Vachellia tortilis aka Umbrella Thorn

Vachellia tortilis, or umbrella thorn, belongs to the pea family. Its native range spans Africa, Sinai and the Arabian Peninsula. It grows in dry woodland, savanna and desert-edge scrub. Trees form open stands, alone or with other species. People grow it for food, wood, shade and shelter. It also grows wild across much of its range.

This evergreen tree grows fast and forms a broad crown. Its spreading branches give the crown an umbrella shape. Sources place its usual height around 26–49 feet [8–15 metres]. Its spread can reach 49 feet [15 metres]. In good sites, it reaches 69 feet [21 metres]. Harsh sites may keep it to a 3-foot [1-metre] shrub. It bears both straight and hooked thorns in pairs. The pinnate leaves have about 15 pairs of leaflets. Small white flowers have a scent and grow in tight clusters. Bees pollinate them, and flat pods hold the seeds.

Umbrella thorn suits warm, dry tropical and subtropical sites. It needs full sun and soil that drains well. Sandy and loamy soils suit it, as do stony sites. It tolerates drought, salt and strongly alkaline ground. It can also withstand blowing sand and steep slopes. The listed USDA hardiness range is zones 10–12. Trees under two years old suffer frost damage with ease. Older trees tolerate temperatures near freezing. Its preferred annual rainfall spans about 4–39 inches. It grows from sea level to 6,562 feet [2,000 metres].

The tree fixes nitrogen and provides shade for crops. Growers plant it in windbreaks and to hold loose soil. It helps restore dunes and other harsh, bare sites. Its wood supplies timber, furniture, fuel and charcoal. Bark provides strong fibre and tannins, while pods can serve as beads. Farmers also use the tree as a source of fodder. Reports of leaf poisoning in livestock remain unconfirmed. That uncertainty does not support treating all parts as safe.

People eat the young seeds and collect gum from stems. They also make porridge from pods after removing the seeds. Traditional medicine uses powdered bark on wounds and skin complaints. Other recorded uses include bark for worms and stems for asthma. Seeds also have a recorded use for diarrhoea. These reports describe uses, not proof that treatments work. The supplied sources identify no specific pests or diseases.