Classification of the genus Acacia (in the wider sense) has been subject to considerable debate. It is generally agreed that there are valid reasons for breaking it up into several distinct genera, but there has been disagreement over the way this should be done. As of 2017, it is widely (but not completely) accepted that the section that includes the majority of the Australian species should retain the name Acacia, whilst other sections of the genus should be transferred to other genera. This species is transferred to Vachellia[].

Common Name:

General Information

Vachellia robusta is a shortly-deciduous plant that varies in habit from a shrub to a moderate-sized tree with a spreading crown. It usually grows up to 20 metres tall but occasional specimens to 25 metres can be found. The bole is up to 70cm in diameter[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood and fuel. It is the preferred fuel in some areas. Some forms of this species can be spectacular when flowering and may make good garden trees, even in frost-prone regions[].

Known Hazards

Especially in times of drought, many Acacia species can concentrate high levels of the toxin Hydrogen cyanide in their foliage, making them dangerous for herbivores to eat.

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, S. Africa.

Habitat

Woodland and wooded grassland, often near rivers, where large specimens can be found; at elevations up to 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of tropical areas, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,800 metres[]. Plants can tolerate some frost[].
Established plants are drought resistant[].
A moderately fast-growing species[].
Trees resprout well after coppicing[].
The root system is moderately deep, with strongly spreading lateral roots[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the root is used to treat dysmenorrhoea, female sterility and schistosomiasis[].
The powdered root is applied to swellings[].

A decoction of the stem bark has been used to treat gonorrhoea, abdominal pains and skin ailments[].

The leaves have been used to treat snakebites[].

The plant (part not specified) has been used to treat malaria and bubonic plague[, ].

Other Uses

The heartwood is pinkish brown to reddish brown; it is distinctly demarcated from the wide layer of whitish sapwood. The texture is moderately coarse to coarse and even; the wood is hard, moderately heavy; brittle; moderately durable but with moderate susceptibility to borer and termite attack. Warping is often considerable during drying. The pulping properties of the wood have been rated as good. The wood is occasionally used for furniture, shelves and yokes, although its use is limited because of the considerable warping[, ].
The wood is often used for fuel and, in parts of Kenya, it is the preferred type of firewood and is also used for making charcoal[, ]. The energy value of the wood is 18,100 kJ/kg[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[]. The germination rate of untreated seeds can be very low, often only about 3%, whilst the rate can be up to 90% for treated seeds[].
Acacia seeds that have matured fully on the bush and have been properly dried have a hard seed coat and can be stored in closed containers without deterioration for 5 - 10 years or more in dry conditions at ambient temperatures. It is best to remove the aril, which attracts weevils and can lead to moulds forming. The arils are easilyremoved by placing the seeds in water and rubbing them between the hands, then drying the seeds and winnowing them[].

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