichrostachys is derived from the Greek words dis meaning twice, chroa meaning colour,

and stachys meaning a spike.

Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn.,

Prodr. FI. Ind. Or. : 271 (1834); Benth. in

Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 353 (1841); in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 382 (1875); Brenan in Kew

Bull. 12 : 357 (1958); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Mimos. ; 36, fig. 1 1 (1959); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 169 (1961); F. White, For. FI.

N. Rhod. 432 (1962); Brenan & Brummitt in

Bol. Soc. Brot., Ser. 2,39 : 61 (1965); Gomes

e Sousa, Dendrol. Mocamb. Estudo Geral.

1 : 225, t. 30 (1966); Volk in J.S.W. Afr.

Wiss. Ges. 20 : 47, fig. 9 (1966); Brenan &

Brummitt in F.Z. 3,1 : 37 (1970), Van Wyk,

Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 170 (1972);

Palmer&Pitman, TreesS. Afr. 2 ; 817 (1973);

Ross, FI. Natal : 194 (1973); in Bothalia 1 1 :

265 (1974). Type: Sri Lanka [Ceylon],

Hermann Mus. Zeyl. No. 215 (BM, syn.!).

Mimosa cinerea L., Sp. PI. 1 : 520 (1753); Syst. Nat.

ed. 10, 2 : 1312 (1759) non M. cinerea L., Sp. PI.

1 : 517 (1753). Type as above. [See Brenan in Kew

Bull. 12 : 357 (1958) for an explanation] . M.glomerata

Forsk., FI. Aegypt. Arab. 177 (1775). Type from

Arabia.

Dichrostachys glomerata (Forsk.) Chiov. in Ann.

Bot., Roma 13 : 409 (1915); Hutch. & Dalz. ex

Greenway in Kew Bull. 1928 : 204 (1928); Bak. f..

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 807 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 349 (1932); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 226

(1934); Flow. PI. Afr. 23 : t. 894 (1943); Hutch.,

Botanist in S. Afr. 298, 299, 334, 343, 664 (1946);

Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 344 (1949); Codd, Trees

& Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 58, fig. 54 (1951);

Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 202 (1952); O. B.

Miller in J.S. Afr. Bot. 18:31 (1952); Brenan in Mem.

N.Y. Bot. Gard. 8 : 429 (1954); Torre in C.F.A.

2 : 265 (1956); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 494, fig.

158 (1958); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 91 (1962).

Type as for M. glomerata.

Shrub or small tree up to 7 m high,

sometimes suckering and forming thickets;

armed with spine-tipped abbreviated lateral

shoots which often bear leaves and inflores-

cences, other prickles absent. Bark yellowish-

to dark greyish-brown or blackish, usually

124

Mimosoideae

rough, sometimes fissured; young branchlets

usually ± pubescent, sometimes puberulous

or glabrous. Leaves extremely variable in

size, usually pubescent but sometimes puberu-

lous or glabrous: petiole 0,1-5 cm long;

rhachis 1-16 cm long, with a stalked or less

frequently a sessile ^and at the junction of

each pinna pair, or at least the basal and

apical pairs ; pinnae (2) 4-19 pairs; rhachillae

0,6-7, 5 cm long; leaflets 9-41 pairs, 1-12 x

0,3-3 mm (in our area), linear to oblong,

glabrous to densely pubescent, margins with

appressed or spreading cilia, sometimes

glabrous, venation obscure to prominent

beneath. Inflorescences of axillary spikes,

solitary or apparently fascicled, spikes 2,5-12

cm long (including peduncle), pendulous;

yellow in the upper hermaphrodite part,

mauve, pink or sometimes white in the lower

neuter part. Calyx 0,6-1,25 mm long.

Corolla 1 , 5-3 mm long. Stamens of herma-

phrodite flowers 3-3,5 mm long; staminodes

4-17 mm long. Pods usually dark brown,

2-10 X 0,5-1, 5 cm (in our area), clustered,

variously contorted or spiral, indehiscent.

Seeds 4-6 x 3-4,5 mm, deep brown,

glossy, ± compressed.

An extremely variable and taxonomically

complex species, widespread in Africa and Asia and

reaching Australia. Within our area, D. cinerea

occurs commonly in South West Africa, the Transvaal,

Swaziland, Natal and the northern Cape Province.

It occupies a diverse range of habitats and is a

conspicuous component of many communities.

An analysis of the variation within D. cinerea,

which resulted in the recognition of a number of

infraspecific taxa, was the subject of a very detailed

paper by Brenan & Brummitt in Bol. Soc. Brot., S6r. 2,

39 : 61-115 (1965). During the preparation of the

present account it was found that Brenan & Brum-

mitt’s treatment of the species was not altogether

acceptable in our area. Consequently, certain modifi-

cations have been made to it. The difficulties encoun-

tered while attempting to name specimens in our area

and the decisions arrived at are discussed in Bothalia

11 : 265 (1974). Until the species has been thoroughly

investigated in the field, the present treatment can

only be regarded as a provisional one. The taxonomic

significance of the differential characters employed

by Brenan & Brummitt to distinguish some taxa

must be evaluated. Field studies may also yield

valuable information about the ecological preferences

of some of the taxa.

D. cinerea, commonly known as the Sicklebush

or Sekelbos, has the ability to encroach rapidly into

disturbed areas, particularly where the grass cover has

been depleted by overgrazing. In some areas fairly

large tracts of formerly open woodland have been

transformed into dense thickets within relatively few

years. Once established in thickets, D. cinerea is

difficult to eradicate by mechanical means because,

even when the main stems are removed, many young

plants usually regenerate from the rootlets remaining

in the ground.

The wood of D. cinerea is very hard and durable

and, being termite-resistant, is considered one of the

best for use as fencing posts, if suflBciently straight

enough lengths can be found. It is also excellent for

fuel and for making charcoal.

When using the following key, the width of the

largest leaflets must be used; if any leaflets are 2 mm

or more wide the specimen should be referred to

subsp. nyassana. It is likely that most specimens can

be correctly placed, but intermediates occur between

most of the taxa, and these may cause difficulty. In

particular, it may be difficult to decide whether some

specimens should be assigned to subsp. nyassana or to

subsp. africana var. africana. Typical subsp. cinerea is

confined to Asia.

Some or all leaflets 2 mm or more wide; leaves

often large and up to 18 cm long, with

pinnae up to 7,5 cm long; peduncles

usually fascicled subsp. nyassana

All leaflets less than 2 mm wide; leaves smaller

than above, pinnae usually less than 4 cm

long; peduncles single or sometimes fascicled :

Surfaces of leaflets (apart from the ciliate

margins) glabrous or sometimes with few

hairs on the lower surface only:

Glands on leaf-rhachis stipitate or columnar,

0,5-2 mm tall, present at the junction

of each pinna pair or absent from

some (very rarely the gland between

the lowest pair stipitate and glands

between the remainder ± sessile);

leaflets 0,6-1,75(2) mm wide

subsp. africana var. africana

Glands on leaf-rhachis sessile or very shortly

(to 0,3 mm) stipitate, present at junc-

tion of all pairs of pinnae, leaflets

0,5-0, 8 mm wide

subsp. africana var. setulosa

Both surfaces of leaflets densely pubescent

subsp. africana var. pubescens

(a) subsp. nyassana (Taub.) Brenan in

Kew Bull. 12 : 358 (1958); in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Mimos. : 39 (1959); Brenan &

Brummitt in Bol. Soc. Brot., S^r. 2, 39 : 96

(1965); in F.Z. 3,1 ; 40, t. 9 (1970). Type:

Malawi, Buchanan 195 (B, holo.f; K!).

Dichrostachys nyassana Taub. in Engl., Pflanzenw.

Ost.-Afr. C : 195 (1895); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw.

Afr. 3,1 : 398 (1915); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 807

(1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 349 (1932);

Steedman, Trees etc. S. Rhod. 16, t. 12 (1933);

Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 344 (1949); Codd,

Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 58, fig. 55 (1951);

Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 199 (1952); Torre in

Mendonca, Contr. Conhec. FI. Mocamb. 2 : 90

(1954); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 265 (1956). Type as above.

D. major Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 54, t. 36A (1909).

Type: Mozambique, “Lourenzo Marques and

Mimosoideae

125

FIG. 15. — Dichrostachys cinerea subsp. nyassana. 1, flowering branch, x 2, portion of petiole, showing

indumentum, x 4; 3, part of rhachis of leaf, showing gland, x 4; 4, part of pinna, x 4, all from Duff 45;

5, spine, x Lusaka Natural History Club 162; 6, neuter flower bud, x 4; 7, fertile flower bud, x 4;

8, neuter flower, x 4; 9, fertile flower, x 4; 10, part of calyx, x 12; 11, corolla-lobe, x 12; 12 and 13,

two views of anther, x 12; 14, ovary, x 12, all from Duff 45; 15, cluster of pods, x White 2486; 16,

seed, X 2, Boaler 889. Reproduced by permission of the Editorial Board of Flora ^mbesiaca.

126

Mimosoideae

Maputa up to the Lebombos”, SOu 6248 (where-

abouts unknown). D. glomerata subsp. nyassana

(Taub.) Brenan in Kew Bull. 11 : 188 (1956). Type as

for D. nyassana.

Young branchlets densely spreading-

pubescent. Leaves often large and up to 18

cm long, with 6-1 1 pairs of pinnae which are

up to 7,5 cm long; leaflets 5-12 x 2-3 mm,

margins shortly ascending- to appressed-

ciliate or subglabrous. Peduncles ± densely

spreading-pubescent, usually appearing

fascicled. Pods 10-15 mm wide, loosely to

tightly coiled.

Found in Zaire, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania,

Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Rhodesia, Mozambique,

the Transvaal, Swaziland and Natal. Appears to

occur most commonly in woodland.

TRANSVAAL. — 2231 (Pafuri); Kruger National

Park, Mabasa, Lang sub TRV 32192. 2330 (Tzaneen):

southern bank of Mtataspruit, Westfalia Estate

( — CA), Scheepers 50', New Agatha ( — CC),

McCallum 543. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Shiluvane,

Junod 691 (K). 2431 (Acornhoek): Bushbuck Ridge,

Pritchard 34. 2528 (Pretoria): Wonderboompoort,

Leendertz 609. 2530 (Lydenburg): Nelspruit ( — BD),

Rogers 4769; between White River and Nelspruit

( — BD), Burn Davy 1505; Waterval-Bo ( — CB),

Rogers 14874. 2531 (Komatipoort) : Kruger National

Park, 1 ,6 km N. of Pretorius Kop ( — AB), Codd5192;

Barberton ( — CC), Pott 5306. Grid ref. unknown: 32

km from Sibasa at Ivy Dell, Rodin 4119.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): Tulwane

( — BC), Compton 28800 ; Sipofaneni ( — DA), Compton

28120. 2731 (Louwsburg): 3,2 km E. of Goedgegun

on Hlatikulu road, farm Buckwood, Ross 1667 (NH,

NU); Ross 1668 (NH).

NATAL. — 2731 (Louwsburg): Ngotshe, Gerstner

2516 (NH). 2732 (Ubombo): Jozini, Ross 1127

(K, NH, NU). 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe Game

Reserve ( — AA), Ross 942 (NH); Dukuduku ( — AC),

Strey 7336. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Shongweni Dam,

Morris 570. 2931 (Stanger): New Guelderland

(—AD), Stewart 132 (NH); Umhlanga (— CA),

B. J. Huntley 75 (NH). Grid ref. unknown: Durban

Flats, Wood 14491^11).

In its typical form in tropical Africa subsp.

nyassana is distinct and easily recognized by its

broad leaflets, large leaves and usually fascicled

peduncles. However, in our area leaflet width, leaf size

and the arrangement of the peduncles provide no

discontinuity between subsp. nyassana and subsp.

africana var. africana and some specimens from the

eastern Transvaal, Swaziland and Natal are extremely

difficult to place with certainty. Indeed, it is sometimes

a matter of opinion whether they should be assigned

to subsp. nyassana or to subsp. africana var. africana.

The problem of differentiating depauperate specimens

of subsp. nyassana and robust specimens of subsp.

africana var. africana in our area is therefore a very

real and difficult one. The decision to uphold subsp.

nyassana was taken because over most of its range in

tropical Africa it is a t distinct taxon.

There is some evidence to suggest that subsp.

nyassana has slightly different ecological preferences

to subsp. africana in our area, but detailed field

studies are required to substantiate this.

(b) subsp. africana Brenan & Brummitt

in Bol. Soc. Brot., Ser. 2, 39 : 77 (1965);

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 15 (1967);

Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z. 3,1 : 42, t. 1 1

(1970). Type: Mozambique, Lourenzo

Marques, Quinta do Umbeluzi, Gomes e

Sousa 3466 (K, holo. !).

Young branchlets ± densely pubescent

to ± glabrous. Leaves usually smaller than

in subsp. nyassana, with 4-19 pairs of pinnae

which are up to ±4 cm long; leaflets 2-7 x

(0,3)0, 5-1 ,75(2) mm wide, margins strongly

ciliate to sparsely appressed-ciliate or

^abrous. Pods 6-15 mm wide, loosely to

tightly coiled.

This subspecies occurs throughout most of

tropical Africa from the Cape Verde Is., Senegal,

Ethiopia southwards to South West Africa, Botswana,

the Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal and the northern

Cape Province, but absent from rain-forest regions;

three varieties occur in our area.

(i) var. africana.

Brenan & Brummitt in Bol. Soc. Brot.

Ser. 2,39 : 78 (1965); in F.Z. 3,1 : 42, t.

10 fig. C (1970)*.

Mimosa nutans Pers., Syn. PI. 2 : 266 (1807). Type:

Senegal, Adanson sub Herb. Jussieu (P, holo.!).

Desmanthus nutans (Pers.) DC., Prodr. 2 : 446

(1825). Type as for Mimosa nutans. D. trichostachys

DC, l.c. : 445 (1825); Mem. Leg. 444 (1827),t. 67

(1826). Type: Senegal, Back & Perrottet (G, syn.;

♦Since Brenan & Brummitt’s paper on Dichros-

tachys was published in 1965 important changes

affecting autonyms (automatically established names)

were introduced into Article 26 of the latest edition of

the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature

(1972). One of these changes is the rejection in certain

circumstances of the previous ruling that autonyms

must always be adopted for taxa which include the

type of the correct name of the next higher taxon. In

some instances this results in a name which was

correct when published now being made retro-

spectively incorrect, and thus enforcing the adoption

of another, often undesirable, name. Dichrostachys

cinerea subsp. africana var. africana is such an

example. Included in this variety was Cailliea dichro-

stachys Guill. & Perr. var. leptostachys (DC.) Guill. &

Perr., so that the correct name for var. africana,

which was itself correct under the Code when pub-

lished, is now var. leptostachys under the new Code.

This requires a new combination for var. leptostachys.

However, as an attempt is to be made at the Leningrad

Congress in 1975 to have the recent changes in the

Code affecting autonyms reversed, it is considered

undesirable to effect the new combination until the

outcome of this attempt is known.

Mimosoideae

127

K, photo!). D. leplosiachys DC., I.c. 445 (1825);

Mem. Leg. 443 (1827), pro parte quoad lectotypum:

Senegal, Rousillon (G, lecto.; K, photo!).

CaUliea dichrostachys Guill. & Perr. in Guill., Perr.

&. A. Rich., FI. Sen. 240 (1832), nom. illegit. C.

dichrostachys var. leptostachys (DC.) Guill & Perr.,

I.c. 239 (1832). Type as for D. leptostachys. C. nutans

(Pers.) Skeels in U.S. Dept. Agric. Bur. PI. Ind. Bull.

248 : 61 (1912). Type as for Mimosa nutans.

Acacia spinosa E. Mey., Comm. 170 (1836). Type:

Natal, Durban [Port Natal], Drege (P, iso.!). “A.

cinerea Spr.?” sensu Krauss in Flora 27 : 359 (1844)

quoad specim. Krauss 326. A. engleri Schinz in

M6m. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 107 (1900). Type: SouthWest

Africa, between Ondonga and Uukuambi, Rautanen

211 (Z, lecto!).

Dichrostachys nutans (Pers.) Benth. in Hook., J.

Bot. 4 : 353 (1841); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 278 (1862);

Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 333 (1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 382 (1875); Harms in Warb., Kunene-

Samb. Exped. 244 (1903); Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 53,

t. 38A (1909); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,

1 : 397, fig. 228 (1915). Type as for Mimosa nutans.

D. caffra Meisn. ex Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 354

(1841); Krauss in Flora 27 : 359 (1844), nomen

nudum. D. lugardiae N.E. Br. in Kew Bull. 1909 : 106

(1909) (“lugardae”). Syntypes: Botswana, Ngamiland,

Kwebe, Lugard 42 (K!); Mrs. Lugard 78 (K!). D.

arborea N.E. Br. I.c. : 106 (1909); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 350 (1932); O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot.

18 : 31 (1952). Type: Botswana, Totin, near Lake

Ngami, Lugard 27 (K, holo.!). D. cinerea subsp.

africana var. lugardiae Brenan & Brummitt in Bol.

Soc. Brot., Sdr. 2, 39 : 91 (1965); in F.Z. 3, 1 : 44, t.

10 fig. G (1970). Types as for D. lugardiae. D. cinerea

subsp. africana sensu Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 15

(1967) pro parte.

Glands on leaf-rhachis stipitate or

columnar, 0,5-2 mm tall, present at the

junction of each pinna pair or absent from

some (very rarely the gland between the

the lowest pair stipitate and glands between

the remaining pinnae ± sessile); surfaces

of leaflets (apart from ciliate margin)

glabrous or sometimes with few hairs on the

lower surface only; leaflets 0,6-1,75(2) mm

wide.

Var. africana occurs more or less throughout the

range of the subspecies. Occupies a diverse range of

habitats including woodland, forest margins, dry

thornveld, bushveld, grassland and scrub. Often

forming dense thickets in disturbed areas.

S.W.A. — 1715 (Ondangua): bordering Angola near

Oshikango, Rodin 2670. 1724 (Katima Mulilo): 62,4

km from Katima Mulilo on road to Linyanti, Killick &

Leistner 3126. 1917 (Tsumeb): Tsumeb ( — BA),

Dinter 7519; Otavi (— CB), Dinter 5330. 2216 (Otjim-

bingwe): Kuiseb, Fleck 439a (Z). 2217 (Windhoek):

Windhoek, Moss 17968 (BM). 2218 (Gobabis):

Gobabis, Liebenberg 4650. Grid ref. unknown:

Tsoachaub, Fleck 488a (Z); between Ondonga and

Uukuambi, Rautanen 211 (Z); between Outjo and

Etosha, IVerdermann & Oberdieck 2315; farm

Kumkauas, Grootfontein district, Kinges 3022.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort): Dongola

area, farm De Klundert 759, Codd 4855. 2230

(Messina): Makonde, Van Warmelo 5115/5. 2327

(Ellisras): between Ellisras and Villa Nora, Acocks

8816. 2329 (Pietersburg) : 28 , 8 km E. of Pietersburg on

road to Tzaneen, Van Vuuren 1585. 2330 (Tzaneen):

Duiwelskloof, Galpin 9651. 2428 (Nylstroom):

Warmbaths, Irvine 114. 2429 (Zebediela): Potgieters-

rust, Thode A 1693. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Strydom

Tunnel, Strey 7894. 2431 (Acomhoek): Klaserie,

Strey 7937. 2527 (Rustenburg): Rustenburg, Rogers

22359. 2528 (Pretoria): Wonderboom, Thode A417

(NH). 2530 (Lydenburg): 9,6 km from Nelspruit on

Barberton road. Wells 2010. 2531 (Komatipoort):

Kruger National Park, 1 ,6 km N. of Pretorius Kop,

Codd 5192. 2731 (Louwsburg): 1,6 km N. of Pongola

River on road to Gollel, Ross 1705.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): Malinda Hills,

Compton 27331. 2731 (Louwsburg): Nsoko to

Maloma, Pole Evans 3406 (15).

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Ross 2431. 2731 (Louwsburg): 6,4 km from

Mkuze on Nongoma road, Ross 1638. 2732

(Ubombo): between Jozini and Ingwavuma, foothills

of Lebombo Mts., Moll 4007. 2828 (Bethlehem):

Royal Natal National Park, Ross 1606 (NH, NU).

2830 (Dundee): 1,6 km from Muden on Weenen

road, Ross 641 (NH, NU). 2831 (Nkandla): Umfoiozi

Game Reserve, Mpila, Kluge 22 (NH). 2832 (Mtuba-

tuba): Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ward 1592. 2930

(Pietermaritzburg): Bisley, near Pietermaritzburg,

Ross 2097. 2931 (Stanger): Lower Tugela valley,

Essiena farm No. 2, Edwards 3032. 3030 (Port

Shepstone): Gundrift, Strey 8616.

Subsp. africana var. africana grades into subsp.

nyassana in our area and, as discussed under the

latter, ditficulty is sometimes experienced in deciding

whether a specimen should be assigned to subsp.

africana var. africana or to subsp. nyassana.

Subsp. africana var. africana, on the other hand,

also grades into subsp. africana var. lugardiae (N.E.

Br.) Brenan & Brummitt and into subsp. argillicola

Brenan & Brummitt var. hirtipes Brenan & Brummitt

in our area. There is continuous variation in leaflet

width and other morphological characters between

var. africana and var. lugardiae and depauperate

specimens of var. africana tend to be confused with

robust specimens of var. lugardiae. In view of this ±

continuous variation, it is felt that little is to be

gained by continuing to recognise both var. africana

and var. lugardiae. Consequently var. lugardiae has

been relegated to synonymy under var. africana.

In F.Z. 3, 1 : 38 (1970) subsp. argillicola var.

hirtipes was distinguished from subsp. africana by

having fewer pinnae pairs and narrower pods. In our

area, however, specimens with few pinnae pairs

which key out to subsp. argillicola var. hirtipes often

have pods up to 1 , 1 cm wide so that pod width fails to

provide a discontinuity between the two taxa.

Although the pods on some specimens of subsp.

128

Mimosoideae

argUlicola var. hirtipes are loosely coiled, on others

the pods are strongly coiled and no distinction can be

drawn between them and specimens of subsp. africana

var. africana on the degree of coiling of the pods. The

number of pinnae pairs likewise provide no discon-

tinuity between the two taxa. As there do not appear to

be any well-defined morphological, geographical or

ecological discontinuities between var. africana and the

specimens which key out to subsp. argUlicola var.

hirtipes in our area, the latter are also included in

subsp. africana var. africana.

Two specimens collected near Ndumu in northern

Tongaland on the border of Mozambique, namely.

Stray & Moll 4014, 4020, fall within the limits of

subsp. africana var. plurijuga Brenan & Brummitt.

Although having slightly narrower leaflets than

usual for var. africana, for the present these specimens

are also included in var. africana.

Subsp. forbesii (Benth.) Brenan & Brummitt,

with subglabrous to sparsely or densely puberulous

peduncles and glabrous to sparsely appressed-

puberulous young branchlets, was recorded from

Natal by Brenan & Brummitt in Bol. Soc. Brot., S6r.

2,39 : 102 (1965) and in F.Z., l.c. : 40. The taxonomic

significance of a ± glabrous peduncle in our area is

difficult to assess. There is a suggestion that the

peduncles of flowering specimens on some plants are

pubescent, while peduncles on fruiting specimens

from the same plant are glabrescent or glabrous. It is

unknown whether plants with glabrous peduncles

have distinct ecological preferences, or whether they

are merely variants within populations of plants with

predominantly pubescent peduncles. As little is

known about subsp. forbesii at present, the specimens

in our area with ± glabrous peduncles are, for the most

part, included in var. africana.

Until the taxonomic significance of the differen-

tial characters employed to distinguish some of the

taxa has been investigated in the field, the broad

view of var. africana adopted here is preferred.

(ii) var. pabescens Brenan & Brummitt

in Bol. Soc. Brot., Ser 2,39 : 86 (1965), in

F.Z. 3,1 : 44, t. 10 fig. D (1970). Type:

Mozambique, Gaza, Guijd, Aldeia da Barra-

gem, Barbasa & Lemos 8149 (K, holo.!;

COI; LISC; LMJ).

Glands on leaf-rhachis stipitate or

columnar, 0,5-2 mm tall, present at the

junction of the basal pinna pair and up to

5 of the distal pairs of pinnae; both surfaces

of leaflets densely pubescent.

Found in Rhodesia, Mozambique, the Transvaal

and Swaziland.

TRANSVAAL. — 2328 (Baltimore): Villa Nora,

Acocks 8815; farm Kaalhoek, 192 km N. of Pot-

gietersrust, Kinges 1335. 2531 (Komatipoort): Kaap-

muiden, Rogers 25047.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Ranches Irri-

gation Settlement, Compton 24669.

Apparently infrequent and irregular in its

occurrence in our area.

(iii) var. setulosa (fVe/w. ex Oliv.)

Brenan & Brummitt in Bol. Soc. Brot., S6r.

2,39 : 93 (1965); in F.Z. 3,1 : 45, t. 10 fig.

E (1970). Type: Angola, near Lopolo,

Welwitsch 18(X) (BM, iso.!).

Dichrostachys nutans var. setulosa Welw. ex Oliv. in

F.T.A. 2 : 333 (1871); Hiem, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw.

1 : 308 (1896). D. glomerata sensu FI. PI. Afr. 23 : t.

894 (1943), non (Forsk.) Chiov. sensu stricto. D,

cinerea subsp. africana sensu Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

58 : 15 (1967) pro parte.

Acacia kalachariensis Schinz in M6m. Herb. Boiss.

1 : 114 (1900). Type: Kalahari, without precise

locality. Fleck 408a (Z, holo. !).

Glands on leaf-rhachis sessile or very

shortly (to 0,3 mm) stipitate, present at the

junction of all pairs of pinnae; leaflets

0,5-0, 8 mm wide, usually strongly and

densely ciliate, hairs sometimes also present

on the lower surface only.

Found in Tanzania, Angola, South West

Africa, Botswana, Rhodesia, the Transvaal and

northern Cape Province. Appears to favour sandy

soils.

S.W.A.— 1718 (Kuring-Kuru): 14,8 km S.W. of

Nzinzi down Omuramba Mpungu, De Winter 4003.

1719 (Runtu): Runtu, De Winter 3725; 17,6 km W.

of Sambusu Mission Station, De Winter & Marais

4971. 1721 (Mbambi): Mbambi, 56 km W. of Andara,

Le Roux 1067. 1813 (Ohopoho): 19,2 km S. of

Ohopoho, De Winter & Leistner 5810. 1917(Tsumeb):

17,5 km S W. of Otavi on road to Otjiwarongo, De

Winter 2846. 1920 (Tsumkwe): Tsumkwe, Story 6443;

Samangeigei [Tsammagaigai], Maguire 2091. Grid

ref. unknown : 32 km S. of Osiri, Liebenberg 4684.

TRANSVAAL. — 2429 (Zebediela) : Potgieters-

rust, Hutchinson 1936; Leendertz 5968. 2528

(Pretoria): Pienaars River, on road N.E. from

Hammanskraal ( — AD), Story 1488; Meintjies Kop,

grounds of Botanical Research Institute ( — CA),

Verdoorn sub PRE 27070; Arcadia ( — CA), C. A.

Smith 1651.

CAPE. — 2525 (Mafeking): 16 km S.E. of Pitsani,

Leistner 559. 2624 (Vryburg): Palmyra ( — AC),

Breuckner 1142; “Moshesh”, near Mosito ( — BB),

Breuckner 259. 2723 (Kuruman): 33,6 km N.W. of

Kuruman, Leistner 1062. Grid ref. unknown: Arma-

dillo Creek, Vryburg District, Burn Davy 13846.

The ± sessile glands on the leaf-rhachis at the

junction of each pinna pair appear to be a fairly

reliable diagnostic character. Var. setulosa, which has

a similar facies to var. lugardiae (now included in var.

africana), differs from the latter almost solely on the

type of glands on the leaf-rhachis. In general little

difficulty has been experienced in referring specimens

to this taxon except in the central Transvaal where var.

setulosa almost grades into var. africana. These

problematical specimens have a stalked gland at the

junction of the lowest pinna pair and ± sessile

glands at the junction of all of the other pinnae pairs.

Mimosoideae

129

FIG. 16. — DIchrostachys cinerea subsp. africana. 1, flowering branch, x 2, inflorescence, x 2; 3, fertile

flower, X 12; 4, calyx, x 12; 5, corolla, x 12; 6, ovary, x 12; 7, neuter flower, x 12; 8, calyx of neuter

flower, X 12; 9, corolla of neuter flower, x 12; 10, rudimentary ovary of neuter flower, x 12; 11, neuter

flower showing intermediate stage in reduction of stamens, x 12; all from Drummond & Hemsley 1178;

12, cluster of pods, x i; 13, seed, x 3, both from Burtt 1762. Reproduced by permission of the Editor of

Flora of Tropical East Africa.

130

Mimosoideae

3453

8. XEROCXADIA

Xerocladia Harv. in F.C. 2 : 278 (1862); Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. PI. 1 : 591 (1865); Harv., Gen.

PI. ed.2 : 92 (1868); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 381 (1875); Taub. in Pflanzenfam.

3, 3 : 118 (1892); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 392 (1915); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 806 (1930); Phill., Gen. 392 (1951); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 292(1964);SchreiberinF.S.W.A.

58 : 19 (1967). Type species: X. viridiramis (Burch.) Taub.

Small rigid much-branched shrubs. Stipules spinescent, in pairs, short and recurved.

Leaves bipinnate, small, with 1 pinna pair; pinnae each with 6^12 pairs of linear-oblong

leaflets. Inflorescence capitate, solitary in the axils of the leaves. Flowers in globose heads,

hermaphrodite, 5-merous. Calyx divided almost to the base. Petals free, except basally.

Stamens 10, filaments linear, free, the 5 opposite the petals short, the 5 alternating with the

petals longer but scarcely exceeding the petals; anthers small, with a minute deciduous gland

apically. Ovary shortly stipitate. Pods sessile, broadly falcate-ovate or semi-orbicular, piano-

compressed, the lower suture arched and winged, 1-seeded, indehiscent. Seeds compressed,

subcircular-elliptic, smooth.

An endemic monotypic genus recorded from Namaqualand and South West Africa.

The name Xerocladia is derived from the Greek words xeros and kladion, meaning dry and branch respec-

tively.

Xerocladia viridiramis {Burch.) Taub. in

Bot. Centr. 47 : 395 (1891); Dinter in

Deutsch-Sudwest-Afrika 78 (1909); Bak.f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 806 (1930); Schreiber in

F.S.W.A. 58 : 19 (1967). Type: Cape,

Carnarvon Distr., Karel Krieger’s Grave,

Burchell 1586 (K, holo.!).

Acacia viridiramis Burch., Trav. 1 : 300 (1822);

DC., Prodr. 2 : 457 (1825); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 284

(1862). Type as above.

Xerocladia zeyheri Harv. in F.C. 2 : 278 (1862);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 381 (1875).

Type: Cape, Calvinia Distr., Springbokkeel, Burke &

Zeyher 558 (K, holo.!; Pi; PREl; TCDl).

Small rigid much-branched shrub up to

1 m high; branches often somewhat zigzag,

pale green to olive, terete, cano-puberulous

and substriate. Stipules spinescent, in pairs,

recurved, reddish-brown, up to 3 , 5 mm long.

Leaves bipinnate, small: petiole up to 3 mm

long, cano-puberulous, with a stalked

reddish-brown gland up to 1 mm high just

below the point of attachment of the pinnae ;

rhachillae up to 1,5 cm long, glabrous to

cano-puberulous ; 1 pinna pair per leaf ;

leaflets in 6-12 subopposite pairs, up to

3(4) X 1(1,3) mm, oblong or linear-oblong,

obtuse or acute apically, sparingly to densely

pubescent on the margins only or sometimes

on the lower surface also, seldom glabrous

throughout, usually with a small reddish-

brown gland at the base of each leaflet.

Inflorescences capitate, pedunculate, solitary

in the axils of the leaves. Flowers herma-

phrodite, 5-merous, sessile, in heads up to

7 mm in diameter; peduncles up to 8 mm

long, cano-puberulous. Calyx divided almost

to the base, segments 1-2 mm long, up to

1,2 mm wide, densely viUous externally.

Petals free except basally, up to 2,5(3) mm

long, ib 1 mm wide, linear-lanceolate to

-oblong, glabrous. Stamens 10, filaments

linear, free, the 5 opposite the petals short,

the 5 alternating with the petals longer but

scarcely exceeding the petals; anthers up to

0,8 mm long, with a minute deciduous apical

gland. Ovary up to 2 mm long, 1 ,6 mm wide,

shortly stipitate, densely villous; style

glabrous; stigma truncate. Pods sessile,

often clustered, chestnut- to reddish- or

purplish-brown, up to 1,5 cm long and

1.5 cm broad, broadly falcate-ovate to

semi-orbicular, compressed, the lower suture

arched and winged, 1-seeded, indehiscent.

Seeds chestnut-brown, compressed, up to

6.5 X 5 mm, subcircular-elliptic, smooth.

Found in South West Africa and Namaqualand.

Occurs in sandy river beds, on river banks, alluvium

2416 (Maltahohe): Namseb (— DD),

Pearson 9345 (K); Christiana farm ( — DD), Steyn

sub PRE 26458. 2417 (Mariental): farm Grab,

Kinges 3428. 2517 (Gibeon): 4,8 km S. of Asab

( — DB), Hardy 1946 \ farm Gavetamas ( — DB), Giess,

Volk & Bleissner 6854. 2618 (Keetmanshoop) : 54,4

km E. of Keetmanshoop on road to Aroab, De

Winter 3357. 2619 (Aroab): farm Gross Aub, Giess

8364.

CAPE. — 3019 (Loeriesfontein) : Springbokkeel,

Burke & Zeyher 558. 3021 (Vanwyksvlei): Vanwyks-

vlei, Acocks 1749. 3022 (Carnarvon); Kleinfontein

( — BC), Mar loth 5069 \ Karel Krieger’s Grave ( — CA),

Burchell 1586 (K). 3023 (Britstown): near Rosedale,

Reyneke sub PRE 31901. Grid ref. unknown: Bush-

manland, Marloth 8072.

X. viridiramis is a most distinctive and easily

recognized plant.

Mimosoideae

131

FIG. 17. — Xerocladia viridiramis. 1, flowering and fruiting branch, x 2, flower, with one anther removed,

X 12; 3, ovary, x 12; 4, fruit, x 2, all from Acocks 1749.

132

Mimosoideae

3458

9. AMBLYGONOCARPUS

Amblygonocarpus Harms in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., Nachtrag 1 : 191 (1897);

Harms in Bot. Jahrb. 26 : 255 (1899); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 396 (1915);

Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 803 (1930); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 217 (1952); Keay in

F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 492 (1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 32 (1959); Hutch., Gen.

FI. PI. 1 : 290 (1964); Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z. 3, 1 : 35 (1970). Type species: A. andongensis

(Welw. ex Oliv.) Exell & Torre (A. schweinfurthii Harms).

Unarmed tree, glabrous. Leaves bipinnate, eglandular; pinnae 2-6 pairs; pinnae each with

several pairs of alternate or sometimes subopposite leaflets. Inflorescences of solitary or paired

axillary racemes. Flowers hermaphrodite, pedicellate. Calyx gamosepalous, very small, with 5

(rarely 6) teeth. Petals 5 (rarely 6), free. Stamens 10 (rarely 12), free, fertile; anthers eglandular

apically even in bud. Pods straight or nearly so, oblong, woody, indehiscent, bluntly tetragonal

or subterete in section, internally septate between the seeds. Seeds brown, smooth, hard,

unwinged.

A monotypic genus occurring in tropical Africa.

Closely related to Tetrapleura Benth. but differs from this genus in having eglandular anthers and pods

which are bluntly tetragonal or subterete in section, while the pods of Tetrapleura are cruciform in section

owing to the presence of a thick wing-like projection running longitudinally along each of the valves. Immature

pods of Amblygonocarpus may have four rather prominent ribs, simulating the shape in section of those of the

genus Tetrapleura.

The generic name Amblygonocarpus is a Greek compound meaning “blunt-angled fruit”; in allusion to the

pods of A. andongensis.

Amblygonocarpus andongensis {Welw. ex

Oliv.) Exell & Torre in Bol. Soc, Brot.,

Sir. 2,29 : 42 (1955); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 264

(1956); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 492

(1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. :

34, fig. 9 (1959); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod.

90 (1962); Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z.

3,1 : 35, t. 8 (1970); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 823 (1973). Type: Angola,

Cuanza Norte, Pungo Andongo, Welwitsch

618 (LISU, ? holo.; BM!; K!; P!).

Tetrapleura andongensis Welw. ex Oliv. in F.T.A.

2 : 331 (1871); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 803 (1930).

Type as above. T. obtusangula Welw. ex Oliv. in

F.T.A. 2 : 331 (1871). Type: Angola, Cuanza Norte,

Golungo Alto, Welwitsch 1751 (BM, drawing!).

Amblygonocarpus schweinfurthii Harms in Bot.

Jahrb. 26 : 255 (1899); Harms in Engl. Pflanzenw.

Afr. 3, 1 : 396, t.277 (1915); Eyles in Trans. Roy. Soc.

S. Afr. 5 : 363 (1916); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 804

(1930). Syntypes: Sudan, Seriba Siber Ruchama,

Schweinfurth ser. 11, 92 (Bf; BMI; Ki); Seriba Agad,

Schweinfurth 1692 (B f; BMI; Ki); Angola, Malange,

Marques 23 (Bf). A. obtusangulus (Welw. ex Oliv.)

Harms in Bot. Jahrb. 26 : 256 (1899); Bak. f.. Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 804 (1930); Brenan, Checklist Tang.

Terr. 343 (1949); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 217

(1952); O. B. Miller in J.S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 28 (1952);

Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Mogamb. Estudo Geral.

1 : 226, t. 31 (1966). Type as for Tetrapleura obtusan-

gula.

Unarmed tree up to 15m high, glabrous

throughout; bark greyish-brown to black,

fissured, reticulate or scaly. Leaves bipin-

nate, eglandular: petiole 4-7,5 cm long;

rhachis 2-15 cm long; pinnae 2-5 opposite or

subopposite pairs; rhachillae 6,5-15 cm

long; leaflets 5-9 on each side of the rhachilla,

alternate or sometimes subopposite, 1,2-

2,5 X 0,7- 1,5 cm, elliptic to obovate-

elliptic, usually emarginate apically, on

petiolules 1,5-3 mm long. Racemes (3)6-12

cm long, on peduncles 1-3 cm long, axillary.

Flowers yellowish-white, on pedicels 1,5-3, 5

mm long. Calyx cupular, very small, 0,5-1

mm long, usually 5-toothed. Petals free,

3-4 X 0,8-1 mm. Stamens usually 10,

filaments 5-6 mm long; anthers eglandular.

Ovary up to 2,5 mm long, very shortly

stipitate. Pods 8-17 x 1,8-3 cm, straight

or nearly so, bluntly tetragonal or subterete

in section, brown, glossy, woody, indehis-

cent, rounded or pointed apically. Seeds

elliptic, 10-13 x 7-8 X 4-5 mm.

Widely distributed in the savanna regions of

tropical Africa from Ghana to the Sudan, and south-

wards to the Caprivi Strip, Botswana, Rhodesia and

Mozambique. Occurs in deciduous woodland.

S.W.A. — 1724 (Katima Mulilo): Katima Mulilo,

West 3252. Grid ref. uncertain: Caprivi Strip, E. of

Cuando River, Curson 974.

More material of this species from our area is

required.

Mimosoideae

133

FIG. 18. — Amblygonocarpus andongensis. 1, leaf, x Eggeliiig 6409 ; 2, part of flowering branch, x 1; 3,

flower, X 4; 4, petal, x 6; 5, stamen, x 6; 6, ovary, x 6, all from Eggeling 3421 ; 7, pod, x 8, cross-

section of pod, X 9, seed, x 2, all from Dalziel 26. Reproduced by permission of the Editor of Flora of

ropical East Africa.

134

Mimosoideae

3460

10. NEWTONIA

Newtonia Baill. in Bull. Soc. Linn. Par. 1 : 721 (1888); Brenan in Kew Bull. 10 : 180 (1955);

in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 23 (1959); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 286 (1964); Brenan &.

Brummitt in F.Z. 3, 1 : 28 (1970). Type species: N. duparquetiana (Baill.) Keay {N. insignis

Baill.).

Unarmed trees. Leaves bipinnate; rhachis usually with a gland between each pair of

opposite pinnae; pinnae each with one to many pairs of leaflets. Flowers sessile or nearly so, in

spikes or spiciform racemes, hermaphrodite, 5-merous. Calyx gamosepalous, pubescent or

puberulous outside, sometimes on the margins only. Petals free, separated from the gynophore

base by a short perigynous zone, pubescent or puberulous outside, sometimes on the margins

only. Stamens 10, fertile; anthers with or without an apical gland. Ovary densely pilose

outside. Pods straight or somewhat curved, flattened, at maturity dehiscing along one of the

margins, the valves remaining attached along the other, splitting neither transversely nor into

layers. Seeds flattened, oblong, surrounded by a membranous wing, much elongated lengthwise

in the direction of the pod; cotyledons elongate in the same direction as the radicle; funicle

slender, attached at or near one end of the seed.

A genus of 14 or more species, 11 of them over much of tropical Africa, the rest in tropical S. America.

One species found in southern Africa.

The genus was named in honour of Sir Isaac Newton.

Newtonia hildebrandtii (Vatke) Torre

in Mendonca, Contr. Conhec. FI. Mocamb.

2 : 89 (1954); Brenan in Kew Bull. 10 : 181

(1955); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 25

(1959); Dale & Greenway, Kenya Trees &

Shrubs 305 (1961); F. White, For. FI. N.

Rhod. 433 (1962); Brenan. & Brummitt in

F.Z. 3,1 : 30 (1970); Van Wyk, Trees

Kruger Nat. Park 1 ; 176 (1972); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 819 (1973). Type:

Kenya, Teita District, Ndi, Hildebrandt 2492

(B, holo. t; BM!; K!).

Piptadenia hildebrandtii Vatke in Oest. Bot. Zeitschr.

30 : 273 (1880); Eyles in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr.

5 : 364 (1916); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 793 (1930);

Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 346 (1949). Type as

above.

var. hildebrandtii.

Brenan in Kew Bull. 10 : 181 (1955);

in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 25 (1959);

Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z. 3,1 : 30 (1970);

Ross, FI. Natal 194 (1973).

Piptadenia sp. sensu Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 237

(1934).

Tree up to 18m high with a large, often

rounded, crown; bark dark brown to greyish,

rough or sometimes smooth; branchlets

puberulous to shortly pubescent when young.

Leaves puberulous to shortly pubescent:

petiole 0,5-1, 3 cm long; rhachis 2-4,5 cm

long, with a sessile usually cylindrical gland

between each pinna pair; pinnae (2)-^5(7)

pairs; rhachillae 1,8^, 5 cm long; leaflets

(8)10-19(22) pairs, 4-9,5 x 1-2 mm, ±

linear-oblong or oblong, glabrous apart from

the marginal cilia or sometimes sparingly

pubescent on the lower surface, sometimes

glabrous throughout. Inflorescences spicate;

spikes 3-10 cm long; inflorescence axes

puberulous with small i appressed hairs or

hairs short and spreading. Flowers pale

yellowish-white, subsessile. Calyx cupular,

up to 1,2 mm long, 5-toothed, puberulous.

Petals 5, free, up to 3,2 x 0,9 mm, glabrous

or sometimes sparingly pubescent apically.

Stamens 10, free ,up to 5 mm long; anthers

without an apical gland. Ovary up to 1,8 mm

long, stipitate, densely pilose. Pods bright

red when young, becoming brown with age,

8-20 X 1 , 3-2 cm, straight or somewhat

curved, linear-oblong, flattened, dehiscing

along one of the margins, the valves re-

maining attached along the other. Seeds

flattened, oblong, surrounded by a mem-

branous wing, 2,8-4 x 1,2-2 cm.

Found in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Rhodesia,

Mozambique and Natal (Tongaland). Occurs on

sandy soils.

NATAL.— 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Moll 1754; Ndumu Game Reserve, southern

shore of Nyamiti Pan, Ross 2433. 2732 (Ubombo):

1,6 km E. of Makanes Pont ( — AB), Ross 1967; 2,4

km E. of Makanes Pont ( — AB), Edwards 2986;

Mkuzi Game Reserve ( — CB), Ward 4559; False Bay

Park (—CD), Strey 7344.

Var. hildebrandtii occurs on the sandy soils of the

Tongaland plain at altitudes below 130 m. One of the

dominant species in the dry sand forest, more in-

frequently growing near water, for example, on the

southern shore of the Nyamiti Pan in the Ndumu

Game Reserve. The Tonga name for this species is

umFomothi.

Var. pubescens Brenan, which is recorded from

Tanzania, Rhodesia and Mozambique, differs from

var. hildebrandtii in having the leaflets ± densely

pubescent or puberulous on both surfaces.

M IMOSOIDEAE

135

FIG. 19.— Newtonia hildebrandtii. 1, flowering branch, x Ross 1967; 2, flower, x 6; 3, corolla, opened out,

X 6; 4, gynoecium, x 12, all from Ward 2094; 5, pod, x 6, dehisced pod showing the valves still

attach^ along one margin, x 7, seed, x 1, all from Moll 1754.

Mimosoideae

136

3462 ll.XYLIA

Xylia Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 417 (1842); Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. PI. 1 : 594 (1865);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 373 (1875); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 121 0892);

Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 404 (1915); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 ; 809 (1930);

Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 210 (1952); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 495 (1958); Brenan

in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 29 (1959); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 291 (1964); Brenan & Brum-

mitt in F.Z. 3, 1 : 33 (1970). Type species: X. xylocarpa (Roxb.) Taub. {X. dolabriformis

Benth.).

Unarmed trees. Leaves bipinnate; petiole bearing a gland at its apex at the junction of the

solitary pair of pinnae; pinnae each with few to many pairs of leaflets. Inflorescences capitate,

pedunculate, axillary or supra-axillary, solitary or paired or sometimes in threes, sometimes ±

racemosely aggregated on short shoots. Flowers in round heads, male or hermaphrodite,

5-merous, sessile or pedicellate. Calyx gamosepalous, with 5-lobes. Corolla with 5 lobes ±

united below, ± pubescent or puberulous outside. Stamens 10, fertile; anthers each with a

caducous apical gland (rarely and only in extra-African species absent). Ovary pubescent.

Pods usually obliquely obovate to oblanceolate or dolabriform, woody, compressed, dehiscing

from the apex downwards into 2 recurving valves. Seeds lying transversely or obliquely in the

pod, each sunk in a depression in the valve, usually brown, smooth, compressed, exendo-

spermous.

A genus of ± 13 spwies in the tropics of the Old World, mostly in Africa and in Madagascar. One species

occurs in southern Africa.

The generic name Xylia is derived from the Greek word for wood; in allusion to the hard wood or perhaps

to the woody pods of the species of this genus.

Xylia torreana Brenan in Kew Bull. 12 :

359 (1958); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees

S.Afr. 2 : 313 (1965); Gomes e Sousa,

Dendrol. Mocamb. 1 : 228, t.33 (1966);

Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z. 3,1 ; 35, t.7

(1970); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park

1 : 178 (1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees

S.Afr. 2 : 823 (1973). Type: Mozambique,

Maringua’s village, 10 km N. of River Save,

Chase 2244 (K, holo.!; BM!; LISC; SRGH).

Xylia africana sensu Torre in Mendonga, Contr.

Conhec. FI. Mogamb. 2 : 93 (1954).

Tree up to 15 m high, with rough dark

brown to grey bark; branchlets, petioles,

leaf-rhachillae and peduncles sparingly to

densely brown-pubescent or tomentellous.

Leaves: petiole 2-7 cm long, with a gland

just below the junction of the solitary pair of

pinnae; rhachillae 5-16 cm long, often with a

gland just below the junction of some of the

pairs of leaflets; leaflets 4-6 pairs, (3, 5)4-7, 5

(12) X 2— 4,2(6) cm, narrowly ovate of

rarely narrowly elliptic, rounded or slightly

cordate basally, tomentose on both surfaces

when young, the upper becoming glabrous,

the lower remaining ± densely pubescent at

maturity, especially on the midrib and veins.

Stipules linear, up to 1 cm long, deciduous.

Flowers yellow, in heads up to 1,8 cm in

diameter, on axillary peduncles 2-3,5 cm

long; pedicels up to 1,5 mm long, densely

appressed-pubescent with the hairs longer

and denser than on the calyx; interfloral

bracts spathulate, 2-3 mm long. Calyx

tubular-campanulate, up to 4,5 mm long,

lobes up to 1,5 mm long, appressed-pubes-

cent. Corolla up to 6 mm long, lobes up to

2,25 X 0,75 mm, appressed-pubescent.

Stamens 10, filaments free, up to 1 cm long;

anthers up to 0,6 mm long, each with a

caducous apical gland. Ovary up to 3 mm

long, 1 , 5 mm wide, pubescent ; style glabrous,

up to 8 mm long; stigma terminal. Pods

obliquely obovate to oblanceolate, 9-12 x

3,2-5 cm, woody, compressed, brown-

tomentellous at least in part, dehiscing from

the apex downwards, the 2 valves recurving.

Seeds lying transversely or obliquely in the

pod, each sunk in a depression in the valve,

compressed, brown, ± 1,2 x 0,9 cm,

smooth; areole ±6x4 mm.

Found in Rhodesia, Malawi, Mozambique and

the north-eastern Transvaal. Occurs in deciduous

woodland and, in our area, in sand veld.

TRANSVAAL. — 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National

Park, Nwambiya, Van der Schijff & Marais 3678;

Van der Schijff 5689; S.E. of Klopperfontein on

Portuguese border. Van der Schijff 2907.

As no flowering specimens of X. torreana have

been collected in our area, the description of the

flowers has been drawn up from material collected

outside of our area. More material of X. torreana,

particularly flowering material, is required from our

area.

Mimosoideae

137

FIG. 20. — Xylia torreana. 1, sterile branch, x Torre 2721; 2, flowering branch, x 3, bract, x 8; 4,

flower, X 4; 5, corolla, x 4; 6, anther, x 14; 7, ovary, x 4; 8, pod, x f, all from Dawe 463. Reproduced

by permission of the Editorial Board of Flora Zambesiaca.

138

Mimosoideae

3467 12. ELEPHANTORRfflZA

Elephantorrhiza Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 344 (1841); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 277 (1862); Benth. &

Hook.f., Gen. PI. 1 : 590 (1865); Harv., Gen. PI., ed. 2 : 91 (1868); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 30 : 365 (1875); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 122 (1892); Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 209

(1907); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 398 (1915); Phillips in Bothalia 1 : 187 (1923);

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 ; 800 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 331 (1932); Phill., Gen. 392

(1951); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 263 (1956); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 19 (1959);

Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 288 (1964); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 ; 16 (1967); Brenan & Brummitt

in F.Z. 3, 1 : 23 (1970); Ross in Bothalia 11 ; 247 (1974). Type species: E. elephantina (Burch.)

Skeels {E. burchellii Benth.).

Prosopis sensu E. Mey., Comm. 1 : 165 (1836); Eckl. & Zeyh., Enum. 259 (1836), non Prosopis L., Mant.

1 : 10 (1767).

Unarmed small trees, shrubs or suffrutices, often with a greatly enlarged underground

rootstock or a number of rootstocks. Leaves bipinnate; petioles eglandular; pinnae 3-42

pairs; pinnae each with many pairs of leaflets. Inflorescences of spiciform racemes which are

axillary, solitary or fascicled, often ± aggregated. Flowers normally hermaphrodite, 5-merous,

usually pale yellowish-white, on pedicels 1-2 mm long. Calyx gamosepalous, small, 1-2,5

mm long, 5-toothed. Petals 5, free or shortly united basally. Stamens 10, fertile; filaments

4-7,5 mm long, free among themselves, slightly adnate to the corolla basally; anthers with

a usually rapidly deciduous apical gland. Ovary usually sessile, glabrous; style filiform; stigma

terminal. Pods straight or somewhat curved, not spirally twisted, often large and up to 45 cm

long, somewhat compressed, without transverse septa within; at maturity the valves separating

from the persistent margins, but not splitting transversely into segments; the outer layer

(exocarp) of the pod-wall often peeling off the inner layer (endocarp), the layers remaining

intact or breaking up irregularly. Seeds often ± compressed.

A genus of 9 species restricted to Africa south of the equator.

The generic name Elephantorrhiza is a Greek compound meaning “elephant root”; in allusion to the large

roots of E. elephantina.

The underground root systems of each species need to be investigated as they may provide useful additional

means of distinguishing some of the species. For example, there is a suggestion that E. obliqua and E. elephantina

have different root systems, but field observations are necessary to substantiate this.

In keying out sp^ies of Elephantorrhiza, emphasis is usually laid on the habit of the plants, that is, whether

the plants are suffrutices with unbranched aerial stems or whether they are shrubs or small trees with branched

aerial stems. This is the character employed in.the first dichotomy of the key and, as far as it is known, it is a

fairly reliable character. However, E. elephantina, which typically has unbranched aerial stems, may prove an

exception when the growing apex has been damaged because then the stems sometimes develop lateral branches.

Suffrutex with unbranched (unless damaged) annual aerial stems up to 0,75(1) m high:

Pinnae (1)2-6 pairs per leaf; leaflets 4-1 3(21) pairs per pinna, 2-6,5 mm wide, ovate to ovate-oblong, very

oblique basally, midrib starting in the distal corner of the leaflet-base and gradually becoming ±

central in the leaflet, lateral nerves and veins usually prominent; confined to the Transvaal. . 1. £. obliqua

Pinnae (2)8-17 pairs per leaf; leaflets (7)12-45(55) pairs per pinna, 0, 5-2(2, 5) mm wide, linear to linear-

oblong, rarely narrowly oblanceolate, asymmetric basally; widespread 2. E. elephantina

Shrub or small tree with woody branched aerial stems up to 7 m high, very rarely a suffrutex with branched

procumbent stems:

Leaflets with the midrib marginal throughout, in (17)27-40(50) pairs per pinna, 3-7,5 x 0,5-1, 2 ram

9. E. suffruticosa

Leaflets with the midrib central or nearly so, at least towards the apex:

Suffrutex; branched aerial stems procumbent, longitudinally striate, glabrous to densely puberulous;

leaves with (2)5-10 pinnae pairs 3. £. woodii

Shrub or small tree; branched aerial stems erect, glabrous:

Leaflets only slightly asymmetric basally, with the proximal side cuneate to slightly rounded,

1.5-3, 5(4, 5) mm wide; leaves with (l)4-8(9) pairs of pinnae 4. E. burkei

Mimosoideae

139

Leaflets ± strongly asymmetric basally, with the proximal side broadly rounded-truncate to almost

auriculate and the distal side cuneate; leaves with 2-41 pairs of pinnae:

Leaves with (9)12-30(41) pinnae pairs; leaflets 0,7-2, 5 mm wide, usually on very short petiolules;

pods 1 ,3-2,2 cm wide, very narrow in proportion to their length, when mature the position

of the seeds usually marked by distinct raised bumps 6. E. goetzei

Leaves with 2-12(14) pinnae pairs; leaflets 0,9-3, 5 mm wide, sessile; pods 2-3,9 cm wide, ±

compressed, position of seeds not marked by distinct raised bumps:

Leaflets 0,9-1 ,5 mm wide; racemes short, 4-5,5 cm long, usually aggregated on short lateral

branchlets, less frequently solitary or fascicled; pods 12-18 x 2-3,2 cm; restricted to the

eastern Transvaal 5. E. praetermissa

Leaflets (1)1, 5-3, 5 mm wide; racemes 5, 5-9, 5 cm long, axillary, solitary or paired; pods

(15)18,5-40,5 X 2-3,9 cm; restricted to South West Africa:

Pinnae (2)6-14 pairs per leaf; calyx up to 1 ,5 mm long; pods 3-3,9 cm wide. . . .8. E. schinziana

Pinnae 3-7(9) pairs per leaf; calyx 2-2,25 mm long; pods 2-2,5 cm wide 7. E. rangei

1. Elephantorrhiza obliqua Burtt Davy

in Kew Bull. 1921: 191 (1921); Phillips in

Bothalia 1 : 189 (1923); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 332 (1932) pro parte excl. specim.

Rogers 22011; Ross in Bothalia 11 : 248

(1974). Type: Transvaal, between Carolina

and Oshoek, at an outspan ±1,6 km from

Robinson’s, Burtt Davy 2976 (BM, holo. !;

FHO!; K!).

SufiFrutex producing at ground level

annual herbaceous stems up to 30 cm high

from a number of underground rhizomes;

aerial stems unbranched (rarely branched

after damage to the main apex), longitudin-

ally striate, pubescent or glabrous. Leaves

pubescent or glabrous: petiole 2-6 cm long;

rhachis (0)1, 5-9 cm long; pinnae (1)2-6

pairs; rhachillae 2-11 cm long; leaflets

4-13(21) pairs per pinna, 5,5-15 x 2-6,5

mm, very oblique, ovate to ovate-oblong,

broadly truncate basally, asymmetric and

attached by one corner, midrib starting in the

distal corner of the leaflet-base and gradually

becoming almost central in the leaflet,

usually with 2-3 other prominent veins

arising from the leaflet-base, midrib and

lateral nerves prominent above and below,

acute or distinctly mucronate apically,

glabrous or sparingly pubescent on the

margins. Racemes axillary, often solitary, on

the lower or the apical part of the stem,

3,5-6 cm long (including the peduncle),

glabrous or very sparingly pubescent. Flowers

yellowish-white, on pedicels up to 1,5 mm

long, with minute reddish glands at the base

of the pedicels. Calyx campanulate, up to

2 mm long, shortly 5-toothed, glabrous.

Petals shortly united below, up to 4,5 mm

long, 1 mm wide, linear-oblong, indexed

apically, glabrous. Stamens free among

themselves, slightly adnate to the corolla

basally; filaments up to 7,5 mm long;

anthers up to 0,8 mm long, with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary up to 2 mm long,

glabrous, sessile. Pod (only one collected)

dark purplish-brown, 11x4 cm, straight,

compressed, prominently transversely

venose.

Apparently confined to the Transvaal. Occurs in

grassland.

E. obliqua is readily distinguished from all other

species by its large ovate leaflets with prominent

venation. E. obliqua appears to have a different

underground root system to E. elephantina, but

field observations are required to substantiate this.

Stems pubescent; petioles, rhachides and rhachil-

lae sparingly pubescent (a) var. obliqua

Stems glabrous; petioles, rhachides and rhachil-

lae glabrous (b) var. glabra

(a) var. obliqua.

Phillips in Bothalia 1 : 189 (1923);

Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 332 (1932) pro

parte excl. specim. Rogers 22011; Ross in

Bothalia l.c. : 248. Type as above.

TRANSVAAL. — 2630 (Carolina): between Caro-

lina and Oshoek, at an outspan ± 1,6 km from

Robinson’s farm, Burtt Davy 2976 (BM, FHO, K);

Billy's Vlei, Lake Chrissie, Pole Evans sub PRE 13185.

More material of E. obliqua, particularly fruiting

material, is required.

Rogers 2201 1 from the Pietersburg District of the

Transvaal, cited under E. obliqua var. obliqua by

Burtt Davy l.c. : 332 (1932), is in fact Dichrostachys

cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. subsp. nyassana (Taub.)

Brenan.

(b) var. glabra Phillips in Bothalia 1 : 189,

t.5 fig. 1 (1923); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 332 (1932); Ross in Bothalia l.c. : 249.

Syntypes: Transvaal, Middelburg Distr.,

Botsabelo, Eiselen sub PRE 1229 (GRA!;

K!; PRE!); Middelburg, Jenkins sub TRV

9128 (PRE!).

140

Mimosoideae

E. transvaalensis Phillips ined.

TRANSVAAL.— 2529 (Witbank): 8 km N. of

Middelburg, Aasvoegelskop (— CB), Dyer 3934 (PRE);

Doomkop ( — CB), Du Plessis 1074 (PRE); near

Middelburg ( — CD), Gower s.n. (PRE).

Codd 10119 from Bellevue farm near Twenty-

four Rivers in the Waterberg District of the Transvaal

resembles E. obliqua. The stem, petioles, rhachides

and rhachillae are glabrous or almost so, and the

leaves have up to 6 pinnae pairs and up to 19 pairs of

leaflets per pinna. The leaflets are 9-18 x 3-4 mm,

± oblong, oblique basally, with an excentric midrib

and two other prominent veins arising from the

leaflet-base, conspicuously venose and distinctly

mucronate apically. Although leaflet shape differs

somewhat from the leaflet shape of the syntypes,

Codd 10119 is closer to E. obliqua than to any of the

other species and, for the present, is referred to E.

obliqua var. glabra. Unfortunately Codd 10119 is

sterile. Further collections are required to indicate

whether or not Codd 10119 falls within the range of

variation of E. obliqua.

2. Elephantorrhiza elephantina {Burch.)

Sheets in U.S. Dept. Agric. Bur. PI. Ind.

Bull. 176 : 29 (1910); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 800 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 332 (1932); O.B. Miller in J. S. Afr.

Bot. 18 : 31 (1952); Leistner, Mem. Bot.

Surv. S. Afr. 38 : 123, t.l4 (1967); Schreiber

in F.S.W.A. 58 : 16 (1967); Van der Schijff

& Snyman in J. Arn. Arb. 51 : 114 (1970);

Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z. 3,1 : 27 (1970);

Ross, FI. Natal 194 (1973); in Bothalia 11 :

249 (1974). Type: Cape Province, Kuruman

Distr., between Matlowing [Mashowing]

River and Kuru, Burchell 2410 (K, holo. !;

P!).

Acacia elephantina Burch., Trav. 2 : 236 (1824).

Type as above. A. elephantorhiza DC., Prodr. 2 : 457

(1825) nom. illegit. Type as above.

Prosopis elephantorrhiza (DC.) Spreng., Syst. Cur

Post, iv : 165 (1827); Eckl.&Zeyh.,Enum. 259(1836)!

Type as above. P. elephantina (Burch.) E. Mey.,

Comm. 165 (1836). Type as above.

Elephantorrhiza burchellii Benth. in Hook., J. Bot.

4 : 344 (1841) nom. illegit.; Harv. in F.C. 2 : 277

(1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 365

(1875); MacOwan in Agric. J. Cape G.H. 10 : 29

(1897); Schinz in M6m. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 116 (1900);

Sim., For. FI. Cape Col. 209, 1.16, viii (1907); Dinter,

Deutsch-Sudwest-Afrika FI. Forst und landwirtschaft.

Frag. 78 (1909); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 :

4(X), t.229 (1915); Dinter in Feddes Repert. 17 : 190

(1921); Hofmeyer in S. Afr. J. Nat. Hist. 3 : 215

(1921); Phillips in Bothalia 1 : 189, t.5 fig. 2 (1923);

Marloth, FI. S. Afr. 2 : fig. 26 (1925). Type as above.

£. rangei ( 'rangeri”) sensu Phillips in Bothalia 1 : 192,

t.5 fig. 5 (1923) pro parte quoad spccim. Dinter 2264

et Herb. Mus. Austro-Afr. 4485, non Harms sensu

stricto. E. dinleri Phillips ined.

Suffrutex producing at ground level

annual stems 20-90 cm high from the woody

end of a ± elongate rhizome; aerial stems

unbranched except for inflorescences (rarely

branched after damage to the main apex);

young stems glabrous or rarely pubescent.

Leaves glabrous or sparingly pubescent:

petiole 1,3-3, 6(8) cm long; rhachis 3,5-

13,5(17,5) cm long; pinnae 2-4 pairs in

lower leaves, increasing to 7-17 opposite or

subopposite pairs in upper leaves ; rhachillae

3-9(10,5) cm long; leaflets (7)12-45(55)

pairs per pinna, (4)5-10(15) x (0, 3)0,5-

2(2,5) mm, linear to linear-oblong, rarely

narrowly oblanceolate, glabrous or almost so,

base nearly always asymmetric, with the

proximal side rounded to cuneate, apex

symmetric to asymmetric, acute, usually

mucronate or rarely obtuse, lateral nerves

and veins prominent or not. Racemes usually

confined to the lower part of the stem,

axillary, solitary or clustered, (2)3,5-8(12)

cm long (including the peduncle), glabrous or

very rarely pubescent. Flowers yellowish-

white, on pedicels up to 1,5 mm long,

pedicels articulated near the middle, with

minute reddish or reddish-brown glands

at the base of the pedicels. Calyx shortly

campanulate, up to 1,75 mm long, 5-

toothed, glabrous. Petals free or slightly

connate basally, 2,75-3,75 mm long, up

to 1 mm wide, linear-oblong, indexed

apically, glabrous. Stamens free among

themselves, slightly adnate to the corolla

basally; filaments up to 6,5 mm long;

anthers up to 1 mm long, with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary up to 1,75 mm long,

linear, shortly stipitate, glabrous. Pods dark

brown or reddish-brown, (5)9,5-15(21) x

3-5,7 cm, straight or slightly curved, oblong,

compressed, usually prominently trans-

versely venose, often umbonate over the

seeds, at maturity the valves separating from

the persistent margins, the outer layer of the

pod-wall peeling off the inner layer, the

layers usually breaking up irregularly. Seeds

18-26 X 13-18 X 6-13 mm, rb ellipsoid.

Found in South West Africa, Botswana,

Rhodesia, Mozambique, the Transvaal, Orange Free

State, Swaziland, Natal, Lesotho and Cape Province.

Occurs in grassland and open scrub; often gregarious.

S.W.A.— 2217 (Windhoek): Bodenhausen, Seydel

2388. 2219 (Sandfontein): Oas, Seydel 3761. Grid ref.

unknown: Lichtenstein, Dinter s.n. (Z); Kalahari,

Nosob, Fleck 399a (Z); Fleck 398a (Z).

Mimosoideae

141

TRANSVAAL— 2330 (Tzaneen): Houtbosch,

Rehmann 6280 (Z). 2429 (Zebediela): Percy Fyfe

Nature Reserve, Huntley 1492. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest):

Pilgrim’s Rest, Rogers 23066. 2431 (Acomhoek):

Kruger National Park, 29 km from Satara on Rabelais

road, Van der Schijff 3291. 2527 (Rustenburg):

Rustenburg, Nation 225 (K). 2528 (Pretoria): Groen-

kloof, Phillips 3051. 2529 (Witbank): ± 11 km from

Middelburg on road to Hendrina, Marsh 115. 2531

(Komatipoort): Barberton, Galpin 562. 2627 (Pot-

chefstroom): Vereeniging, Burtt Davy 15084. 2628

(Johannesburg): 12,8 km from Heidelberg on

Brakpan road. Marsh 57. 2629 (Bethal): 11 km from

Ermelo on road to Hendrina, Marsh 96.

O.F.S. — 2627 (Potchefstroom): Sasolburg, Theron

569. 2727 (Kroonstad): near Kroonstad, Pont 454 (Z).

2825 (Boshof): 24 km from Kimberley along Boshof

road, Badenhorst 86. 2827 (Senekal): Doornkop,

Goossens 901. 2828 (Bethlehem): Bethlehem, Phillips

3186. 2829 (Harrismith) : Harrismith, Sankey 35 (K).

2926 (Bloemfontein): P.O. De Burg, Bloemfontein,

Cyrus sub PRE 8794. 2927 (Maseru): Ladybrand,

Rogers sub TRV 5057. Grid ref. unknown: Olifants-

fontein, Rehmann 3512 (K, Z).

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): Black Mbuluzi

Falls, Compton 28175; Evelyn Baring Bridge, Comp-

ton 29160.

NATAL. — 2729 (Volksrus): Laingsnek, 18,4 km

from Newcastle, Marsh 65. 2732 (Ubombo): 4,8 km

W. of Jozini, Lebombo Mts., Edwards 2914. 2829

(Harrismith): Harts Hill, near Colenso, Strey 9942.

2831 (Nkandla): Mtunzini, Mogg 5803. 2832 (Mtuba-

tuba): Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ward 2704. 2930

(Pietermaritzburg): Inanda, Wood 634 (K, Z). 2931

(Stanger) : Mount Moreland, Wood 2607 (NH).

LESOTHO. — 2828 (Bethlehem): Leribe, Dieterlen

46 (P).

CAPE. — 2623 (Morokweng): bank of Matlowing

River, between Takoon [Takun] and Molito, Burchell

2310 (K). 2624 (Vryburg): farm Palmyra, 96 km N.W.

of Vryburg, Rodin 3532. 2722 (Olifantshoek) : between

Matlowing River and Kuru, Burchell 2410 (K, P).

2723 (Kuruman): between source of Kuruman River

and Kosi Fontein, Burchell 2537 (K.). 2824 (Kim-

berley): Kimberley, Marloth 852 (GRA). 3126

(Queenstown): “Prospect”, Queenstown, Galpin 1917

(GRA). 3128 (Umtata): Umtata aerodrome. Strey

11164. 3226 (Fort Beaufort): Shiloh, Baur 379

(GRA, K); between Klipplaatrivier and Swart Kei,

Drege (BM, K).

E. elephantina, commonly known as “Elands

Boontjie”, is the commonest and most widespread

species. E. elephantina shows considerable variation in

the number of pinnae pairs and in the number, size and

shape of the leaflets. This variation appears to be to

some extent geographical. There is a tendency for

specimens from South West Africa, Botswana, the

western portion of Rhodesia, the western Transvaal,

Orange Free State and northern Cape to have leaves

with fewer than 10 pinnae pairs, fewer than 26 leaflet

pairs per pinna and leaflets more than 8x1 mm. The

leaflets in these areas are frequently glaucous and the

midrib is close to the distal margin basally but

gradually becomes ± centric so that the leaflets are ±

symmetric apically. In the eastern areas of Rhodesia,

Mozambique, the eastern Transvaal, Swaziland and

Natal there is a tendency for specimens to have leaves

with more than 10 pinnae pairs, more than 26 leaflet

pairs per pinna and leaflets less than 8 mm long and 1

mm wide. The midrib in these specimens is very close

to the distal margin of the leaflets throughout their

length as in E. suffruticosa and the leaflets are asym-

metric apically. The Pretoria District of the Transvaal

appears to be a critical area for to the west the leaves

tend to have fewer than 10 pinnae pairs and fewer

pairs of large leaflets, while to the east the leaves tend

to have more than 10 pinnae pairs and more numerous

pairs of smaller leaflets. The extremes, for example

Seydel 3761 from Qas in South West Africa and

Wood 634 from Inanda in Natal, look very different

but as there is ± continuous variation throughout

and the individual characters often vary independently

no means has been found of satisfactorily delimiting

the two groups.

The thick red underground rootstocks were at one

time used for tanning and dyeing. Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 332 (1932), reports having dug up a root-

stock ± 8 metres long at Vereeniging.

Although the exocarp of the ripe pod is fairly

hard, it readily absorbs water and soon starts to

disintegrate. Seeds often germinate within the moist

disintegrating pods on the surface of the soil. The

interesting and unusual type of germination of the

seeds of E. elephantina is discussed by Hofmeyer in S.

Afr. J. Nat. Hist. 3 : 215 (1921) and by Van der

Schijff and Snyman in J. Am. Arb. 51 : 114 (1970).

3. Elepbantorrhiza woodii Phillips in

Bothalia 1 : 193, t.5 fig. 6 (1923); Ross, FI.

Natal 194 (1973); in Bothalia 11 : 250 (1974).

Type: Natal, Klip River Distr., Pieters, near

Colenso, Wood 1^5% (NH, holo.!; PRE!).

Suffrutex (but see below) producing at

ground level annual procumbent branched

stems up to 60 cm long from an elongate

rhizome; aerial stems longitudinally striate,

glabrous to densely puberulous. Leaves

glabrous to densely puberulous: petiole

0,8-1, 6 cm long; rhachis (1)3,5-8,5(13)

cm long, distinctly sulcate above; pinnae

(2)5-10 opposite or subopposite pairs;

rhachillae 1,8-6 cm long; leaflets 12-28

pairs per pinna, 2, 5-6(9)x 1-1 ,8(2,25) mm,

linear to linear-oblong, glabrous, asymmetric

basally, midrib starting in the distal corner of

the leaflet-base and gradually becoming

almost central in the leaflet, proximal side

of base rounded, apex symmetric or asym-

metric, acute or obtuse, mucronate, midrib

prominent or not, lateral veins indistinct.

Racemes axillary, usually solitary, 4, 5-9, 5

cm long (including the peduncle), glabrous to

densely puberulous. Flowers yellowish-white,

on pedicels up to 1,25 mm long, pedicels

articulated near the middle, with minute

glands at the base of the pedicels. Calyx up

to 1,5 mm long, shortly 5-toothed, glabrous.

142

Mimosoideae

FIG. 21.— Elephantorrhiza elephantina. I, flowering stems arising from part of the underground rhizome, x

Seyde! 2, leaflet, x 4; 3, flower, x 4; 4, stamen, x 6; 5, gynoecium, x 6, all from Marsh 96; 6, pod,

X 7, seed, x 8, seed, in profile, x i, all from 225.

Mimosoideae

143

Petals free or slightly connate basally, up to

3,25 mm long, 1,25 mm wide, lanceolate,

slightly indexed apically, glabrous. Stamens

free among themselves, slightly adnate to the

corolla basally; filaments up to 6 mm long;

anthers up to 1 mm long, with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary up to 2 mm long, linear,

subsessile, glabrous. Pod (only one ever

collected) dark reddish-brown, 9 x 3,2 cm,

falcate, compressed, prominently transversely

venose, umbonate over the seeds. Seeds

immature.

Found in Natal and Lesotho. Occurs in grassland.

Phillips, in Bothalia 1 : 189 (1923), keyed out

E. woodii under the species which are “shrubs or

small trees with a distinct aerial stem.” As there is no

information about the habit of the plants in Medley

Wood’s collectors book or on the herbarium sheets, it

is thought that Phillips assumed E. woodii was a

shrub or small tree because the aerial stems are

branched. During recent years several attempts have

been made to re-collect E. woodii in the type locality

and eventually, in 1970, Mr R. G. Strey succeeded in

finding a few plants. However, the plants were

procumbent and not shrubby or arborescent as

indicated by Phillips. The habit notes in the above

description are based on the specimens collected by

Mr. Strey and subsequently cultivated at the Natal

Herbarium, Durban, ^ch year the branched procum-

bent aerial stems die back and are replaced by a new

set of stems the following season. The stems are

relatively weak and show no signs of assuming an

erect posture. More field observations are required to

establish whether E. woodii ever does grow as an

erect shrub. At the time of collecting the living

plants, concern was expressed for the future of the

species in the type locality, at least, because the

plants only survive in the narrow strips of uncultivated

land which may themselves be cultivated at any time.

E. woodii is closely related to E. elephantina

but differs in having branched procumbent aerial

sterns and leafiets with a slightly different venation.

It differs from all of the other species with branched

stems in that the stems are procumbent and longitu-

dinally striate.

Stems glabrous or almost so; petioles, rhachides

and rhachillae glabrous or almost so ; inflore-

scence axes ± glabrous (a) var. woodii

Stems pubescent; petioles, rhachides and rhachil-

lae pubescent; inflorescence axes pubescent

(b) var. pubescens

Unfortunately not enough material is available

to evaluate the taxonomic significance of the degree

of pubescence of the stems, leaves and inflorescence

axes as a means of distinguishing varieties within this

species.

(a) var. woodii.

Phillips in Bothalia 1 : 193 (1923); Ross,

FI. Natal 194 (1973); in Bothalia l.c. ; 251

(1974). Type as above.

NATAL. — 2829 (Harrismith): Pieters ( — DB),

Strey 9760; Harts Hill, near Colenso ( — DB), Strey

10000; Ladysmith (— DB), Geekie 46 (NU).

More material of var. woodii is required.

The following note written by Phillips on Wood

7958 (NH) indicates that he had initially intended

calling this specimen E. wahlbergii (Harv.) Phillips:

“This is undoubtedly the plant described by Harvey as

Entada Iwaklbergii in FI. Cap. 2 : 111. I propose the

new combination Elephantorrhiza wahlbergii, Phill.

8/6/19.”

(b) var. pubescens Phillips in Bothalia 1 :

193 (1923); Ross, FI. Natal 194 (1973);

in Bothalia l.c. : 251 (1974). Type: Natal,

Estcourt District, near Little Tugela, 1219

metres, Wood 2867 (NH, holo. ).

E. pubescens Phillips ined.

NATAL. — probably 2929 (Underberg); near Little

Tugela, Wood 2867 (NH). Grid ref. unknown:

between Pietermaritzburg and Newcastle, Nov. 1883,

Wilms 1973 (BM).

7LESOTHO. — no precise locality. Cooper 2279 (K).

Wilms 1973 (BM), collected between Pieter-

maritzburg and Newcastle in 1883, appears to be

referable to E. woodii var. pubescens. However, the

specimen has wider leaflets and a somewhat different

facies to typical var. pubescens. More material is

desirable but, as the specimen was not well localised,

there seems little likelihood of further material being

collected.

Cooper 2279, a flowering specimen with immature

leaves, also appears to be referable to var. pubescens.

Although Cooper gave the locality of collection as

“Basutoland”, it is very doubtful whether the speci-

men was collected in present-day Lesotho.

Mogg sub PRE 9644, an immature and rather

fragmentary specimen from Charlestown in northern

Natal, is extremely difficult to place with certainty.

The specimen in the Kew Herbarium consists of a

single stem bearing axillary racemes and very young

foliage, the details of which are scarcely discernible.

The stem is 17,5 cm high, longitudinally striate and

pubescent. The leaves have 2 pinnae pairs and up to 16

leaflets per pinna. The immature leaflets are up to

4,5 X 1,75 mm, the midrib is excentric basally and

the leaflet-apex is distinctly mucronate. This specimen

is hesitantly referred to E. woodii var. pubescens, but

additional and better material from this area is

required to establish the identity of the plants.

More material of var. pubescens, and from

definite localities, is required. Pods would be of

particular interest.

4. Elephantorrhiza burkei Benth. in

Hook., Lond. J. Bot, 5 : 81 (1846); Harv.

in F.C. 2 : 278 (1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 365 (1875); Phillips in

Bothalia 1 : 192, t.5 fig. 4 (1923); Bak. f..

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 801 (1930); Burtt Davy,

FI. Transv. 2 : 332 (1932); O. B. Miller in J.

S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 31 (1952); Wild, Guide FI.

Viet. Falls 149 (1953); Brenan & Brummitt in

144

Mimosoideae

F.Z. 3,1 : 27 (1970); Palmer Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 825 (1973); Ross in Bothalia

11 : 251 (1974). Type: Transvaal, Magalies-

berg, Burke & Zeyher (K, holo. !; BM!;

TCD!; Z!, ? iso.).

E. elephantina (Burch.) Skeels var. burkei (Benth.)

Merr. in Contr. Gray Herb. 59 : 18 (1919). Type as

above.

A branched shrub or small tree 1-3(6)

m high, occasionally as small as 0,3 m,

but then the stems distinctly woody and

branched and the inflorescences normally

borne on lateral shoots of the current

season’s growth; bark dark-grey to reddish;

young branchlets glabrous. Leaves glabrous

or almost so: petiole 2, 6-6, 5 cm long;

rhachis 3,6-14,5 cm long; pinnae (l)4-8(9)

pairs; rhachillae 3,5-12,5 cm long; leaflets

(9)12-23(32) pairs per pinna, 7-17 x 1,5-

3,5(5) mm, narrowly oblanceolate to very

narrowly elliptic or linear-oblong, usually

glaucous, glabrous, base slightly asym-

metric (less so than in E. elephantina), with

the proximal side rounded to cuneate,

apex symmetric, obtuse to rounded, generally

mucronate, lateral nerves and veins promi-

nent or not. Racemes axillary, solitary or

fascicled, often on lateral shoots, 5-10(12,5)

cm long (including the peduncle), glabrous.

Flowers yellowish-white, on pedicels up to

2 mm long, pedicels articulated near the

middle, with minute reddish glands at the

base of the pedicels. Calyx campanulate, up

to 2,5 mm long, 5-toothed, the teeth up to

0,75 mm long, glabrous. Petals shortly

united basally, up to 4,5 mm long, 1 mm

wide, linear-oblong, indexed apically,

glabrous. Stamens free among themselves,

slightly adnate to the corolla basally;

filaments up to 5 mm long; anthers up to

0,75 mm long, with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary up to 2 mm long, glabrous. Pods dark

brown to reddish-brown, 10-19(28) x 2,5^

cm, straight or slightly curved, oblong,

compressed, sometimes prominently trans-

versely venose, at maturity the valves

separating from the persistent margins,

the outer layer of the pod-wall peeling off

the inner layer, the layers remaining intact

or breaking up irregularly. Seeds ±9-13 x

8-12 mm.

Found in Botswana, Rhodesia, Mozambique and

the Transvaal. Favours rocky situations, in woodland,

grassland and scrub.

TRANSVAAL. — 2329 (Pietersburg) : University

College of the North, 28,8 km from Pietersburg on

road to Tzaneen, Van Vuuren 1293. 2425 (Gaberones) :

Lekkerlach, Louw 597 (NH). 2428 (Nylstroom): 15,2

km N. of Warmbaths, Marais 1236. 2429 (Zebediela):

Chuniespoort, Pole Evans sub PRE 19452. 2431

(Acomhoek) : Kruger National Park, 25 , 6 km N.E. of

Skukuza, Codd 5723. 2527 (Rustenburg) : Wolhuters-

kop, Schweickerdt 1642. 2528 (Pretoria): end of

Daspoort range about 9,6 km E. of Pretoria, Phillips

3040. 2529 (Witbank): Loskop Dam Nature Reserve,

Mogg 30609.

E. burkei differs from E. elephantina primarily in

being a shrub or tree with branched perennial aerial

stems and not a suffrutex with annual unbranched

aerial stems (unless damaged). The leaflet-base in E.

burkei is less asymmetric than in E. elephantina, and

the midrib soon becomes ± centric. The leaflets of E.

burkei are typically larger than those of E. elephantina.

E. burkei appears to have smaller seeds than E.

elephantina, but more fruiting material is required to

confirm this.

5. Elephantorrhiza praetermissa J. H.

Ross in Bothalia 11 : 252 (1974). Type:

Transvaal, Lydenburg Distr., Steelpoort

valley, near Sarahshof, Codd 9830 (PRE,

holo.!; BMl; Kl).

Shrub 1-2 m high; young branchlets

grey- or reddish-brown, glabrous. Leaves

glabrous: petiole 2,2-4 cm long; rhachis 4-9

cm long, sulcate above, sometimes with

minute scattered dark glands; pinnae (3)5-

10(12) opposite or subopposite pairs; rhachil-

lae (2, 8)3, 5-6(7) cm long; leaflets 20-40

pairs, 5-10 X 0,9-1, 5 mm, linear or linear-

oblong, sessile, glabrous, asymmetric basally,

midrib starting in the distal comer of the

leaflet-base and gradually becoming almost

central in the leaflet, proximal side of base

rounded, apex rounded or acute, nearly

symmetric, lateral nerves not visible or

inconspicuous beneath, sometimes with

minute dark purplish glands at the base of

the leaflets. Inflorescences racemose, racemes

solitary, fascicled or aggregated on abbre-

viated lateral branchlets, 4-5,5 cm long

(including the peduncle), glabrous. Flowers

yellowish-white, pedicellate, pedicels 1 , 5-2

mm long, articulated near or below the

middle, with minute dark reddish glands at

the base of the pedicels. Calyx 0,75-1,25

mm long, 5-toothed, glabrous. Petals shortly

united basally, 2-3 mm long, linear-oblong,

glabrous. Stamens free among themselves,

slightly adnate to the corolla basally;

filaments 4-5 mm long; anthers with a

deciduous apical gland. Ovary ± 2 mm long.

Mimosoideae

145

linear, glabrous. Pods dark brown or reddish-

brown, 12-18 X 2-3,2 cm, oblong, straight

or slightly curved, compressed, obscurely

or prominently venose, at maturity the

valves separating from the persistent margins.

Seeds ± 15 x 13 X 3,5 mm.

E. praetermissa appears to have a rather restricted

distribution in the eastern Transvaal. Occurs on dry

wooded hillsides.

TRANSVAAL.— 2429 (Zebediela): 25 km N.N.W.

of Schoonoord ( — DB), Acocks 20969. 2430 (Pilgrim’s

Rest): 59,2 km from Lydenburg on road to Steelpoort

via Tweefontein ( — CC), Vorster 2129; 74,4 km from

Lydenburg on road to Steelpoort via Tweefontein

(— CC), Vorster 2m.

E. praetermissa is most closely related to E.

goetzei and to E. elephantina. Both E. goetzei and E.

elephantina occur in the eastern Transvaal, but the

specimens in question differ from the material of both

of these species.

E. praetermissa differs from typical E. goetzei in

having consistently fewer pinnae pairs. The leaflets of

E. praetermissa differ from those of E. goetzei in

having a somewhat thicker texture and in being ±

sessile; the leaflets of typical E. goetzei usually have

distinct petiolules. In E. goetzei the pods are long and

narrow in proportion to their length (15-44 x 1,3-

2,2 cm) and, when mature, the position of the seeds is

marked by distinct raised bumps. In E. praetermissa

the pods are shorter and broader (12-18 x 2-3,2 cm),

± compressed, and lack distinct raised bumps over

the seeds. The seeds of E. praetermissa are ± com-

pressed in contrast to the ellipsoid or lenticular seeds

of E. goetzei, and they are smaller than those of the

latter. Although the length of the racemes provides no

discontinuity between the two species, the racemes of

E. praetermissa are consistently short and are much

shorter than is usual in E. goetzei.

E. praetermissa differs from E. elephantina in

being a robust shrub 1-2 m high and in having

branched aerial stems. The leaflets of E. praetermissa

differ slightly in texture and lack the ± conspicuous

venation of typical E. elephantina, while the pods tend

to be slightly narrower than is usual in E. elephantina.

Although E. praetermissa is described as locally

common by collectors, very few specimens have been

collected. More material is required.

6. Elephantorrhiza goetzei {Harms)

Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 400

(1915); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 802 (1930);

Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 344 (1949);

Wild, Guide FI. Viet. Falls 149 (1953);

Williamson, Useful PI. Nyasal. 52 (1955);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 19,

fig. 4 (1959); White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 91

(1962); Brenan & Brummitt in F.Z. 3,1 : 24,

t.4 (1970); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 827 (1973) Ross in Bothalia 11 : 253

(1974). Type: Tanzania, Rufiji District,

Goetze 82 (B, holo.t , BM, drawing!; K,

iso.!).

Piptadenia goetzei Harms in Bot. Jahrb. 28 : 397

(1900). Type as above.

subsp. goetzei.

Brenan & Brummitt in Bol. Soc. Brot.,

Ser. 2,39 : 189 (1965); in F.Z. 3,1 : 24

(1970); Ross in Bothalia 11 : 253 (1974).

E. rubescens Gibbs in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 37 : 441

(1906); Eyles in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 5 : 364

(1916). Type: Rhodesia, Matopo Hills, Gibbs 184

(BM, holo.!). E. cf. petersiana sensu Gomes e Sousa,

PI. Menyharth. 70 (1936). E. cf. goetzei (Harms)

Harms, Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 263 (1956). E. sp. sensu

Torre l.c. : 264.

Acacia rehmanniana sensu M. A. Exell in Bol. Soc.

Brot. Ser. 2,12 : 16 (1937), non Schinz.

Shrub or small tree 1^(7) m high; bark

grey-brown to dark brown or reddish-

brown to purplish, often becoming blackish;

young branchlets glabrous. Leaves glabrous

or nearly so: petiole 1-5(7, 5) cm long;

rhachis 6-20(45,5) cm long, sulcate above;

pinnae 3-30(41) opposite or subopposite

pairs; rhachillae 1,8-9 cm long; leaflets

9-40(48) pairs, 3,5-12 X 0,7-2,75 mm (in

our area), linear-oblong to narrowly oblong,

midrib starting in the distal corner of the

leaflet-base, gradually becoming almost cen-

tral in the leaflet, proximal side of the base

rounded and almost auriculate, apex acute to

rounded and mucronate, nearly symmetric,

glabrous, lateral nerves and veins not or

scarcely visible. Racemes solitary, fascicled

or borne on short lateral shoots, (2)5-20 cm

long (including the peduncle), glabrous.

Flowers yellowish-white, sometimes tinged

with pink or purple, on pedicels up to 1 mm

long, pedicels articulated near the middle,

with minute pale yellowish-white glands at

the base of the pedicels. Calyx 1 ,5-1 ,75 mm

long, with 5 acute teeth, glabrous. Petals

shortly united below, becoming almost free in

open flowers, 2,5-3 mm long, linear-oblong,

inflexed apically, glabrous. Stamens free

among themselves, slightly adnate to the

corolla basally; filaments up to 4,5 mm long;

anthers up to 1 mm long, with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary up to 2 mm long, linear,

glabrous. Pods dark brown or reddish-

or purplish-brown, 15-30(44) x 1,3-2, 2

cm, linear, straight or curved, raised over

the seeds, at maturity the valves separating

from the persistent margins, the outer layer

of the pod-wall peeling off the inner layer,

the layers remaining intact or breaking up

irregularly. Seeds 11-20 x 9-18 x 7-12

mm, ellipsoid to lenticular.

146

Mimosoideae

Found in Tanzania, Angola, Botswana, Zambia,

Rhodesia, Malawi, Mozambique and the Transvaal.

Occurs in woodland of various types and scrub;

favours rocky places.

TRANSVAAL. — 2331 (Phalaborwa) : Kruger

National Park, Shingwedzi, in Lebombo Mts., Van der

Schijff 3848. 2429 (^bediela): Wolkberg, 14,4 km S.

of Boyne on road to Welcome Gold Mine, Codd

10393. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest) : 28 km S.E. of Gravelotte

( — BB), Codd 9477; Abel Erasmus Pass, c. 3 km S. of

Strydom Tunnel ( — BC), Vorster & Coetzer 2099.

2431 (Acomhoek): Kruger National Park, ± 29 km

from Satara on Rabelais road ( — BC), Van der Schijff

3290; Kruger National Park, 10,4 km from Nwanedzi

[Ngwanetsi] on Satara road ( — BD), Story 39^7.

In the area delimited for Flora Zambesiaca E.

goetzei frequently produces its flowers when the

plant is leafless. In the Transvaal, however, E.

goetzei usually produces flowers together with the

leaves.

It is possible that E. petersiana Bolle in Peters,

Reise Mossamb. Bot. 1 : 9 (1861) is an earlier name

for E. goetzei. If this were ever confirmed, then E.

petersiana would be the correct name for this species.

The holotype of E. petersiana, now destroyed, was a

flowering specimen (without leaves) collected by

Peters at Sena in Mozambique. Unfortunately the type

description is too imperfect to enable the species to be

positively identified. Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 802

(1930) shed no light on the identity of E. petersiana.

Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 332(1932), based his F.

(?) sp. nov.? [=E. (?) elongata Burtt Davy ined.]

on Burtt Davy H2304 collected at Potgietersrust in the

Transvaal. This specimen, which is quite leafless, has

istraight immature pods up to 21 x 1,7 cm. The

pods of Burtt Davy H2304 resemble those of E.

goetzei fairly closely and, although E. goetzei has not

been recorded from Potgietersrust subsequently, it

seems likely that Burtt Davy’s specimen is referable to

E. goetzei. E. (?) sp. nov. ? is therefore a probable

synonym of E. goetzei.

Subsp. lata Brenan & Brummitt is recorded from

Zambia and Rhodesia. It differs from subsp. goetzei in

having fewer pinnae pairs and fewer pairs of larger

leaflets.

7. Elephantorrhiza range! Harms in

Bot. Jahrb. 49 : 420 (1913); Dinter in Feddes

Report. 17 : 190 (1921); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 802 (1930); Range in Feddes Report.

30 : 148 (1932); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 58 : 17

(1967) pro parte quoad specim. Range 455;

Ross in Bothalia 11 : 254 (1974). Type:

South West Africa, Keetmanshoop Distr.,

Naute, near Keetmanshoop, Range 455

(B, holo. t, BM, drawing! ; BOL, SAM, iso. !).

A branched shrub (? or small tree) to

4 m high; young branchlets reddish-brown

to purplish, glabrous. Leaves glabrous:

petiole 2-4,5 cm long; rhachis (1,5) 3-7,5

cm long [petiole and rhachis together

described as 2-15 cm long by Harms]; pinnae

3-7 [9] opposite or subopposite pairs, some-

times 1-3 pairs on immature leaves; rhachil-

lae 5-8, 5 [9] cm long; leaflets 24-36 pairs

per pinna, 6-9[12] X l-2,75[4] mm,

linear-oblong to oblong, sometimes slightly

falcate, midrib starting in the distal corner of

the leaflet-base, gradually becoming almost

central in the leaflet, proximal side of the

base rounded to almost auriculate, apex

rounded to acute, mucronate, almost sym-

metric, lateral nerves inconspicuous,

glabrous. Racemes axillary, solitary or paired,

5,5-8 cm long (including the peduncle),

glabrous. Flowers greenish-yellow, on pedicels

1-1,75 mm long, pedicels articulated just

below the middle, vvith minute yellowish

glands at the base of the pedicels. Calyx

campanulate, 2-2,25 mm long, glabrous,

5-toothed. Petals shortly united basally,

3-4 mm long, 1 mm wide, oblong, indexed

apically, glabrous. Stamens free among

themselves, slightly adnate to the corolla

basally; filaments up to 5,5 mm long;

anthers up to 0,9 mm long, with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary up to 4 mm long, shortly

stipitate, linear, glabrous. Pods dark brown

or reddish-brown, 18, 5-20 [22] x 2-2,5 cm,

straight or almost so, oblong, compressed,

slightly umbonate over the seeds, transverse

venation relatively inconspicuous, at maturity

the valves separating from the persistent

margins. Seeds unknown.

Known only from the type locality in South West

Africa. Ecology unknown.

S.W.A. — 2617 (Bethanie): Naute, near Keetmans-

hoop ( — DD), Range 455 (BOL, SAM).

The above description was drawn up from two

isotypes in the SAM Herbarium. The extreme

dimensions given in square brackets were recorded by

Harms in his type description.

There is considerable variation in leaflet size even

on a single branch; the upper leaves often have small

leaflets and the lower leaves larger leaflets.

E. rangei bears a superficial resemblance to E.

suffruticosa but differs in having larger and broader

leaflets in which the midrib is ± centric apically,

slightly longer pedicels, and larger flowers.

The specimens cited by Phillips in Bothalia 1 : 192

(1923) under E. rangei {"rangeri”), and on which t.5

fig. 5 was based, are in fact referable to E.elephantina.

E. rangei is known only from the type collection.

It has never been re-collected since 3an. 1908 and the

possibility exists that it is now extinct. A thorough

search for this plant in the type locality is most

desirable in an attempt to evaluate its present conser-

vation status.

Mimosoideae

147

FIG. 22. — Elephantorrhiza Koetzei subsp. goetzei. 1, part of branch with petiole-bases, x 2, leaf, detached

from petiole-base of 1, :< J; 3, leaflet, x 6, all from Milne- Redhead & Taylor 9549; 4, flow-ering raceme,

X 1 5, flower, x 9; 6, petal, x 15; 7, anther, x 25, all from Andrada 1452; 8, pods, x 1 ; 9, seed, x 3,

both hom Jackson 1418. Reproduced by permission of the Editor of Flora of Tropical East Africa.

148

Mimosoideae

8. Elephantorrhiza schinziana Dinter in

Feddes Repert. 17 : 190 (1921); Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 802 (1930); Schreiber in

F.S.W.A. 58 : 17 (1967); Ross in Bothalia

11 : 255 (1974). Type: South West Africa,

Grootfontein Distr., Otavi, Dinter 745 (SAM,

lecto. !).

A branched shrub (? or small tree) up

to 2, 5 m high; bark grey- to dark- or reddish-

brown; young branchlets grey- or reddish-

to purplish-brown, glabrous. Leaves glabrous:

petiole 2, 2-3, 5(5, 2) cm long; rhachis (4,5)

7.5- 14,5(20,5) cm long; pinnae (2)6-11(14)

opposite or subopposite pairs; rhachillae

5.5- 10(14) cm long; leaflets (14)21^0 pairs

per pinna, (5)7-14 x 1,5-3, 5 mm, linear-

oblong to oblong, midrib starting in the

distal corner of the leaflet-base, gradually

becoming almost central in the leaflet,

proximal side of base rounded, apex rounded

and sometimes distinctly mucronate, nearly

symmetric, lateral nerves scarcely visible,

glabrous, somewhat glaucous. Racemes axill-

ary, solitary or paired, 7-9 , 5 cm long (includ-

ing the peduncle), glabrous. F/owerj' yellowish-

white, on pedicels up to 0,75 mm long, pedi-

cels articulated towards the apex, with minute

yellowish glands at the base of the pedicels.

Calyx cupular, up to 1,5 mm long, glabrous,

shortly 5-toothed. Petals shortly united

basally, 3-3,75 mm long, 1 mm wide, linear-

oblong, indexed apically, glabrous. Stamens

free among themselves, slightly adnate to the

corolla basally; filaments up to 5 mm long;

anthers up to 0,8 mm long, with a deciduous

apical gland. Ovary up to 2,25 mm long,

glabrous. Pods dark brown or reddish-

brown, (15)19-30(40,5) X 3-3,9 cm, straight

or slightly curved, oblong, compressed,

umbonate over the seeds, prominently trans-

versely venose, at maturity the valves

separating from the persistent margins, the

outer layer of the pod-wall peeling off the

inner layer, the layers tending to break up

irregularly. Seeds immature, mature seeds

unknown.

Known only from the Grootfontein District in

South West Africa. Ecology unknown.

S.W.A. — 1917 (Tsumeb): farm Heidelberg near

Tsumeb ( — BB), Dinter 1689 (SAM); Otavi ( — CB),

Dinter 745 (SAM), Dinter 5300 (BOL, PRE, Z). Grid

ref. unknown: Grootfontein District, farm Asis,

Volk 767 (M).

The original specimens on which Dinter based his

description are no longer available for study. For-

tunately, however, both syntypes, namely Dinter 745

and 1689, are represented in the South African

Museum collections. There is one sheet of Dinter 745

and three sheets of Dinter 1689. One of the sheets of

Dinter 1689 is a mixed gathering consisting of a

vegetative shoot of E. suffruticosa and a pod of E.

schinziana, while the flowers in the capsule could

belong to either species. On the second sheet of

Dinter 1689 there is a vegetative shoot of E. schinziana

with a mature pod attached and, in addition, there is a

flowering specimen which is leafless apart from an

extremely young leaf or shoot on which no details are

discernible. In view of the mixed gathering of E.

schinziana and E. suffruticosa on the first sheet of

Dinter 1689, the possibility exists that the flowering

specimen on the second sheet belongs to E. suffruticosa

and not to E. schinziana. It will be recalled that in

South West Africa E. suffruticosa usually flowers when

leafless. As none of the other specimens of E.

schinziana examined were in flower, the details of the

flowers in the above description were taken from this

second specimen of Dinter 1689. It is possible there-

fore that the flowers described are those of E. suffruti-

cosa and not of E. schinziana. The third sheet of

Dinter 1689 consists of a single leaf and two mature

pods (the valves of one pod are mounted separately

which gives the impression that there are three pods).

There is considerable variation in leaflet size

even on a single branch; some of the upper leaves

often have distinctly smaller leaflets than the leaflets

on the lower leaves.

E. schinziana has not been re-collected since Jan.

1939 and there is a possibility that it is now extinct.

A thorough search for this plant in the type localities

is most desirable in an attempt to evaluate its present

conservation status. If E. schinziana is re-discovered,

it is important that an effort be made to collect both

flowering and fruiting material. Flowering material is

essential to establish whether or not the flowers on

which the above description was based are in fact

those of E. schinziana.

9. Elephantorrhiza suffruticosa Schinz in

Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 117 (1900); Dinter,

Deutsch-Sudwest-Afrika FI. Forst und land-

wirtschaft. Frag. 78 (1909); Harms in Engl.,

Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 400 (1915); Dinter in

Feddes Repert. 17 : 190 (1921); Phillips in

Bothalia 1 : 193, t.5 fig. 7 (1923); Bak. f..

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 801 (1930); Schreiber in

F.S.W.A. 58 : 17 (1967); Brenan & Brum-

mitt in F.Z. 3,1 : 26 (1970); Ross in Bothalia

1 1 : 255 (1974). Type: Angola, Huila district,

“Kilevi am Kunene” (south of Humbe),

Schinz 2071 (Z, lecto.!).

A branched shrub or small tree 1-5 m

high; bark grey-brown to dark- or reddish-

brown; young branchlets glabrous or some-

times puberulous to shortly pubescent.

Leaves glabrous to puberulous or shortly

pubescent: petiole (0,6) 1,5-3, 5 cm long;

rhachis (0,5)10-17^5,4) cm long; pinnae

(2)15-27(42) opposite or subopposite pairs;

Mimosoideae

149

rhachillae (1 ,4)2-3, 5(6, 8) cm long; leaflets

(17)27-40(50) pairs per pinna, 3-7,5 x

0,5-1, 2 mm, linear-oblong to linear, rarely

almost falcate, midrib marginal throughout,

proximal side rounded basally, apex asym-

metric, obtuse to acute, often mucronate,

lateral nerves and veins not or scarcely visible,

glabrous or sometimes sparingly pubescent

on the margins. Racemes axillary, solitary or

2-3 together, or borne on lateral shoots,

(4)6-14(18) cm long (including the peduncle),

pubescent or sometimes glabrous. Flowers

yellowish-white, on pedicels up to 1 mm long,

pedicels articulated near the middle, with

minute reddish or reddish-brown glands at

the base of the pedicels. Calyx cupular, up to

1 mm long, shortly 5-toothed, glabrous or

sometimes very sparingly pubescent. Petals

shortly united basally, 3-3,75 mm long, 1 mm

wide, linear-oblong, indexed apically,

glabrous. Stamens free among themselves,

slightly adnate to the corolla basally;

filaments up to 5 mm long; anthers up to

0,8 mm long, with a deciduous apical gland.

Ovary up to 2 mm long, linear, glaWus.

Pods dark brown or reddish-brown, 8,5-

30,5 X 1,8-2,25 cm, straight or slightly

curved, linear-oblong to oblong, compressed,

usually prominently transversely venose,

umbonate over the seeds, at maturity the

valves separating from the persistent margins,

the outer layer of the pod-wall peeling off

the inner layer, the layers remaining intact or

breaking up irregularly. Seeds 13-15 x 9-12

mm, roughly ellipsoid.

Found in Angola, South West Africa, Rhodesia

and Mozambique. Occurs in woodland, grassland

and in broken country; often among rocks. The

ecological preferences of E. suffruticosa are not clear

and more information is required.

S.W.A. — 1814 (Otjitundua): Otusemba, Story 5920.

1815 (Okahakana): 84,4 km N. of Okakeujo on road

to Ondongua, De Winter 3617. 1816 (Namutoni):

Amutele, Schinz 2070 (Z). 1817 (Tsintsabis): 48 km

N. of Tsumeb, Rodin 2605. 1916 (Gobaub): farm

Zukov 337, De Winter 3019. 2016 (Otjiwarongo):

Otjiwarongo, Liebenberg 4909. 2116 (Okahandja):

Okahandja, Dinter 314 (BM, E, GRA, Z). 2117

(Otjosondu): Omupanda, Wulfliorst s.n. (Z). 2214

(Swakopmund): Swakopmund, Seydel 1146 (Z). 2215

(Trekkopje): Ebony Mine, Schenck 457 (Z). 2216

(Otjimbingwe) : Auas Mts., pass between Haris and

Aub, Pearson 9658 (K). 2217 (Windhoek): Windhoek,

Rogers 29755. 2317 (Rehoboth): Rehoboth, Fleck

499a (Z). 2416 (Maltahohe): Bull’s Mouth Pass,

Pearson 8919\ Bullsport, Naukluft Mts., Hardy 1982.

2417 (Mariental): Voigtsgrund, Keet 1662. Grid ref.

unknown: “sandige stellen bei Ombalambuenge”,

Rautanen 242 (Z).

The narrow leaflets of E. suffruticosa, with the

midrib marginal throughout the len^h of the leaflet,

are most diagnostic and enable this species to be

readily distinguished from all of the other Elephan-

torrhiza species.

There appears to be a discontinuity in the distri-

bution of E. suffruticosa between eastern and central

Rhodesia and South West Africa and Angola. No

significant morphological differences have b^n so far

noted between specimens from these two areas of

distribution except for an inconsistent tendency for

some leaflets to be more acute and mucronate in

Rhodesia than in South West Africa and Angola. In

addition, in sp^imens from Rhodesia there are

usually ± conspicuous reddish or orange glands at the

base of the leaflets, while in Angola and South West

Africa the glands are inconspicuous and pale yellow

or even absent.

In the Flora Zambesiaca area E. suffruticosa

usually produces flowers together with the leaves,

while E. goetzei usually flowers when leafless. In

South West Africa, however, E. suffruticosa frequently

flowers when leafless, while in the Transvaal E.

goetzei usually produces flowers together with the

leaves. In the area delimited for the Flora of Southern

Africa, therefore, the reverse situation tends to

prevail..

The reason for selecting Schinz 2071 from Kilevi

am Kunene in Angola as the lectotype of E. suffru-

ticosa is discussed in Bothalia 11 : 256 (1974). As

mentioned in Bothalia l.c., having selected Schinz 2071

as the lectotype of E. suffruticosa, it was most discon-

certing to find that Schinz, in M6m. Herb. Boiss.

I : 105 (1900), cited Schinz 2071 from Olukonda-

Oshiheke in Amboland, South West Africa, as one of

the syntypes of Acacia arenaria Schinz. Fortunately I

have examined this syntype of Acacia arenaria and

can vouch for its identity. In any event, it seems

unlikely that Schinz 2071 from Olukonda-Oshiheke in

South West Africa, a syntype of Acacia arenaria,

would ever be confused with Schinz 2071 from

Kilevi am Kunene in Angola, the lectotype of Elephan-

torrhiza suffruticosa. It is as well, however, to draw

attention to the existence of these two Schinz speci-

mens each numbered 2071.

Insufficiently known species

10. Elephantorrhiza sp. Ross in Bothalia

II : 257 (1974).

Suffrutex producing at ground level

unbranched, longitudinally striate, glabrous

stems 60-80 cm high. Leaves glabrous or

almost so: petiole 3-4,5 cm long; rhachis

7,5-18 cm long; pinnae 3-8 opposite or

subopposite pairs; rhachillae 7,5-10 cm

long; leaflets 13-22 pairs per pinna, 9-11 x

3-5 mm, very oblique, broadly truncate

basally or sometimes slightly auricled on the

proximal side, asymmetric and attached by

one corner, the midrib starting in the distal

corner of the leaflet-base and gradually

becoming almost central in the leaflet,

rounded to acute or distinctly mucronate

150

Mimosoideae

apically, glabrous throughout or with few

minute marginal cilia. Flowers and pods

unknown.

Known from two gatherings from the eastern

Cape.

CAPE. — 3128 (Umtata): Umtata aerodrome

(—DA), Strey II073; Strey 11165.

The two Strey gatherings do not appear to match

material of any of the existing species. Like £.

elephatuina and E. obliqua, the specimens have

unbranched aerial stems. The Strey specimens, which

were growing in association with E. elephantina,

appear to differ from this species in having larger

leaflets, and from E. obliqua in having larger leaves

with more numerous pinnae and leaflet pairs, and

leaflets without a conspicuous venation. More

material, particularly fertile material, is required to

enable a positive identification to be made. The

specimens seem to be most closely related to E.

elephantina and the possibility exists that they are

only a variant of this species.

3468 13. ENTADA

Entada Adans., Fam. PI. 2 : 318 (1763), nom. conserv.; DC., Prodr. 2 : 424 (1825); Mem. Leg.

419 (1826); Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 332 (1841); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 276 (1862); Benth. &

Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 589 (1865); Harv., Gen. PI., ed. 2 : 91 (1868); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 325

(1871); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 : 363 (1875); Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 209 (1907);

Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 ; 401 (1915); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 784 (1930);

Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 333 (1932); Phill., Gen. 392 (1951); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B.

3 : 220 (1952); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 257 (1956); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 9 (1959);

Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 ; 288 (1964); Brenan in Kew Bull. 20 : 361 (1966); Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

58 : 17 (1967); Brenan in F.Z. 3, 1 : 13 (1970). Type species: E. pursaetha DC. {E. monostachya

DC).

Gigalobium P. Br., Hist. Jamaic. 362 (1789).

Adenopodia C. PresI, Epimel. Bot. 206 (1849).

Pusaetha L. ex Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 1 : 204 (1891); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 122 (1892).

Entadopsis Britton in N.Amer. FI. 23 : 191 (1928); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 203 (1952).

Trees (not in our species), scandent shrubs, suflfrutices or lianes; prickles present or absent.

Leaves bipinnate; petioles eglandular or sometimes glandular; rhachis sometimes ending in a

tendril ; pinnae each with one to many pairs of leaflets. Inflorescences of spiciform racemes or

spikes which are axillary or supra-axillary, solitary or clustered and often ± aggregated.

Flowers hermaphrodite or male, 5-merous. Calyx gamosepalous, with 5 short teeth. Petals 5,

free or nearly so or i connate, separated from the ovary-base by a very short perigynous zone

composed of stamens adnate to an apparent corolla-tube. Stamens 10, fertile, free or united

basally; anthers with a usually very caducous apical gland. Ovary sessile or shortly stipitate;

stigma terminal. Pods straight or curved and almost falcate, flat or rarely spirally twisted,

sometimes enormous; at maturity the valves (but not the margins) splitting transversely into

1-seeded segments from which the outer layer (exocarp) of the pod-wall often peels off, the

inner layer (endocarp) persisting as a closed envelope around the seed; the segments usually

falling away from the margins which persist as a continuous but empty frame. Seeds (in the

African species at least) ± compressed, elliptic or subcircular in outline, deep brown, smooth.

A genus of i 30 species, widespread and mainly tropical; about 20 species in Africa and Madagascar,

about four species in America. Four species occur in our area.

Entada is a southern Indian (Malabar) name used by van Rheede for E. monostachya (i.e. E. pursaetha).

Leaf-rhachis ending in a forked tendril; large unarmed woody liane with 1-2 pinnae pairs per leaf; leaflets

3-5 pairs, 25-75 / 1 1-35 mm; pods gigantic, up to 2 m long, 7-15 cm wide, woody I.E. pursaetha

Leaf-rhachis not ending in a forked tendril ; suffrutex, scandent shrub or woody climber, unarmed or armed

with scattered recurved prickles, with 1-7 pinnae pairs per leaf, leaflets 6-13 pairs, smaller than above;

pods at most 0,25 m long, 6 cm wide, coriaceous:

Suffrutex with erect annual stems, unarmed; pinnae 2-4 pairs per leaf; leaflets 15-40 x 7-20 mm;

flowers yellowish-white 2. E. arenaria

Mimosoideae

151

Woody climber or scandent shrub, unarmed or armed; pinnae 1-7 pairs per leaf; leaflets 7,5-20 x

1 ,75-7(9) mm; flowers yellowish-white or dark purple or red:

Unarmed slender woody climber; pinnae (1) 2 (3) pairs per leaf; petioles eglandular; flowers dark purple

or red; ovary glabrous, sessile 7>. E. wahlbergii

Woody climber or scandent shrub, usually armed with scattered recurved prickles, sometimes unarmed;

pinnae 5-7 pairs per leaf; petioles with a gland a short distance above the pulvinus; flowers

yellowish-white; ovary densely villous, on a distinct stipe 4. E. spicata

1. Entada pursaetha DC., Prodr. 2 : 425

(1825); M^m. Leg. 421 (1826); Brenan in

Kew Bull. 10 : 161 (1955); Keay in F.W.T.A.

ed. 2,1 : 490 (1958); Brenan in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Mimos. : 12 (1959); in F.Z. 3,1 :

15, t.3D (1970); Ross FI. Natal 194 (1973).

Type: A plant cultivated in Mauritius,

Delessert (G-DC, lecto.; K, photo.!).

Entada monostachya DC., Prodr. 2 : 425 (1825);

M6m. Leg. 422 (1826). Type: Rheede, Hort. Malabar.

9 : 151, t.77 (1689). E. scandens sensu Harv. in F.C.

2 : 276 (1862); Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 52 (1909), non

(L.) Benth. E. gigas sensu Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 785 (1930) pro parte; Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 237

(1934); Gilbert & Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 220 (1952),

non (L.) Fawc. & Rendle. E. phaseoloides sensu

Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 344 (1949); Torre in

Mendonca, Contr. Conhec. FI. Mocamb. 2 : 87 (1954),

non (L.) Merr. E. gogo (Blanco) I. M. Johnston in

Sargentia 8 : 137 (1949). Type as for Adenanthera gogo

Blanco.

Adenanthera gogo Blanco, FI. Filip. 353 (1837). No

type specimen extant.

Large liane up to 75 m long, climbing to

the tops of the tallest trees, unarmed; young

branchlets glabrous or rarely (but not in our

area) pubescent. Leaves: petiole up to 5 cm

long, eglandular; rhachis ending in a forked

tendril; pinnae 1-2 pairs; rhachillae 5,5-15

cm long; leaflets 3-5 pairs, 25-75 x 11-35

mm, elliptic to obovate-elliptic, obtuse or

rounded apically, emarginate, glabrous or

nearly so except for puberulence on the

midrib above and near the base of the leaflet

beneath. Stipules up to 3 mm long, deciduous.

Inflorescences spicate, spikes axillary on

lateral branches which are sometimes leafless

and abbreviated, the spikes thus aggregated;

spikes 6,5-15 cm long, axes pubescent;

peduncles 1-6 cm long. Flowers yellowish-

white or greenish-yellow, sessile or on pedicels

up to 0,5 mm long. Calyx cupular, ±1,25

mm long, shortly 5-toothed, glabrous or

rarely (but not in our area) pubescent.

Petals free, ± 2,5 mm long, glabrous.

Stamens linear, ± 6 mm long; anthers with

an apical caducous gland. Ovary up to 2,25

mm long, glabrous. Pods gigantic, 0,5-2 m

long, 7-15 cm wide, woody, straight or

curved, but not spirally twisted, outer leathery

layer of the pod-wall falling away to expose a

reddish-brown woody rigid inner layer,

ultimately breaking up transversely into 1-

seeded segments. Seeds deep brown, ± 5 x

3.5-5 cm, hard, smooth.

Widely distributed in tropical Africa; also from

India to China, the Philippines, Guam and N.

Australia. In our area it is found at low altitudes on

the Zululand coast, particularly in the vicinity of Port

Durnford. Occurs in riverine fringing vegetation and

in swamp forest, the plants climbing to the canopy

of the tallest trees.

NATAL.— 2831 (Nkandla): Port Durnford

(— DD), Lawn 1849 (NH); Lawn 1849a (NH);

Strey 9919.

Some years ago a solitary plant. Ward 5315

(GRA, NU), was found just south of Durban at

Jeffels Hill-South, Isipingo. It is not known whether or

not this plant was introduced. The plant has since

disappeared and the species is now not known to

occur south of the Mtunzini District.

Despite the size of the pods, they are seldom

easily visible owing to the density of the supporting

canopy. In falling, the pods often break up partially

into transverse segments. It is indeed remarkable that

these enormous pods develop from such small

ovaries.

Few specimens of E. pursaetha have been

collected in our area and more material is desired.

The seeds of E. pursaetha, and probably also

those of E. gigas (L.) Fawc. & Rendle, are frequently

washed up on the Natal beaches and sometimes are

also found on the Transkei coast. E. flgas differs

from E. pursaetha in that the gigantic pods are

spirally twisted and the flowers are on distinct

slender pedicels 1-2 mm long.

2. Entada arenaria Schinz in M6m.

Herb. Boiss. 1 : 118 (1900); Schreiber in

F.S.W.A. 58 : 17 (1967); Ross in Bothalia

11 : 126 (1973). Type: South West Africa,

Grootfontein Distr., mittelauf des Omu-

ramba Omatako, Schinz 277 (Z, holo. !).

subsp. arenaria.

Ross in Bothalia 11 ; 126 (1973j

Entada nana Harms in Warb., Kunene-Samb.

Exped. 244 (1903); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr.

3, 1 : 403 (1915); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 787

(1930); Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 258, t.51 (1956); F.

White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 92 (1962); Brenan in F.Z.

3, 1 : 19 (1970). Type: Angola, Habungu, Baum 471

(B, holo. t; E, iso.!).

SufTrutex with erect annual stems up to

1,2 m high, unarmed, stems densely pubes-

cent to subglabrous when young, longitudin-

152

Mimosoideae

ally striate. Leaves densely puberulous or

pubescent: petiole 6-12 cm long, sulcate

above; rhachis 4-17 cm long, sulcate above;

pinnae 2-4 pairs; rhachillae 7,5-14 cm long;

leaflets 7-13 pairs, (12)20-35(40) x 7-20 mm,

narrowly oblong, oblong or obovate-oblong,

very asymmetric basally, the proximal side

rounded to cordate and the distal side cuneate

to cuneate-rounded, rounded to emarginate

apically, lateral nerves conspicuous, pubes-

cent throughout on lower surface or pubes-

cence confined to the midrib, sometimes

glabrous throughout. Inflorescences spicate,

axillary, solitary or 1-3 together; spikes 4-10

cm long, axes glabrous to sparingly pubes-

cent; peduncles up to 1,5 cm long. Flowers

pale yellowish-white, on pedicels up to 1,75

mm long. Calyx campanulate, 1-2 mm long,

5-toothed, glabrous. Petals free or very

shortly united basally, ± 3 mm long,

glabrous. Stamens up to 6,5 mm long;

anthers with an apical caducous gland.

Ovary up to 2 mm long, sessile, glabrous.

Pods 1 1 -22 X 3 , 5-5(6) cm with a stipe up to

3 cm long, compressed, curved or distinctly

falcate, subcoriaceous, the valves splitting

transversely into 1 -seeded segments. Seeds

deep brown, i 12,5 x 9 mm, smooth.

Found in Angola, South West Africa, Zambia

and Rhodesia. Occurs in deep sand, often in wood-

land.

S.W.A.— 1718 (Kuring-Kuru): 4,8 km S. of

Omuramba Mpungu on road toTsintsabis, De Winter

3911. 1819 (Karakuwisa) : 32 km S. of Runtu, De

Winter 3808. 1820 (Tarikora); 16 km N. of Tamso on

road to Kapupahedi, De Winter & Marais 4718. 1821

(Andara): near Shamvura Camp, De Winter & Wiss

4448. 1918 (Grootfontein).' Omuramba Omatako,

Schinz 277 (Z). 1920 (Tsumkwe); 48 km N. of Gaut-

scha Pan, Story 6435.

Subsp. microcarpa (Brenan) J. H. Ross, which

occurs in Zaire and in Zambia, differs from subsp.

arenaria in having smaller and narrower pods.

3. Entada wahibergii Harv. in F.C. 2 : 277

(1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond.

30 : 364 (1875); Torre in Mendonca, Contr.

Conhec. FI. Mocamb. 2 : 87 (1954); Brenan

in Kew Bull. 10 : 169 (1955) pro parte excl.

specim. Michelmore & Bullock', Keay in

F.W.T.A. ed. 2,1 : 492 (1958); Brenan in

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Mimos. : 18 (1959) pro

parte excl. specim. Tanganyika; Brenan in

F.Z. 3,1 : 22, t.3C (1970); Ross, FI. Natal

194 (1973); in Bothalia 11 : 125 (1973).

Type: Natal, probably Zululand, Wahlberg

s.n. (S, holo. ; K, PRE, photo).

Pusaetka wahibergii (Harv.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen.

PI. 1 : 204 (1891). Type as above.

Entada flexuosa Hutch. & Dalz. in F.W.T.A. 1 : 356

(1928); in Kew Bull. 1928 : 401 (1928). Type: Nigeria,

Northern Prov., Nupe, Barter 991 (K, holo.!).

Entadopsis flexuosa (Hutch. & Dalz) Gilbert &

Boutique in F.C.B. 3 : 206 (1952). Type as for

Entada flexuosa. Entadopsis wahibergii (Harv.)

Pedro in Bol. Soc. Est. Mc^mb. 92 : 10 (1955).

Type as for Entada wahibergii.

Slender unarmed woody climber up to

4 m high; young branchlets glabrous,

flexuous. Leaves: petiole 1,8-4, 8 cm long,

glabrous ; rhachis 0-4 cm long; pinnae (1) 2 (3)

pairs; rhachillae 2, 5-6, 5 cm long, one or

more of the rhachillae, usually the terminal

ones, sometimes modified into a tendril or

spirally twisted basally and bearing leaflets

above; leaflets 6-12 pairs, 8-18 x 1,75-4,5

mm, obliquely-oblong, asymmetric basally,

rounded apically and usually slightly mucro-

nate, glabrous. Stipules inconspicuous. In-

florescences spicate, axillary, solitary, often

aggregated on short leafless shoots or occu-

pying terminal parts of the shoots; spikes

3- 5,5 cm long, axes glabrous; peduncles

4- 10 mm long. Flowers dark purple or red, on

pedicels 1-1,5 mm long. Calyx green,

cupular, up to 1,5 mm long, 5-toothed,

glabrous. Petals green, up to 3,5 mm long,

1,4 mm wide, united with the stamens and

ovary into a basal tube ± 1 mm long,

glabrous, apex of each petal with an in-

wardly deflexed appendage. Stamens dark

purple or red, 4-6,5 mm long; anthers

yellowish, with an apical caducous gland.

Ovary up to 2,5 mm long, sessile, glabrous.

Pods 1 1-28 X 2,8-4 cm, with a stipe 1-2 cm

long, compressed, curved or often falcate,

subcoriaceous, the valves splitting trans-

versely into 1 -seeded segments. Seeds 9-W x

7-10 mm, deep brown, smooth; areole

5, 5-6, 5 X 4-5 mm.

Widespread in Africa from Portuguese Guinea

and Mali to Nigeria, the Sudan, southwards to Zaire,

Mozambique and Natal. Occurs in bushveld, valley

scrub and on the banks of dry watercourses and

streams, usually on dry sandy soil.

NATAL.— 2831 (Nkandla): 22,4 km S.S.W. of

Nongoma ( — BA), Acocks 13012; Umfolozi Game

Reserve, near Tobothi ( — BD), Ross 2059; Umhlatuzi

valley, Melmoth road, not far from Empelengeni

bridge ( — DA), Lawn 2198 (NH). 2832 (Mtubatuba):

Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ward 1892 (NH); Ward

2230 (GRA, NH). 2931 (Stanger): Tugela Valley,

below San Souci, Edwards 1659; 4,8 km from

Mandini on Tugela mouth road, Edwards 1630.

Grid ref. unknown: without locality, Gerrard 1706

(BM, K).

Mimosoideae

153

FIG. 23. — Entada spicata. 1, flowering branch, x 2, flower, x 8; 3, anther, x 12; 4, ovary, x 10, all from

Ward 1 898 ; 5, pod, x Ross 962.

154

Mimosoideae

E. wahlbergii is a variable species. In our area it is

found almost entirely in Zululand at altitudes below

350 m. There is but a single gathering south of the

Tugela River.

A number of tropical species with dark purple or

red flowers are closely related to E. wahlbergii. E.

stuhlmamii (Taub.) Harms from Tanzania and

Mozambique differs from E. wahlbergii in having

comparatively large leaflets with readily visible

lateral nerves and nervation. This species has often

been confused with E. wahlbergii in the past; Bak. f..

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 788 (1930) based his account of

E. wahlbergii on a specimen of E. stuhlmannii.

4. Entada spicata {E. Mey.) Druce in

Rep. Bot. Soc. Exch. Club Br. Isl. 1916 : 621

(1917); Merr. in Contr. Gray Herb. 59: 19

(1919); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 333 (1932);

Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 235 (1934); Ross,

FI. Natal 194 (1973); in Bothalia 11 : 125

(1973). Syntypes: Natal, Durban [Port

Natal], Drege (not traced); Cape Province,

Bashee River, Drege (BM!; E!; K!; OXF!;

P!; PRE!; TCD!).

Mimosa spicata E. Mey., Comm. 164 (1836);

Meisn. in Hook., Lond. 3. Bot. 2 ; 101 (1843).

Syntypes as above.

Entada ? natalensis Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 333

(1841); Benth. in Hook., Lond. J. Bot. 5 : 78 (1846);

Harv. in F.C. 2 : 276 (1862); Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 30 : 364 (1875); Wood & Evans, Natal

Plants 1 : 33, t.39 (1898); Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 209

(1907). Syntypes as above. E. natalensis Benth. var.

aculeata Harv. in F.C. 2 : 276 (1862). Syntypes:

Plant raised at Cape Town from Natal seeds, J. D.

Watt (TCD!).

Adenopodia spicata (E. Mey.) Presl., Epimel. Bot. :

207 (1849). Syntypes as for Entada spicata.

Woody climber or scandent shrub up to

6 m high, usually armed with numerous

scattered recurved prickles up to 5 mm long,

sometimes unarmed; young branchlets

densely puberulous or pubescent. Leaves

sparingly to densely puberulous : petiole

3,5-9 cm long, unarmed or armed with

recurved prickles, adaxial gland 0,7-1 ,5 mm

long, often slightly raised or columnar,

usually a short distance above the pulvinus,

sometimes more than one gland present;

rhachis 3,5-10,5(13,5) cm long, sulcate

above, unarmed or armed with recurved

prickles; pinnae 5-7 pairs; rhachillae 4-9 cm

long; leaflets 7-12 pairs, 7,5-20(24) x 2,5-

7(9) mm, obliquely-oblong to obovate-

oblong, asymmetric basally, rounded or

obtuse apically, sometimes slightly mucro-

nate, sparingly to densely puberulous on

both surfaces or sometimes i glabrous,

sometimes with a conspicuous basal tuft of

hairs to one side of the midrib on the lower

surface. Stipules linear, up to 6 mm long,

soon deciduous. Inflorescences spicate, axil-

lary, solitary or 2-3 together, usually forming

a terminal panicle; spikes 1,5-4, 5 cm long,

axes sparingly to densely puberulous; pedun-

cles 0,8-3 cm long. Flowers pale yellowish-

white, sessile. Calyx cupular, up to 1 mm

long, very shortly 5-toothed or almost

truncate, subglabrous to sparingly puberu-

lous. Petals up to 2,75 mm long, united

basally for ± 1 mm, glabrous. Stamens up

to 6 mm long; anthers with an apical cadu-

cous gland. Ovary up to 1 , 5 mm long, densely

villous, on a long stipe that elevates it above

the corolla. Pods (5)8-13(16) x (1,3) 1,8-

3(3 , 7) cm, with a stipe up to 1 , 5 cm long,

compressed, slightly curved to falcate, sub-

coriaceous, the valves splitting transversely

into 1 -seeded segments, sometimes one

margin of the pod armed with recurved

prickles. Seeds deep brown, ± 7-10 x 5-7

mm, smooth; areole ±5x3 mm.

Found in the Transvaal, Swaziland, Natal and

eastern Cape Province. Often forms dense impene-

trable thickets on stream banks or on forest margins

and in forest clearings.

TRANSVAAL.— 2330 (Tzaneen): 14,4 km E. of

Louis Trichardt, farm Rustfontein ( — AA), Schlieben

7553; Duiwelskloof, Westfalia, eastern flank of

Piesang Kop ( — CA), Scheepers 958. 2430 (Pilgrim’s

Rest) : Mariepskop, Blyde River picnic spot. Van der

Schijff73I5. 2531 (Komatipoort) : Barberton, Rogers

14012. 2730 (Vryheid): “Groothoek”, Madhlan-

gampisiberg, Wakkerstroom, Killick 3918. Grid ref.

unknown : Blouberg, Smuts & Pole Evans 882.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): Grand Valley

Hills, Compton 27444.

NATAL. — 2732 (Ubombo): 3,2 km from Ingwa-

vuma on Ndumu road, Ross 2348. 2830 (Dundee):

road to Middledrift from Kranskop, Edwards 2730.

2831 (Nkandla): Nkandla forest, Edwards 2332. 2832

(Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ward 1898.

2930 (Pietermaritzburg) : Umgeni Valley, Nagle Dam

road, Ross 962 (K, NU). 2931 (Stanger): Umdloti,

Ross 485 (K, NU). 3030 (Port Shepstone): Uvongo,

Strey 9439.

CAPE. — 3129 (Port St. Johns); Ntafufu, Strey

8523. 3226 (Fort Beaufort): Douglasdale, near

Seymour, Wells 3860. 3227 (Stutterheim): near Kei

Road ( — DA), Ranger 232; East London ( — DD),

Rogers 28098. 3228 (Butterworth): The Haven, J. L.

Gordon-Gray 962 (GRA, NU), Grid ref. unknown;

Pondoland, Bachmann 642, 645, 647a (Z).

E. spicata is the most widespread species of

Entada in our area. There appears to be a tendency

for an increase in the degree of pubescence of the

lower leaflet surface towards the southern limit of

distribution of the species.

Mimosoideae

155

Van der Schijff 3471, a sterile specimen with

exceptionally large leaflets from the Pretorius Kop

area of the Kruger National Park, is probably

referable to E. spicata.

E. spicata is sometimes confused with Acacia

kraussiana Meisn. ex Benth. but the two species may

be readily distinguished. In A. kraussiana the flowers

are in round heads, the pods do not split transversely

into segments, and the lowest pair of leaflets on each

pinna are greatly reduced and bract-like.

The record of E. natalensis Benth. (i.e. E. spicata)

by Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 53 (1909), needs confirma-

tion. Although the description indicates E. spicata,

the occurrence of this species in Mozambique has

never been confirmed and it is thought that Sim was

probably referring to E. schlechteri (Harms.) Harms.

E. schlechteri, which is closely related to E. spicata,

differs in having fewer pinnae pairs, broader leaflets

and dark red flowers.

156

Mimosoideae

INDEX

Page

Acacia Mill 24

acco/a Maiden & Betche* 114

adunca A. Cunn. ex G. Don* 114

albida Del fig. 7, 44

amboensis Schinz 99

arabica (Lam.) Willd 82

var. kraussiana Benth 82

arabica sensu E. Mey 82

arenaria Schinz 97

armata R. Br.* 109

ataxacantha DC 46

var. australis Burtt Davy 46

atomiphylla Burch 80

baileyana F. Muell* 109

barbertonensis Schweick 77

benthamii Rochebr., non Meisn 82

borleae Burtt Davy 77

brevispica Harms 67

subsp. dregeana {Benth.) Brenan ... 67

var. dregeana (Benth.) Ross & Gordon-

Gray 67

var. schweinfurthii (Brenan & Exell) Ross

& Gordon-Gray 68

burkei Benth 56

caffra (Thunb.) Willd 60

var. campylacantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.)

Aubrev 60

var. longa Glover 61

var. namaquensis Eckl. & Zeyh ... 61

var. pechuelii Kuntze 65

var. rupestris Sim 46

var. tomentosa Glover 61

var. tomentosa sensu Bak.f 64

var. transvaalensis Glover 61

caffra sensu N.E. Br 64

caffra sensu Oliv. pro parte 55

caffra sensu Oliv. pro parte 57

caffra sensu Oliv. pro parte 60

caffra sensu Schinz 62

callicoma Meisn 106

campylacantha Hochst. ex A. Rich. ... 58

capensis (Burm.f.) Burch 70

catechu sensu Harms 64

catechu sensu E. Mey 61

catechu sensu Schweinf. 58

subsp. suma (Roxb.) Roberty

var. campylacantha (Hochst. ex A.

Rich.) Roberty 60

var. baumii Roberty 64

cinerea Schinz, non Spreng 64

circummarginata Chiov 50

clavigera E. Mey 95

subsp. clavigera 96

cultriformis y4. Cw/i/;. ex: C. Dort* . . . .113

cyanophyllaCmA].* 110

cyclopis A. Cunn. ex Loudon, nomen nudum* 112

Cyclops A. Cunn. ex G. Don* Ill

davyi N.E. Br 77

dealbata Link* 107

decurrens Willd.* 108

var. wo///j Lindl.* 108

(/ecwrre/?5 sensu Bak. f. pro parte* . .107

delagoensis Harms 54

Page

detinens Burch 52

dulcis Marloth & Engl 65

dulcis sensu Henkel 57

elata A. Cunn. ex Benth.* 113

elephantina Burch 140

elephantorhiza DC 140

en^/m Schinz 127

eriadenia Benth 46

erioloba E. Mey 78

erioloba E. Mey. x Acacia haematoxylon

Willd. 81

erubescens Welw. ex Oliv 65

etbaica sensu Torre 92

exuvialis Verdoorn 73

fallax E. Mey 61

famesiana {L.) Willd.* 106

/eroA: Benth. ^ro parte . 52

ferox Benth. pro parte 56

fimbriata A. Cunn. ex G. Don* 114

fleckii Schinz 63

galpinii Burtt Davy 57

gansbergensis Schinz 62

gerrardii Benth 93

var. gerrardii 93

subsp. negevensis Zohary 94

gillettiae Burtt Davy 91

giraffae Willd 81

var. espinosa Kunlze 79

giraffae sensu auct. mult., non Willd. ... 78

giraffae Willd. X Acacia haematoxylon

Willd 81

glandulifera Schinz 75

glandulifera sensu Burtt Davy pro parte . 74

glandulifera sensu Burtt Davy pro parte . . 76

goeringii Schinz 91

grandicomuta Gerstn 96

haematoxylon Willd. 80

harmsiana Dinter 87

hebeclada DC. 100

subsp. chobiensis {O. B. Miller) Schreiber 102

subsp. hebeclada 101

subsp. tristis Schreiber 102

var. stolonifera Dinter 102

hebeclada sensu Bews 99

hebeclada sensu Harms 102

hebeclada sensu F. White pro parte . 102

hebecladoides Harms 93

hereroensis Engl. 62

hermannii Bak. f. 97

heteracantha Burch 89

hirtella E. Mey. 70

var. inermis Walp 70

hirtella sensu Sim 96

horrida Willd. pro parte 70

var. transvaalensis Burtt Davy ... 70

horrida sensu auct. mult 70

inconfiagrabilis Gerstn 70

inermis Marloth 18

kalachariensis Schinz 128

karroo Hayne 69

var. transvaalensis (Burtt Davy) Burtt

Davy 70

An asterisk signifies exotic species or genera; synonyms are in italics.

Mimosoideae

Page

kirkii Oliv 87

subsp. kirkii 87

var. intermedia Brenan .... 87

var. kirkii 87

kraussiana Meisn. ex Benth 66

kwebensis N.E. Br 65

lasiopetala sensu Burtt Davy 99

lebbeck (L.) Willd.* 22

litakunensis Burch 89

\ong\foWdi (Andr.) Willd* Ill

var. longifolia Ill

var. sophorae {Labill.) F. Muell. ex Benth. 1 1 1

longipetiolata Schinz 65

lophantha Willd* 23

luederitzii Engl. 90

var. luederitzii 91

var. retinens (.Sim) Ross & Brenan .91

luederitzii Engl, pro parte 92

lugardiae N.E. Br 46

maidenii F. A/we//.* 114

maras Engl 89

marlothii Engl 18

meamsii De Wild.* 107

melanoxylon R. Br.* 112

mellei Verdoorn 62

mellei sensu O. B. Miller 61

mellifera ( Vahf) Benth 50

subsp. detinens (Burch.) Brenan ... 52

subsp. mellifera 51

mellifera sensu Henkel 55

mollissima sensu auct. mult.* 107

montis-usti Merxm. & Schreiber .... 53

mossambicensis Bolle 44

mossambicensis sensu Henkel 56

multijuga Meisn 61

natalitia E. Mey 70

nebrownii Burtt Davy 75

nebrownii sensu Burtt Davy pro parte, non

sensu stricto 74

nebrownii sensu Burtt Davy pro parte, non

sensu stricto 76

nigrescens Oliv 54

var. pollens Benth 55

nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del 82

subsp. adstringens (Schumach. & Thonn.)

Roberty var. kirkii (Oliv.) Roberty. 87

subsp. kraussiana (Benth.) Brenan . fig. 9, 82

var. kraussiana (Benth.) A. F. Hill . 84

subsp. iw/)fl/a/a sensu Boughey. ... 84

pollens (Benth.) Rolfe 55

paradoxa DC.* 109

passargei Harms 55

pendula A. Cunn. ex G. Don* 114

pennata sensu Harv. pro parte . . . .68

pennata sensu E. Mey 67

var. dregeana Benth 67

permixta Burtt Davy 76

var. glabra Burtt Davy 73

podalyriifolia /I. Cwwn. ex G. Dow* . . . 109

polyacantha Willd 58

subsp. campylacantha (Hochst. ex A.

Rich.) Brenan fig. 8, 58

subsp. polyacantha 60

procera (Roxb.) Willd.* 23

pycnantha BewtA.* 110

redacta J. H. Ross 104

157

Page

reficiens Wawra 92

subsp. reficiens 92

reficiens sensu Schreiber pro parte .... 91

rehmanniana Schinz 98

rehmanniana sensu M.A. Exell 145

reticulata (L.) Willd. pro parte 70

retinens Sim 91

retinens sensu O. B. Miller 91

reXinodies Schlechtend.* 113

robusta Burch 94

subsp. clavigera (E. Mey) Brenan ... 95

subsp. robusta 95

subsp. usambarensis (Taub.) Brenan . . 96

robusta sensu Codd 96

robynsiana Merxm. & Schreiber .... 52

rogersii Burtt Davy 75

rostrata Sim 50

rufobrunnea N.E. Br 97

saligna (LoA///.) Wendl.* 110

sambesiaca Schinz 96

schlechteri Harms 106

schweinfurthii Brenan & Exell 68

var. schweinfurthii 68

Senegal (L.) Willd. 48

var. leiorhachis Brenan 50

subsp. mellifera (Vahl) Roberty .51

var. rostrata Brenan 49

subsp. trispinosa (Stokes) Roberty pro

parte 50

Senegal sensu O. B. Miller 57

sericocephala Fenzl 11

seyal sensu Sim 70

var. multijuga sensu O. B. Miller ... 97

sieberana DC 98

var. vermoesenii (De Wild.) Keay &

Brenan 99

subsp. vermoesenii (De Wild.) Troupin . 99

var. woodii (Burtt Davy) Keay & Brenan 99

spinosa Marloth & Engl 49

spinosa E.M^y 127

spirocarpa Hochst. ex A. Rich 90

spirocarpoides Engl 89

sp 77

sp 105

sp.\ 50

sp. sensu Schinz 65

sp. nov. sensu Schinz 70

sp. cf. hebeclada sensu Wood ...... 99

sp. cf. stolonifera sensu Torre pro parte . 99

sp. aff. trispinosa sensu Schinz 65

sp. cf. uncinata sensu Torre 92

stolonifera Burch 101

var. cAo6/ew«j O. B. Miller .... 102

stuhlmannii TawA fig. 11, 104

subalata sensu Brenan 84

suma sensu Benth. pro parte 60

swazica Burtt Davy 74

tenax Marloth 52

tenuispina Verdoorn 73

/er/w/nw/Zs sensu Court* 113

tort ills (Forsk.) Hayne 88

subsp. heteracantha (Burch.) Brenan . . 89

subsp. spirocarpa (Hochst. ex A. Rich.)

Brenan 90

var. crinita Chiov 90

subsp. tortilis 89

trispinosa Marloth & Engl, ex Schinz ... 49

158

Mimosoideae

Page

tristis Welw. ex Oliv 102

imcimta Engl 92

uncinata sensu O. B. Miller 91

vermoesenii De Wild 99

verrucifera Harms 87

viridiramis Burch 130

viscidula A. Cunn. ex Benth* 114

visile Griseb* 113

volkii Suesseng 50

waited Suesseng 75

welwitschii Oliv 54

subsp. delagoensis {Harms) Ross & Brenan 54

subsp. welwitschii 54

welwitschii Oliv. pro parte 54

woodii Burtt Davy 99

xanthophloea Benth fig. 10, 85

Adenanthera gogo Blanco 151

Adenopodia C. Piesl 150

spicata (E. Mey.) Presl 154

Albizia Durazz 7

adianthifolia (Schumach.) fV. F. Wight.

jtg- z,

amara (Roxb.) Boiv 11

subsp. sericocephala (Be/?//?.) Brcwfl/? . 11

/////ora sensu Oliv 11

anthelminitica (/I. Rich.) Brongn 18

var. australis Bak. f 18

var. /???/)ejce/?i Burtt Davy 18

antunesiana 7/ar/??j 15

brevifolia Schinz 10

chinensis (Osbeck) Merr.* 8

distachya (Vent.) Macbride* 23

evansii Burtt Davy 19

fastigiata (E. Mey.) Oliv 20

forbesii Benth 14

gummifera sensu C.A. Sm. pro parte ... 20

harveyi Fourn fig. 1, 12

hypoleuca Oliv 12

julibrissin Durazz.* 7

lebbeck (L.) Benth.* 22

var. australis Burtt Davy 16

lophantha (IP?//?/.) Be/?//?.* 23

lugardii N.E. Br 55

mossambicensis Sim 15

pallida Fourn 12

pallida Harv 12

parvifolia Burtt Davy 10

petersiana (Bolle) Oliv 19

subsp. evansii (Burtt Davy) Brenan 19

procera (Roxb.) Benth.* 23

rhodesica Burn F)a.\y 16

rogersii Burtt Davy 10

sericocephala Benth 11

struthiophylla MWne-YKedhedid 11

suluensis Gerj/// 17

tanganyicensis Bak.f. 16

subsp. tanganyicensis 16

umbalusiana Sim 18

versicolor Welw. ex Benth 14

var. mossambicensis Schinz 15

Amblyoonocarpus Harms 132

andongensis (Welw. ex Oliv.) Exell & Torre.

18, 132

(//>///j?//?^??/?« (Welw. ex Oliv.) Harms . .132

schweiiifurthii Harms 132

Page

Besenna A. Rich 7

anthelmintica A. Rich 18

Cailliea Guill. & Perr 123

dichrostachys Guill. & Perr 127

var. leptosiachys (DC.) GuiW & Pcrr . . 127

nutans (Pers.) Skeels 127

Desmanthus Willd 120

leptostachys DC 127

nutans (Pers.) DC 126

sect. Dichrostachys DC 123

stolonifer DC 121

trichostachys DC 126

virgatus (L.) IP?//?/. 120

Dichrostachys (DC.) Wight & Arn 123

arborea N.E. Br 127

cafiFra Meisn. ex Benth. 127

cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn 123

subsp. afrrcana Brenan & Brummitt . .126

var. africana Brenan & Brummitt

fig. 16, 126

var. lugardiae Brenan & Brummitt . 127

var. plurijuga Brenan & Brummitt . 128

var. pubescens Brenan & Brummitt . 128

var. setulosa (Welw. ex Oliv.) Brenan

& Brummitt 128

subsp. argillicola Bre/???/? & B/-??/////??//. . 127

var. hirtipes Brenan & Brummitt . 127

subsp. forbesii (Benth.) Brenan & Brum-

mitt 128

subsp. nyassana (Taub.) Brenan .fig. 15, 124

^/c>///e/-??/a (Forsk.) Chiov 123

subsp. nyassana (Taub.) Brenan . .126

glomerata sensu FI. PI. Afr 128

lugardiae N.E. Br 127

major Sim 124

nutans (Pers.) Benth 127

var. setulosa Welw. ex Oliv 128

nyassana Taub 124

Elephantorrhiza Benth 138

burchellii Benth 140

burkei Benth 143

dinteri Phillips ined 140

elephantina (B??/-c/?.) 5/:ee/5 . . .fig.2\, 140

var. burkei (Benth.) Merr 144

goetzei (Harms) Harms 145

subsp. goetzei fig. 22, 145

subsp. lata Brenan & Brummitt . . . 146

obliqua Bunt Davy 139

var. giahra Phillips 139

var. obliqua 139

petersiana Bolle 146

praetermissa J. H. Ross 1?14

pubescens Phillips ined 143

rangei Harms 146

rangei sensu Phillips 140

rubescens Gibbs 145

schinziana Din ter 148

suffruticosa Schinz 148

sp 149

sp. cf. goetzei (Harms) Harms 145

sp. cf. petersiana sensu Gomes e Sousa . 145

transvaalensis Phillips ined 140

woodii Phillips 141

var. pubescens Phillips 143

var. woodii 143

Mimosoideae

159

Page

Entada Adans 150

arenaria Schinz 151

subsp. arenaria 151

subsp. microcarpa {Brenan)J. H. Ross . 152

flexuosa Hutch. & Dalz 152

sensu auct 151

gogo (Blanco) I. M. Johnston 151

monostachya DC 151

/;a«a Harms 151

? natalensis Benth 154

var. aculeata Harv 154

pftaseoloides sensu Brenan 151

pursaetha DC 151

scandens sensu Harv 151

schlechteri (Harms) Harms 155

spicata (E. Mey.) trace fig. 23, 154

stuhimannii (Taub.) Harms 154

wahlbergii Harv 152

Entadopsis Br\iton 150

flexuosa (Hutch. & Dalz.) Gilbert & Boutique 152

wahlbergii (Harv.) Pedro 152

Faidherbia A. Chev 24

albida (Del.) A. Chev 45

Farnesia Gasparr 24

Gigalobium P. Br 150

Inga fastigiata (E. Mey.) Steud 20

mellifera (Vahl) Willd 51

sericocephala A. Rich 11

Leucaena Benth 115

glauca sensu auct. mult 115

leucocephala (Law.) Z)c IJ'//* .flg. 12, 115

Mimosa L 117

adianthifolia Schumach 20

amara Roxb 11

asperata L 117

caffra Thunb 61

capensis Burm. f. pro parte 70

cinerea L 123

decurrens Donn, nomen nudum* . . .. 108

decurrens Wendl.* 108

distachya Vent.* 23

eburnea sensu Boj 70

farnesiana L.* 106

^/a«ca sensu L. pro parte 115

glomerata Forsk 123

lebbeck L.* 22

leucacanlha Jacq 70

leucocephala ham.* 115

loiigifolia Andr.* Ill

mellifera Vahl 51

natansh.1 121

Page

nilotica L 82

nilotica sensu Burm. f 70

nilotica sensu Thunb 82

nilotica sensu Thunb 70

nutans Pers 126

pigra L fig. 13, 117

procera Roxb.* 23

prostrata Lam 121

pudica L 118

var. hispida Brenan* 118

saligna hah'iW.* 110

Senegal L 49

spicata E. Mey 154

sp. sensu Paterson 79

tortilis Forsk 88

virgata L.* 120

Mimosa L. pro parte 24

Neptunia Lour 120

/la/oni (L.f.) Druce 121

oleracea Lear fig. 14, 121

prostrata (ham.) Ba\W 121

stolonifera (DC.) Guill. & Perr 121

Newtonia Baill 134

hildebrandtii ( Ka/Le) Torre 134

var. hildebrandtii fig. 19, 134

var. pubescens Brenan 134

Phyllodoce Link, non Salisb 24

Piptadenia goetzei Harms 145

hildebrandtii Vaike, 134

sp. sensu Henkel 134

Prosopis sensu E. Mey 138

chilensis auct., non (Mol.) Stuntz .... 7

elephantina (Burch.) E. Mey 140

elephantorrhiza (DC.) Spreng 140

glandulosa Torrey 7

juliflora auct., non (Swartz) DC 7

? kirkii Oliv 45

pubescens Benth 6

velutina Wooton 7

Pusaetha L. ex Kuntze 150

wahlbergii (Harv.) Kuntze 152

Tetrapleura andongensis Welw. OViv. . .132

obtusangula ex OVw 132

Vachellia Wight & Arn 24

Xerocladia Harv 130

viridiramis (Barc/i.) 7a«A fig. 17, 130

zeyheriWarv 130

Xylia Benth 136

a/r/ca«a sensu Torre 136

torreana Brenan fig- 20, 136

Zygia sensu E. Mey 7

fastigiata E. Mey 20

petersiana Bolle 19