Floodplain acacia

Floodplain acacia: The flattened crown and low down horizontal branches of the floodplain acacia (Acacia kirkii) are its most striking features. There are only scattered locations of this tree in north-central and north-eastern Namibia with a few isolated occurrences of them growing in northern Kaokoland. Their most typical habitat tends to be in clay and 'black cotton' soils. (A very fine soil almost impassible when wet even on a self-drive 4x4 vehicle).

Pink buds will bloom into pale yellow to cream flowers from November to February. A hairless fruit pod which is pointed at both ends, is dark brown and remains closed even when ripe. The bark is greenish-yellow to brown, the leaves green and straight thorns age to a base grey to black colour with a dark brown tip.