Vachellia exuvialis, the skilferdoring

This young Vachellia exuvialis tree growing in the Djuma Game Reserve near the Kruger National Park is one of several striking thorn tree species of the Lowveld.

The peeling bark that curls back to expose yellowish or red-brown under-bark can be observed on the lower stems. The tree is commonly known as the flaky thorn or flaky-bark thorn and in Afrikaans as the skilferdoring.

The season being winter, there are no flowers yet, bright yellow fluffy balls on longish stalks among the leaves expected from midspring. The sickle-shaped pods that follow resemble those of V. karroo. The pods are covered in glands that secrete a sticky fluid.

People eat the roots of this tree: they are cooked like sweet potatoes. Impala and duiker eat the leaves and pods (Grant and Thomas, 2001).