Vachellia sphaerocephala, Acacia sphaerocephala

The name comes from the shape of the thorns which do indeed resemble the horns of a bull. The tree has a strong, symbiotic relationship with a species of ant, Pseudomyrmex sphaerocephala for which it is the obligate habitat. The ants act as caretakers for the tree, and clear the ground and keep it free of any other plants and even prune surrounding branches of other trees that threaten to outshade the acacia. Without the protection of the ant colony, the acacia tree would fall vulnerable to chewing insects such as beetles or caterpillars, and surrounding trees and shrubs would quickly outcompete the acacia without the maintnance work of the ants to keep the tree safe.

Close related species - Acacia collinsii.

Similar plants:

• Vachellia cornigera, Acacia cornigera (Bullhorn Acacia)
• Vachellia farnesiana, Acacia farnesiana, Mimosa farnesiana (Yellow Mimosa, Sweet Wattle)
• Vachellia karroo, Acacia karroo (Sweet Thorn)
• Vachellia oviedoensis, Acacia oviedoensis (Acacia)
• Vachellia sieberiana, Acacia sieberiana (Paperbark Thorn)
• Vachellia tortuosa, Acacia tortuosa, Mimosa tortuosa (Twisted Acacia, Huisachillo)
• Vachellia xanthophloea, Acacia xanthophloea (Fever tree )
• Acacia adoxa (Acacia)
• Acacia auriculiformis (Darwin Black Wattle, Ear Pod Wattle)
• Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' (Purple Fernleaf Acacia)