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Acacia litakunensis Burch. |
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Leguminosae A. heteracantha Burch.; A. spirocarpoides Engl.; A. spirocarpa Hochst. ex A. Rich. Haakdoring, umbrella thorn (South Africa), haakensteek (Transvaal). Small to medium-sized tree, with stipular spines of two types, alternating along the branches; strong, dark coloured, hook thorn and a pair of long white thorns about 2.5 cm further along the branch. The hook thorn becomes the white one next year. White thorns long and straight, 2.5 to 6.0 cm; leaves about 5 cm long with ten pair of pinnae. Pinnules very small and narrow, in 7 to 15 pairs. Flowers capitate, white. Pods 0.6 cm broad and 7.5 to 10 cm long, curled to form a spiral (Bonsma, 1942). Occurs from northern Cape Province, South Africa, to Tanzania. It seems to have two growth forms: a young shrubby, dome-shaped type and a tall, often flat-topped tree. It flowers in November in Cape Province; the pods ripen early and drop before the end of July. Pods are very loosely attached to the branches; when cattle touch the twigs with their tongues, the pods fall into their mouths. West (1950) says that they are so eagerly sought after by cattle and game that it is difficult to collect any quantity of pods. This species often pioneers the invasion of grassland by bush and may form thickets.Bonsma states that the seeds pass undigested through the animal and germinate in the dung around drinking places. The pods contain 18.83 percent crude protein, 2.44 percent fat, 46.25 percent nitrogen-free extract, 5.1 percent ash, 20.1 percent crude fibre, and Bonsma assesses that the daily intake is equal to 0.7 kg. of protein supplement. Cattle are kept in good condition during the winter on this diet, and the ranchers refer to the area where the trees grow as Haakdoring veldt.
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