Vachellia schaffneri
Acacia-schaffneri-seed-pods.jpg
Vachellia schaffneri fruits
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Clade: Mimosoideae
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

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

Description

This is a thorny tree growing up to 25 feet in height. It has alternate, 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

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

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

Notes

  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

External links