Acacia Camel Thorn

Overview

The slow-growing Camel Thorn Acacia, one of southern Africa’s most common trees, has drooping, often contorted, branches and a rounded or umbrella-shaped crown. Its common name refers not to a true camel, but instead to the Afrikaans’ name for the giraffe, “camel-horse.” The tree is identifiable by the sweet-scented, bright yellow, ball-like flowers that are found on many acacias. The Camel Thorn, like most acacias, has bipinnately compound leaves, but it is easily discerned from its cousins by its larger leaves and large, light-gray, velvety seedpods shaped like crescent moons. The pods are highly nutritious and are eaten during the dry season by livestock and large native herbivores such as the elephant, black rhino, gemsbok, eland, greater kudu, and of course, giraffe.