Edit History
Acacia ataxacantha [family FABACEAE]
Date Updated: 19 August 2007
Herbarium
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Collection
Flora of Southern Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Names
Acacia ataxacantha [family FABACEAE]
Common names
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 Mem. 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, Fl. 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!; Z!). ? A. caffra var. rupestris Sim, For. Fl. P.E.Afr. 56, t.39B (1909). Type: Mozambique, "on and below the Lebombo's, in Maputa and Marracuene, less common nearer Lourenco Marques", Sim 6235 (whereabouts unknown). Sim's description and plate indicate that the prickles
Information
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 (0,9)2,6-4,2(7,3) cm long; leafÂlets 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 to sparingly pubescent, usually 1/3-1/2 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.
Habitat
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.
Use
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, Fl. 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.1652 (1972); Ross, Fl. Natal 192 (1973); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 747 (1973); Schreiber in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 11 : 116 (1973). Syntypes: Senegal, Back (G—DC) & Per-rottet (G—DC).
Range
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.
Date Updated: 19 August 2007
Herbarium
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Collection
Flora of Southern Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Names
Acacia ataxacantha [family FABACEAE]
Common names
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 Mem. 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, Fl. 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!; Z!). ? A. caffra var. rupestris Sim, For. Fl. P.E.Afr. 56, t.39B (1909). Type: Mozambique, "on and below the Lebombo's, in Maputa and Marracuene, less common nearer Lourenco Marques", Sim 6235 (whereabouts unknown). Sim's description and plate indicate that the prickles
Information
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 (0,9)2,6-4,2(7,3) cm long; leafÂlets 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 to sparingly pubescent, usually 1/3-1/2 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.
Habitat
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.
Use
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, Fl. 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.1652 (1972); Ross, Fl. Natal 192 (1973); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 747 (1973); Schreiber in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 11 : 116 (1973). Syntypes: Senegal, Back (G—DC) & Per-rottet (G—DC).
Range
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.
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