Dichrostachys cinerea in the Pilanesberg

Grassland in the north of South Africa as well as bushveld is sometimes invaded by Dichrostachys cinerea, the sickle-bush. This shrub or sometime tree overruns grazing land by forming impenetrable thickets, rendering parts of farms useless or bringing about much cost involved in land clearing.

Too frequent winter burning of dry grass accelerates unwanted forestation from species of Vachellia, Senegalia or sickle-bush, causing loss of grazing land or reducing the livestock carrying capacity of the veld.

The sickle-bush is deciduous where winters get cold, almost devoid of leaves by June near the Pilanesberg when this photo was taken (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).