Senegalia ataxacantha

Senegalia ataxacantha (SA Tree List No. 160), the flame thorn has creamy white flower spikes. The common name of flame thorn was earned by the unusually bright brown-red young seed pods. They contrast vividly against the green foliage in autumn. These pods are broad, straight, have only small constrictions between the seeds inside and narrow tapering tips. The pods become brown when they mature in winter.

The generic name until 2005 was Acacia, but changed due to its polyphyletic nature. further subdivisions of the new genus are foreseen in the future.

The tree may grow to 10 m, although more often it is much smaller, just a scrambling, spreading shrub that presents serious problems to passersby in the veld. The thorns or prickles are sharp, hooked and totally unyielding; should be avoided wherever possible. The bipinnate leaf has a rachis of 6 to 16 cm long with 8 to 25 pairs of pinnae.

The distribution area lies in the northeast of South Africa and in big parts of Africa, as far as the Sudan and Senegal. It grows in open various habitats, including bushveld, thickets, stream-banks and forest margins (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Wikipedia).