# Acacia (*Acacia senegal*) Acacias are beautiful trees with feathery leaves and thorny branches. They provide shade and are home to many animals in the savannas and grasslands. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Savannas, Grasslands - **Also known as:** Gum Arabic Tree, Senegal Gum ![Acacia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Acacia_senegal_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-004.jpg&width=800) Photo: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acacia_senegal_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-004.jpg) ## Appearance The Acacia is a thorny tree or shrub with feathery, delicate green leaves. It often displays pale yellow or creamy white flowers clustered in small, round puffs or spikes. Its bark can range from smooth to fissured, usually brownish-grey. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Senegalia ## Interesting facts - Acacia wood is super strong and used to build furniture and tools. - Ancient Egyptians used Acacia to make medicine and even glue for mummies! - Gum arabic from Acacia is used in candies, sodas, and medicines! - Some Acacias are called "mimosa" even though they're different plants! ## Special abilities - **Gum Guardian:** Acacia can produce a sticky substance called gum arabic that seals its wounds, helping it survive dry periods by storing moisture. - **Thorn Defense:** Acacia has sharp thorns that protect its leaves and branches from hungry animals, making it a tough snack to eat. - **Drought Fighter:** Acacia has incredibly long taproots that can reach deep underground to find water, helping it thrive in very dry environments. - **Soil Enricher:** Acacia trees have special bacteria in their roots that help add nitrogen to the soil, making it richer for other plants. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 400-1500 cm - **Spread:** 300-1000 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Dry season to early wet season - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Giraffe (*Giraffa camelopardalis*) — Browses on acacia leaves and shoots. - **Eats:** [African Elephant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-elephant) (*Loxodonta africana*) — Eats acacia leaves, pods, and bark. - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from acacia flowers. - **Eats:** Dorcas Gazelle (*Gazella dorcas*) — Feeds on acacia leaves, pods, and flowers. - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Fixes nitrogen in acacia roots, aiding plant growth. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/savanna): This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Enjoy looking at acacias from a safe distance and avoid touching their thorns. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Acacia? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Acacia? 400-1500 cm ### How wide does Acacia spread? 300-1000 cm ### How big are the flowers on Acacia? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Acacia bloom? Dry season to early wet season ### Is Acacia edible? Yes ### Is Acacia toxic? None ### What is Acacia's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Acacia: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/acacia)