Medium-sized thorny evergreen with rough black trunk and straight sharp spikes. Grows in dry regions, but also endures floods. A browse tree with pods and leaves that are excellent fodder and are available when there is no grass. Pods also collected as a supplement for dairy cattle. Used in rotation with grass to improve the soil. The pods are reported to contain tannic acid and must be ground before feeding to cattle, as otherwise the seeds pass undigested with faeces.