Dichrostachys cinerea

Sicklebush, Christmas bush

Shrub up to 3 m high with grey bark and solitary thorns often bearing one or two leaves. Leaves bipinnate and finely pubescent, 2-8 cm long. Pendulous flower heads that are pink in the upper part and yellow in the lower part. Dark-brown pods, borne in clusters, twisted, each 5-8 cm long and 0.5-1 cm broad. Pods eaten by stock. In bush country often causes serious problems in over-grazed areas and forms impenetrable thickets. Browsed during the dry season.

As % of dry matter

DM

CP

CF

Ash

EE

NFE

Ca

P

Ref

Pods, South Africa

92.5

16.6

22.1

5.6

5.4

50.3

0.92

0.12

193