Delagoa thorn

Delagoadoring · Senegalia welwitschii subsp. delagoensis

A localised thorn tree of the southern Kruger, easily confused with other acacias. The paired, downward-hooked prickles and rough bark are the features to check.

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How to identify it

A small to medium thorn tree, often crooked and branching low, with rough yellowish to grey-brown bark and paired hooked prickles that curve downwards just below the nodes. Creamy-white flower spikes appear in early summer.

Flowers & fruit

Creamy-white flower spikes in early summer (about November to December).

Browsed by

Leaves and pods are browsed by giraffe, kudu and elephant, as with other acacias.

Where to see it in Kruger

Mainly the southern parts of the park, on alluvial and clay soils in and near riverine fringes.

Did you know

It was named after Delagoa Bay (Maputo), and its paired downward-hooked prickles set it apart from the knob thorn, which carries knobs rather than hooked spine pairs.

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