Vachellia drepanolobium: Difference between revisions
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'''''Acacia drepanolobium''''', commonly known as '''Whistling Thorn''' ([[family (biology)|family]] [[Fabaceae]]), is a swollen-thorn [[acacia]] native to [[East Africa]] and [[Central Africa]].<ref name="zipcodezoo"> |
'''''Acacia drepanolobium''''', commonly known as '''Whistling Thorn''' ([[family (biology)|family]] [[Fabaceae]]), is a swollen-thorn [[acacia]] native to [[East Africa]] and [[Central Africa]].<ref name="zipcodezoo"> |
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{{cite web |url=http://zipcodezoo.com/Plants/A/Acacia_drepanolobium.asp |title=Acacia drepanolobium (Whistling Thorn) |accessdate=2008-01-18 |publisher=ZipcodeZoo.com}}</ref> The |
{{cite web |url=http://zipcodezoo.com/Plants/A/Acacia_drepanolobium.asp |title=Acacia drepanolobium (Whistling Thorn) |accessdate=2008-01-18 |publisher=ZipcodeZoo.com}}</ref> The whistling thorn, which grows as a shrub or small tree (to 8m), forms forests covering large areas within the heavy-clay soils of upland East Africa.<ref> |
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{{cite journal |last=Young |first=T.P. |coauthors=Cynthia H. Stubblefield, Lynne A. Isbell |year=1996 |month=December |title=Ants on swollen-thorn acacias: species coexistence in a simple system |journal=Oecologia |volume=109 |issue=1 |pages=98-107 |url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/409h774ynjpqf68w/ |accessdate=2008-01-21}} |
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{{cite journal |last=Palmer |first=Todd |coauthors=Maureen L. Stantan, Truman P. Young, Jacob R. Goheen, Robert M. Pringle, Richard Karban |year=2008 |month=January |title="Breakdown of an Ant-Plant Mutualism Follows the Loss of Large Herbivores from an African Savanna" |journal=Science |volume=319 |issue=5860 |pages=192-195 |url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/319/5860/192 |accessdate= 2008-01-21}} |
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</ref> Its branches are covered with long thorns, some of which have large bulbous bases — these swollen thorns are commonly hollowed out and occupied by a variety of ants of the genus [[Crematogaster]]. The common name of the plant is derived from this: when wind blows over unoccupied bulbous thorns, they create a whistling noise.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/whistling_thorn.htm |title=Whistling Thorn |accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref> |
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== Uses == |
== Uses == |
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Revision as of 22:10, 21 January 2008
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Acacia drepanolobium, commonly known as Whistling Thorn (family Fabaceae), is a swollen-thorn acacia native to East Africa and Central Africa.[1] The whistling thorn, which grows as a shrub or small tree (to 8m), forms forests covering large areas within the heavy-clay soils of upland East Africa.[2][3] Its branches are covered with long thorns, some of which have large bulbous bases — these swollen thorns are commonly hollowed out and occupied by a variety of ants of the genus Crematogaster. The common name of the plant is derived from this: when wind blows over unoccupied bulbous thorns, they create a whistling noise.[4]
Uses
The wood of the Whistling Thorn, although small in dimensions, is hard and resistant to termites.[1][5] It is used as fencing, for tool handles, and other implements. The branches are also be used for kindling. In Tanzania, its gum is collected and used as glue.
References
- ^ a b "Acacia drepanolobium (Whistling Thorn)". ZipcodeZoo.com. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
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Young, T.P. (1996). "Ants on swollen-thorn acacias: species coexistence in a simple system". Oecologia. 109 (1): 98–107. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^
Palmer, Todd (2008). ""Breakdown of an Ant-Plant Mutualism Follows the Loss of Large Herbivores from an African Savanna"". Science. 319 (5860): 192–195. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Whistling Thorn". Retrieved 2008-01-18.
- ^ "The Whistling Thorn". Retrieved 2008-01-18.