Acacia pilispina Pic. Serm.

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Picture: Patricia Bingham

Bulozi plain; Nov 2000.
Photo: Mike Bingham

Banamwanze; Oct 1988.
Photo: Mike Bingham

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:	Local occasional
Status:	Native
Description:	A small tree about 5-15m high, crown flat and spreading. Young branches with a dense covering of spreading grey hairs; trunk and older branches with a yellow powdery covering which rubs off to expose smooth green succulent bark. The paired stipular spines are also hairy except towards the tips. Leaves with mostly 8-16 pairs of pinnae, with 14-28 leaflet pairs. Pods flat, dehiscent, grey-brown, 5-12.5 cm × 1.2-2.9 cm., valves papery.
Type location:	Ethiopia
Notes:	The flush of new foliage in April followed by flowering in May allows instant recognition of this species, which is otherwise similar to Acacia sieberiana and A. rehmanniana
Derivation of specific name:	pilispina: spines pilose (with short stiff hairs).
Habitat:	Munga woodland, floodplain margins, often in seasonally flooded areas.
Altitude range:	980 - 1200 m
Flowering time:	May – Jul
Worldwide distribution:	Ethiopia, Tanzania, D.R. Congo Katanga, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	B,W,C,E,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	Nw,Cb,E,C,S,W
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:	Lower Risk - near threatened
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 15 September 2013
Literature:	Brenan, J.P.M. (1970). Mimosoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(1) Pages 100 - 101. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 187. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Pages 92 - 93.

Other sources of information about Acacia pilispina:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Acacia pilispina
Flora of Mozambique: Acacia pilispina

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Acacia pilispina
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Acacia pilispina
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Acacia pilispina
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Acacia pilispina
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Acacia pilispina
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Acacia pilispina
JSTOR Plant Science: Acacia pilispina
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Acacia pilispina
Plants of the World Online: Acacia pilispina
Tropicos: Acacia pilispina
Wikipedia: Acacia pilispina