Vachellia schaffneri, the twisted acacia or Schaffner's acacia, is a tree native to Mexico and the southwestern United States (Texas).[1]
Vachellia schaffneri | |
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Vachellia schaffneri fruits | |
Scientific 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
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Binomial name | |
Vachellia schaffneri (S. Watson) Seigler & Ebinger
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Synonyms | |
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Description
editThis 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
editVachellia 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
editSome chemical compounds found in Vachellia schaffneri are:
The foliage and seeds of Vachellia schaffneri have a protein content of about 11.6%.[3]
References
editNotes
edit- ^ "Acacia schaffneri - ILDIS LegumeWeb". www.ildis.org. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
- ^ a b c d Chemistry of Acacias from South Texas Archived May 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Range Shrubs Archived 2007-12-15 at the Wayback Machine
External links
edit- Media related to Vachellia schaffneri at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Acacia schaffneri at Wikispecies
- Xeriscape Landscaping Plants For The Arizona Desert Environment