Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Information
Virgately branched shrub or tree up to 6 m high, armed with stout spines which are modified lateral shoots and which are often branched and bear leaves and inflorÂescences; young branchlets pale greenish-yellow or yellowish-brown, becoming greyish- brown to grey or brown with age, subglabrous or occasionally finely pubescent when young. Leaves reduced to green pinnae-rhachillae (2)4-15 cm long, terete or subterete, slightly grooved on the upper surface, with up to 15 nodes but no leaflets or occasionally with minute inconspicuous scale-like linear or oblanceolate opposite leaflets up to 1,5 x 0,5 mm. Stipules inconspicuous, not spine-scent. Racemes lax, up to 18 cm long; bracts up to 1,5 mm long, ± ovate, soon deciduous. Flowers yellow, on pedicels 3-10 mm long (excluding the elongate lower part of the hypanthium). Receptacle consisting of a disc up to 3 mm in diameter and a lower elongate part up to 10 mm long which simulates the pedicel; the disc usually remaining in fruit to form a small collar. Sepals 5-8 mm long, narrowly-ovate to + oblong, narrowly imbricate, becoming reflexed in flower, subglabrous or with short scattered hairs. Petals 7-12 mm long, the upper one larger than the others, with a distinct claw and a ± reniform lamina; the other petals ovate-lanceolate. Stamens up to 12 mm long, filaments densely pubescent below; anthers 1-1,7 mm long. Ovary glabrous or with few scattered hairs, especially on the margins. Pods brown, (3,5)5-13 cm long, 0,6-0,95 cm wide, linear, straight or curved and sometimes ± falcate, attenuate at both ends, flattened, often somewhat constricted between the seeds, glabrous, longitudinally venose, indehiscent or perhaps very tardily dehiscent. Seeds 7-9,5 X 5-6 x 2-3 mm, oblong, elongated longitudinally in the pods, mottled, light brown with dark brown markings, smooth. Fig. 21.
Use
1. Parkinsonia africana Sond. in Linnaea 23 : 38 (1850); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 269 (1862); Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 123 (1900); Sim, For. Fl. Cape Col. 208 (1907); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 501, fig. 267 (1915); Marloth, Fl. S. Afr. 2 : fig. 35 (1925); Dinter in Feddes Repert. 22 : 111 (1925); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 625 (1930); Wilman, Checklist Griq. West 69 (1946); O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 34 (1952); Leistner in Koedoe 2 : 163 (1959); Brenan in Kew Bull. 17 : 206 (1963); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 348 (1965); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 16 (1967); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 887 (1973). Type: Cape, Calvinia Distr., Spring-bokkeel, Burke & Zeyher 557 (BM!, K!, OXF!, PRE!, iso.).
Range
Found in South West Africa, the northern Cape Province and probably also in south-western BotÂswana. Occurs in dry semi-desert or desert areas, especially on sandy plains and near watercourses.