Common Hook Thorn

Afrikaans name: Gewone Haakdoring

Common Hook Thorn

Photo © Steven Herbert

Acacia caffra

The Common Hook Thorn tree, also known as the Cat Thorn, grows to a height of around 8 metres and has a thinly spread leaves.

The branches have small thorns, or prickles. The leaves take the form of most Acacia species. The flowers are long and yellowish. The seedpods are slim and can be up to 17 cm in length.

The bark and leaves of the Common Hook Thorn are believed to have medicinal qualities. Livestock eat the seedpods and leaves but there is some evidence that they may be poisonous to the animals.

This tree is somewhat scraggly in appearance

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 92

Wild Issue 13 - Author: - Published: 2010 - Page: 9

Trees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand - Author: Tree Society of SA - Published: 1974 - Page: 248

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 277

Trees & Shrubs of the Witwatersrand, Magaliesberg & Pilanesberg - Author: Joan van Gogh - Published: 1988 - Page: 32

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1994 - Page: 126

Sappi Tree Spotting: KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape - 2nd edition - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 2004 - Page: 168

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 197

Sixty-six Transvaal Trees - Author: B de Winter, M de Winter & D Killick - Published: 1996 - Page: 44

Sappi Wild Flower Guide - Mpumalanga and Northern Province - Author: Jo Onderstall - Published: 1996 - Page: 85

Sappi Tree Spotting: Bushveld - 2nd edition - Author: R Grant and V Thomas - Published: 2005 - Page: 232

Sappi Tree Spotting: Highveld and the Drakensburg - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 1998 - Page: 172

Piet van Wyks Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 1st edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 1988 - Page: 61

Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 5th edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2008 - Page: 61

Photographic Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: B, P, and B-E van Wyk - Published: 2000 - Page: 29

Field Guide To The Wild Flowers Of The Witwatersrand & Pretoria Region - Author: Braam van Wyk & Sasa Malan - Published: 1988 - Page: 162

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 144

Field Guide to the Acacias of South Africa - Author: Nico Smit - Published: 2008 - Page: 84

Everyones Guide to Trees of South Africa - Author: Keith, Paul and Meg Coates Palgrave - Published: 1989 - Page: 35

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 130

For more info: SANBI

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