Vachellia (Acacia) tortilis
The Umbrella Thorn is one of the most characteristic large trees of our dry savanna regions, and occurs from South Africa through eastern Africa into northern Africa and Arabia. It is a hardy species and can grow to a height of 21m, with a classic umbrella-shaped canopy, though in very arid areas it seldom grows beyond a small scrub. The Afrikaans name, Haak-en-Steek, literally translates as Hook-and-Prick and is an excellent description of the arrangement of the Umbrella Thorn’s spikes. Umbrella Thorns flower in summer, producing dense masses of white flowers.
Umbrella Thorn wood can be used for making furniture, tools and fence posts, the leaves and pods are excellent fodder for game and livestock, and several parts of the plant is used in traditional medicines.
DeWetsWild 
Ah, the love of a tree!
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Especially trees so iconic of a landscape!
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I have had some meetings with those trees and failed to enjoy the experience. Including a horse trying to scrape me off on one.
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I would’ve turned that horse into polony and glue very quickly afterwards, it must’ve been pure evil!
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It acquired something of a reputation in that direction but everyone was too scared of it to try any polony or glue conversions!
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😀 😀 😀
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All the parts of this tree are either edible or useful to animals and humans in many ways. Thank you Dries for bringing attention to the Umbrella Thorn!
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And then it is so aesthetically pleasing as well! Thanks for visiting, Hien!
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Dis ‘n pragtige boom en die dorings is geniepsig skerp! Ons het 3 Koorsbome hier in ons tuin en die dorings lyk so baie na die boom sin.
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Aard die koorsbome goed daar by julle, Aletta? Hulle is vir my darem so mooi!
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Ja, Dries. Dit was net so ‘n verrassing vir my ook!
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So stukkie van KZN daar saam jou in die Kaap!
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Net so! 😀
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An iconic tree of Africa and still an Acacia in my view!
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Same here – the revised genus name sits really awkwardly on the tongue… 😉
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I really love this kind of trees, they are so beautiful! Great pictures.😊 I have never seen any black wildbeest and is very curious about it.
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Thanks, John! The Umbrella Thorns are some of our most sculptured trees – they really contribute so much to the typical African landscape!
Have a look here for more about the Black Wildebeest: https://dewetswild.com/2016/06/17/black-wildebeest/
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Een van my gunsteling bome…geen wonder Pierneef het dit so graag geskilder nie. Pragtige foto’s, Dries!
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Baie dankie, Dina – Hulle sal my ook sommer inspireer om te skilder!
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These are such beautiful trees. They look majestic – I enjoy your last picture with the Black Wildebeest.
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Thanks, Anne!
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Those are some serious thorns.
janet
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And excellent at doing the job they’re required for, that’s for sure!
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Very useful and very pretty too!
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They make beautiful artistic subjects!
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Yikes! The thorn pods are pretty–almost like a puzzle. But the thorns themselves–wow!
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They can prove quite nasty!
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