Tonga: Mumbu.

Lozi: Mukokoto.

Eng: Falcon's claw acacia, Hook thorn.

Ecology: Widespread throughout Africa, found all over Zambia except on the Nyika plateau, usually on dambo margins, in woodlands by rivers; sometimes as pure stands but often with other Acacias. Its presence may show ground water but the tree can grow in poor soil in dry savannah. It is a predominant tree along the Batoka-Maamba road in Southern Province.

Uses: Firewood, timber, posts, farm tools, medicine (leaves and roots), gum (edible), fodder (pods, leaves, seeds), ornamental, nitrogen fixing, soil reclamation, live fence, dyes, tannin (gum).

Description: A deciduous tree to 20 m, the feathery foliage giving an open, light canopy. Bark: grey-brown, scales or knots, old trees deeply grooved. Thorns: small and hooked, tips black. Leaves: feathery, as leaflets numerous, each one small and narrow, leaf stalk hairy. Flowers: in large cream-white spikes, 2-3 together, each to 12 cm, fragrant, Aug-Dec. Fruit: dark brown pods, tip pointed, flat and smooth to 18 cm long, explode to set free 6-8 flat, round seeds, June-Sept.

Propagation: Seedlings, wildings, direct seeding.

Seed Info: Seeds prolifically. No. of seeds per kg: 14,000-16,000.

Treatment: Soak in hot water an allow to cool for 24 hours.

Storage: Seed can be stored if kept cool, dry and insect-free.

Management: Pollarding, coppicing. Moderately fast-growing.

Remarks: A useful tree, widely available which should be planted more often. Wood is termite-resistant (resin). The heart wood is red-brown but difficult to work. In Macha area, the poles are soaked in mud water for a week before use as a preservative against stem borers.