Vachellia schaffneri

(Redirected from Twisted acacia)

Vachellia schaffneri, the twisted acacia or Schaffner's acacia, is a tree native to Mexico and the southwestern United States (Texas).[1]

Vachellia schaffneri
Vachellia schaffneri fruits
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Vachellia
Species:
V. schaffneri
Binomial name
Vachellia schaffneri
(S. Watson) Seigler & Ebinger
Synonyms
  • Acacia schaffneri (S. Watson) F.J. Herm.
  • Pithecellobium schaffneri S. Watson
  • Poponax schaffneri (S. Watson) Britton & Rose

Description

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This is a thorny tree growing up to 25 feet in height. It has alternate, bipinnately compound leaves that are generally similar to those of other Vachellia species. The plant flowers in spring, with yellow mimosoid flowers. The seedpods are long, fuzzy, ripen in late summer, and are consumed by livestock. They contain many hard, black seeds.

Uses

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Vachellia schaffneri wood is used for fuel and fences. The wood makes very good firewood. It is used for cooking.

Vachellia schaffneri trees serve as food for animals. Goats and sheep browse leaves from the tree and eat the fuzzy beans when available late in the summer. Livestock use the trees for shade and shelter.

Chemical compounds

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Some chemical compounds found in Vachellia schaffneri are:

The foliage and seeds of Vachellia schaffneri have a protein content of about 11.6%.[3]

 
Vachellia schaffneri as food for goats
 
Very large Vachellia schaffneri thorns
 
Vachellia schaffneri wood

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Acacia schaffneri - ILDIS LegumeWeb". www.ildis.org. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  2. ^ a b c d Chemistry of Acacias from South Texas Archived May 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Range Shrubs Archived 2007-12-15 at the Wayback Machine
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