Fever tree, umbrella thorn, mimosa, Port Jackson

Edited October 2014 the fever tree has been renamed Vachellia xanthophloea

The umbrella thorn, Acacia tortilis, with its flat top is so much the epitome of Africa that FNB, First National Bank, has used the silhouette for its logo.

We have planted fever-trees, Acacia xanthophloea, in our garden. The Ungardener for its thorns to discourage climbing over the wall. I choose it for that shimmering, luminous, lime green bark. An unlikely, unreal colour, like a mirage. Just briefly while deciduous, long enough to worry the Ungardener, the bark is spectacular. The thorns are long and vicious, to be observed from a respectful reverent and cautious distance, as with the Agave. In fact the thorns are so long and sharp, that they were used as sewing needles by early settlers.

From PlantZafrica The genus name Acacia is derived from the Greek word acantha meaning spine, thorn or prickle and the species name xanthophloea is derived from the Greek words xanthos meaning yellow and phloios meaning bark. Acacia belongs to the pod bearing family Fabaceae. There are 40 species, subspecies and varieties of Acacia represented in South Africa.

Although the trees are indigenous to South Africa, they are out of place in the Western Cape. Coming from the summer rainfall, grassland, up north in Kruger Park, nearer Johannesburg. But the bark and the graceful and delicate tracery of the branches with its fine leaves, makes it a welcome common-or-garden tree.

Called fever trees by early settlers, because they tend to grow near water, and were blamed for malaria (=bad air) before mosquitoes were discovered and given due blame.

Camel thorn, Acacia erioloba, is popular for braai wood (BBQ to you) but the trees come from the northern desert areas. Where they provide shade, and grow SLOWLY. These trees are protected, but sadly, we often see the wood for sale, regardless!

Australian Port Jackson wattle, Acacia saligna, with its masses of fragrant yellow flowers, has been a part of my life, since I was a child. Known for always having a pocket full of tissues, and a running nose from hay-fever (yes! Fever trees!) Truly terrifying swathes of fire hungry trees, smothering all the indigenous vegetation in its reach. If your Acacia doesn’t have thorns, it is an Australian. South Africa has begun to fight back. In earlier, less informed, less thoughtful times, the trees were brought to Cape Town to bind the sand on the Cape Flats. They can be used as fodder for goats, and the bark was used for tanning leather. But now there are lots of small entrepreneurs harvesting the wood for sale – makes good coals. And the scientists have released parasitic wasps for biological control.

An invasive alien, first they take over our rivers and our mountains. Now, adding insult to the injury, they want to claim the botanical Latin name Acacia for the Australian trees, and leave the epitome of Africa with a new name Senegalia Kew . That plant is the source of gum Arabic, used in food.

And the mimosa? Coming from invasive alien, nasty, Port Jackson flowers, it was a culture shock in Switzerland to see branches of mimosa for sale as earliest spring blossom after the winter. (Silver acacia, Acacia dealbata from Australia and Tasmania, blooming from February to April in the Mediterranean) BTW my only cordon bleu is mimosa – finely chopped boiled egg, because it looks like the mimosa flowers. I am more Garden Bleu, where we bought our bird cage/feeder/lantern.

PS This tree has travelled to St Petersburg to Olga's LiveJournal

Pictures and words by Diana of Elephant's Eye