Vachellia exuvialis

Vachellia exuvialis, the flaky-bark thorn, is an erect, spiny shrub or sometimes a small tree that reaches heights over 4 m (SA Tree List No. 164.1).

The middle sections of the stems provide the tree’s hallmark feature of flaking brown layers of papery bark. This notable attribute is referred to in the specific name of exuvialis. The peeling bark persists partly, revealing a younger surface of emerging green, yellow, reddish or purplish bark underneath with scattered lenticels.

Upper branches have a greenish brown colouring, hairless but with numerous lenticels. The growth tips are sticky, glistening (Carr, 1976; Coates Palgrave, 2002).