Angolan green-thorn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Angolan green-thorn |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Balanites
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| Species: |
angolensis
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| Synonyms | |
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The Angolan green-thorn, also known as Balanites angolensis, is a tree found in southern Africa. It belongs to the caltrop family, called Zygophyllaceae.
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About the Angolan Green-Thorn
The Angolan green-thorn is a small tree or shrub. It can grow up to 8 meters (about 26 feet) tall. It is semi-deciduous, meaning it loses some of its leaves during dry seasons.
What Does it Look Like?
This tree has rough bark that looks like it has ridges. Young branches are green or yellowish-green. They are covered in tiny hairs. The tree also has sharp, yellow or green thorns. These thorns can be up to 9 centimeters (about 3.5 inches) long.
The flowers are greenish-yellow to whitish. They grow in small groups where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower has 5 petals and 5 sepals (leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud).
The fruit is oval-shaped and about 30 millimeters (just over an inch) long. It turns orange when it is ripe. The leaves grow in pairs. They are 12-17 millimeters long, leathery, and yellowish-green. They have a pointed tip and a short stem.
Where Does it Grow?
The Angolan green-thorn is found in a few countries in southern Africa. You can see it in Angola, Botswana, and the northeastern part of Namibia.
Where it Lives
This tree likes to grow near seasonal rivers or streams. It also lives in savannah areas. You can find it on dry hills and in coastal forests. In dry scrub forests and mopane woodlands, the Angolan green-thorn grows as a smaller plant under taller trees.
When it Flowers and Fruits
In Namibia, the Angolan green-thorn usually flowers in October and November. The fruit starts to appear in November. However, most of the fruit ripens in March and April.
How People Use It
The fruit of the Angolan green-thorn is safe to eat. The Himba people use the branches to build fences. They also use the roots in traditional ways. They might inhale smoke from burning roots. They also make a special cream from the ashes of the roots. Different parts of the tree are used to help with various health issues.
Different Types of Angolan Green-Thorn
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the Angolan green-thorn:
- Balanites angolensis angolensis is found in Angola and Botswana.
- Balanites angolensis welwitschii grows in northeastern Namibia.
