Slender Three Thorned Acacia

senegal: of Senegal, where the type was collected; leiorhachis: with a smooth rhachis, probably referring to the axis of the inflorescence.

Slender tree with long erect, straggly branches. Hooked prickles in threes at the nodes; lateral prickles pointing down, the middle one pointing upwards. Leaves up 6 × 6 cm with 3-5 pairs of pinnae, bearing grey-green leaflets. Flowers in axillary spikes, white, appearing before the leaves. Pod linear-oblong, up to 9 × 2 cm, mostly straight, flat, papery to somewhat leathery, rounded or pointed at the apex but not distinctly beaked, pale brown, dehiscent. See A. senegal var. rostrata for comparison.

Ethiopia to Botswana and northern S Africa.