Accession Data

Vachellia cornigera

Common Name: Bull-thorn Acacia

Family: Fabaceae

Country of Origin: Mexico to Costa Rica

Description: Small tree to shrub, leaves bipinnate, pairs of large, semi-hollow spines inhabited by ants which protect the plant from herbivores. Beltian bodies are a detachable tip found on the pinnules of the leaf and are rich in lipids, sugars and proteins and provide nourishment for the resident ants. This type of ant/plant mutualistic association is known as myrmecophylly.

Yellow flowers in dense spikes up to 1.5 inches long.

Uses: Bark extract has been shown to have anti - inflammatory effects, further studies are underway.

Accession Data

USDA Zone: 9-11?

Accession #: 200300277

Accession Date: 2003-08-19 00:00:00

Bloom Status: 🪴 Not Flowering

Location: 1318

Quantity: 5

Source: Marcia Kirinus - Duke

Classification

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: eurosid I

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

SubFamily: Mimosoideae

Tribe: Acacieae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

References

  1. Vachellia cornigera Factsheet
  2. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on Thursday, September 07, 2017.
  3. Ants Live In Thorns of Acacia Trees at Morning Earth. Last accessed on Wednesday, July 19, 2017.
  4. Acacia cornigera at Encyclopedia of Life. Last accessed on Monday, October 02, 2017.

Images

Vachellia cornigera
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