Vachellia sieberiana
Vachellia sieberiana
Safety & Hazards
The leaves contain large quantities of prussic acid at certain times, especially during droughts and also when wilted, and have been known to cause death in cattle[1].
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in drier regions of tropical and subtropical areas, being found at elevations ranging from sea level to 1,850 metres[1]. It prefers a mean annual temperature in the range 13 - 21°c and a mean annual rainfall of 400 - 800mm[1]. A fairly tolerant species, it grows on deep, well-drained, heavy clay, light sandy and medium loamy soils of acidic reaction[1]. Requires a sunny position[1]. Established plants are drought and frost resistant[1]. The species is especially suited for growing on riverbanks or low ground[1]. Flowering usually occurs at the end of the dry season, the pods being produced at the beginning of the next dry season[1]. The flowers are good bee forage, and hives are often placed on the trees[1]. The trees respond well to lopping, pollarding and coppicing[1]. The seedlings need to be protected from fire and browsing[1]. 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[2].
Propagation
The seed of most, if not all, members of this genus 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. Germination rates of 60% have been achieved[1]. Seedlings are quick growing[1]. The seeds can be stored if kept cool, dry and insect free, ash is added to reduce insect damage[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Vachellia+sieberiana>
Pollinators
Bees, Insects
References
- [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [3]Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea — Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B. · Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi · 1996 · ISBN 9966-896-24-4 ↩︎A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
- [4]Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses. — von Maydell H. · Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany · 1990 · ISBN 3-8236-1198-4 ↩︎A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
- [5]Dictionary of Economic Plants. — Uphof. J. C. Th. · Weinheim · 1959 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
- [6]Trees and Shrubs of the Okavango Delta; Medicinal Uses and Nutritional Value — Roodt V. · Shell Oil Botswana (Pty) Ltd; Gaborone, Botswana · 1998 · ISBN 99912-0-241-2 ↩︎A concise guide to some of the trees and shrubs of Botswana, often giving some of the plant's uses.