Vachellia oerfota is a shrub or tree native to Africa and West Asia.[1]
It is a somewhat obconical shrub which grows up to about 5 metres high.[2] The branches often radiate from the base in all directions. The branchlets tend to be straight and are grey-white, with grey-white spines with brown tips, 0.5 to 1.5 cm long. The pinnae are in 3 to 12 pairs, with leaflets in 5 to 15 pairs, about 0.3 cm long.[3] The flowers are off-white in globose heads, and are very fragrant Pods are 5 to 10 cm long, 1.25 cm broad and pale yellow, pointed at both ends. The seeds are olive-green, with five to ten in a pod.[4] It has an offensive smell when bruised or cut.
Vachellia oerfota occurs mainly on alluvial silt soils. It is found in north-east Africa from Egypt to Kenya, and also in Iraq and Iran.
It is an important legume tree commonly browsed by goats and camels in Africa. It is valued as a fodder by pastoralists.[5] The leaves and pods are high in calcium, and the leaves are a good source of phosphorus.[6]
The bark extract is said to have medicinal value amongst the Borana of Ethiopia, where it is boiled amongst other things for colds.[7] Amongst the Samburu of Kenya is used for "women's stomach pain, hetpatitis, fever and gonorrhoea".[8] It is used in making beverages. The bark is peeled, soaked in water and drunk as tea.