White-thorn, Apple ring acacia

Where does White-thorn grow?

Found in: Africa, Algeria, Angola, Asia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Chad, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran, Israel, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Also as Mimosaceae.

Status: A famine food.

Growing White-thorn, Apple ring acacia

Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seeds. The seeds are put in boiling water and soaked overnight then planted. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

Edible Uses: The seeds are boiled, then re-boiled and the skins removed then eaten in times of food scarcity. This is done to remove toxic components. The pods are sometimes eaten. The pods are used for flavouring. Caution: The seeds can contain hydrogen cyanide and would need to be cooked.

Production: Trees grow quickly. They can be 7 m high in 3 years. It develops its first fruit after 2-15 years. A large tree can yield a ton of pods.

Nutrition Info

White-thorn, Apple ring acacia Photos

References

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Bekele-Tesemma A., Birnie, A., & Tengnas, B., 1993, Useful Trees and Shrubs for Ethiopia. Regional Soil Conservation Unit. Technical Handbook No 5. p 38 (As Acacia albida)

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Descr. Egypte, Hist. nat. 142, t. 52, fig. 3. 1813 ("1812") (As Acacia albida)

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Mbuya, L.P., Msanga, H.P., Ruffo, C.K., Birnie, A & Tengnas, B., 1994, Useful Trees and Shrubs for Tanzania. Regional Soil Conservation Unit. Technical Handbook No 6. p 46 (As Acacia albida)

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Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 129

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