Flame thorn

Flame thorn: The flame-thorn tree (Acacia ataxcantha) grows up to 4m high, often forming dense, scrambling thickets in around Epupa Falls, Kaokoland, the Kavango region, Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip) and the north-east Kalahari Desert area. This plant is common on the Waterberg Plateau. In the far eastern reaches of the Caprivi A. ataxcantha is often confused with A. schweinfurthii; the flowers are the easiest identifiable feature.

The bark is pale brown to grey, the leaves yellow-green the flowers cream-coloured to pale yellow, seen from November to April. Fruit matures in a thin, reddish to purple pod which splits open when ripe. The strong and flexible wood is used in roof construction in northern Namibia and bow-making in the north-east. Eland occasionally eat the leaves.