Acacia catechu var. campylacantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Roberty

Acacia polycantha ssp. polycantha is a large, deciduous tree 3.5-20 m high; bark yellow-brown, inclined to be thick or peeling in thick, corky flakes and loose strips, giving the trunk a whitish appearance; prickles in pairs just below the nodes, sometimes absent from the branchlets, recurved, 2-8 (12 max.) mm, strongly hooked prickles on woody bosses that are sometimes on the trunk but more frequently on the branches; stipules not spinescent; rather slender hooked prickles, pale to dark brown, produced in pairs just below each node. Petiole 5-4 cm long, usually with a conspicuous, flattened, discoid or oblong gland, rhachis puberulous or pubescent, rarely subglabrous, a gland at the junction of the top 3-17 pinnae pairs; pinnae (min. 6) 14-60 pairs; leaflets (min. 15) 25-68 pairs per pinna, small, 2-5 x 0.4-0.75 mm, narrow to narrowly triangular. Inflorescence spicate, solitary or fascicled; spikes 3-12 cm long, on peduncles; flowers yellowish-white, sessile, appearing with the new leaves; calyx puberulous or pubescent, rarely subglabrous or puberulous, on the lobes only; corolla 2-3 mm long, subglabrous or puberulous. Fruit a straight, flat pod, brown, rarely puberulous, dehiscent, 7-18 x 2.1 cm long, tapering to both ends; seeds 9-7 x 6-8 mm, compressed; central areole 3-4 x 2.5-3.5 mm. The generic name ‘acacia’ comes from the Greek word ‘akis’, meaning a point or a barb. The specific name ‘polycantha’ is based on the Greek word for many thorns.

Like most acacias, flowering depends highly on the rains. The cream-white, sessile flowers are inserted in spikes up to 15 cm long. They are produced together with new leaves. After pollination by insects, straight fruits with distinctly narrow, thickened margin are developed within 6 months, fruits are tapered on both ends. When mature the pods turn greyish-brown. The seeding period can be observed approximately 6 months after flowering.

Alluvial soils with a good mix of clay and sand. Occasionally found on stony slopes and compacted soils.

The species occurs in wooded grasslands, deciduous woodland and bushland, riverine and groundwater forests in altitudes between sea level and 1800 m. It prefers sites with a high groundwater table, indicating eutrophic and fresh soils. It occasionally prospers on stony slopes and compact soils. In Kenya, it can be found at the coast, in the central highlands and the lake region.

A. polycantha ssp. polycantha is mainly seed propagated. To get good germination results, the seed coat should be nicked at the distal (cotyledon) end using a sharp tool like a scalpel, knife or nail clipper. Large quantities of seeds should be treated by pouring boiling water on them in a vessel. Then the seeds should be left for 24 hours in the water as it cools. Under ideal conditions, the seeds germinate within 10-21 days. The expected germination rate of mature, healthy and properly treated seed is 60-90%.

Seed storage behaviour is orthodox. A purity of 98% can be achieved. Seed weight depends on provenance and the climatic conditions of the ripening year. Mature and properly dried seeds can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature for at least 1 year, and at 10 deg. C for several years. Storing with insecticides is recommended. On average there are 15 000 seeds/kg.

Fuel: The wood of A. polyacantha ssp. polyacantha burns well, but the thorns make it difficult to handle. Poison: The smell of the tree is useful repellent against snakes and crocodiles. Medicine: Used as a remedy for snakebite and as an infusion in which to bath children who are restless at night. Other products: In Tanzania and Zimbabwe the roots have the reputation of possessing considerable magical properties.