Vachellia nilotica – Egyptian thorn

Vachellia nilotica, formerly known as Acacia nilotica, is a medium to large deciduous tree ranging from 5 to 20 meters in height. It features a dense, rounded crown with a dark, fissured trunk that exudes a reddish resin. Young shoots are softly hairy, and the mature bark is rough and deeply cracked. Branches are smooth and gray, while the foliage consists of finely bipinnate, bottle-green leaves.

One of the tree’s most striking features is its ornamental bloom. From late summer through winter (typically September to January, depending on rainfall), it produces fragrant, golden-yellow, spherical flowers borne at the tips of branches. These are held on hairy stalks and offer both visual appeal and ecological value.

The fruit is equally distinctive, flat, bead-like pods resembling a string of pearls. Initially reddish with soft hairs, they mature into dark, glossy black pods that split open from March to September. The pods emit a sweet aroma when crushed and contain a sticky substance.

Ecological & Practical Uses:

• The pods and leaves serve as fodder for livestock, and seeds are dispersed through animal consumption.
• The tree’s bark, pods, and resin are rich in tannins used in leather processing, dyes, and inks.
• Roasted seeds are sometimes used as a spice.
• The resin, similar to gum arabic, has been used in adhesives.
• Wood is durable and valued for firewood, fence posts, and other rural applications.
• Traditional medicine utilizes various parts of the tree for remedies against ailments like stomach pain, joint inflammation, and more.

Growing Conditions:

• Thrives in full sun and tolerates arid and semi-arid environments.
• Prefers well-drained soils but is highly adaptable, including to poor or alkaline soils.
• Benefits from supplemental irrigation, especially in dry climates, though it is drought-tolerant once established.

Global Distribution & Botanical Background: Native to Africa and South Asia, Vachellia nilotica is now naturalized in parts of Australia, China, the U.S., and South America. In Israel, interest in this species has grown due to its hardiness and low maintenance requirements, though more economical alternatives like Vachellia raddiana are also considered.

Botanically, the species holds historical significance. It was the namesake for the Acacia genus as early as the 1st century CE, described by Greek physician Dioscorides. In 2005, taxonomic revisions led to its reclassification under Vachellia, part of the Fabaceae family (formerly Mimosaceae).

Additional trees from the same family: Vachellia nilotica (Egyptian thorn) | Populus euphratica