Red umbrella thorn

Red umbrella thorn: The reddish-brown bark and the V-shape of this tree or shrub grows up to 5m high. Acacia reficiens prefer rocky or stony ground, characteristic with the north-west to the central-west region of Namibia, the Karstveld and the central Highlands.

Off-white flowers bloom from December or January but are present for most of the year. A plum-coloured under bark, dark-green leaves, straight or curved thorns and a flat, fruit pod are other noticeable features.

Baked seeds can be crushed into a powder with tobacco and uses as snuff. Small livestock and game browse the leaves and in some areas the spiny branches are used for fencing. Root extract is used to treat stomach complaints and is given to pregnant women prior to birth.