Balanites aegyptiaca

Desert date

Small or medium-sized tree 3.5-5.5 m high with recurved spiny branches and fleshy succulent leaves. Found mostly on flat land with slightly impeded drainage. As it is drought resistant, it is common in the Sahel. Goats eat the leaves avidly and also pick up the datelike fruits when they fall to the ground. The young spines are soft, and cattle eat young branches when other browse is scarce.