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Tephrosia is a perennial leguminous shrub indigenous to Uganda; in Lusoga and Luganda, it is known as muluku. It slow-growing, herbaceous, with soft, hairy-velvet leaves, pleasant to touch. Young leaves are silvery. The flower is about an inch across, and purple with white markings or white. The flowers are borne on compact racemes that bloom over a 3-6 week period. The plant is considered to be self-pollinated. The plant tolerates poor soils and harsh sites, attracts bees and butterflies.

Tephrosia is capable of fixing nitrogen from the air for improvement of soil fertility. The shrubs may be periodically pruned, applying immature plant parts to improve the soil. Leaves and roots of Tephrosia contain rotenone, a compound that is toxic to the root rats as well as fish and some insects. One new promising technology to control root rats is to plant Tephrosia as scattered plants in a field or as a barrier around fields. Tephrosia leaves can be used in insect control. Scientists at Kawanda have found the dried and powdered leaves of Tephrosia to be effective in the control of storage pests; in southern Tanzania, crushed fresh leaves are used in control of maize stalk borer. Tephrosia is also known as ‘fish bean’; it is often used to paralyze fish, causing them to float to the surface. See picture of flower.

The tree is harvested from the wild for its edible fruit, medicinal applications and other commodities.

An attractive flowering tree whose natural range is Brazil and the mountain forests of Bolivia and which is now widely planted from the Mediterranean region to the tropics. Tipuana tipu is a large, spreading evergreen tree to 50-60 ft. Bark red-brown; trunk fissured and flaking with age, bark on the branches gray and cracked, sap from the cut branches red and sticky. Blooming time is in summer (June-August). The tree is drought resistant and prefers sunny locations. Trees tolerate a wide variety of soils, but are shallow rooted therefore young plants should be staked and watered until roots are established. Occasional pruning and deep watering is recommended, once the hardy plants are established. The plant, although considered subtropical, is surprisingly hardy to at least light frosts.

Bullhorn Acacia is best known for its symbiotic relationship with a species of Pseudomyrmex ant (Pseudomyrmex ferruginea) that lives in its hollowed-out thorns. Its species were considered members of genus Acacia until 2005.

This is a bushy shrub that can be trained in a handsome small tree. It blooms with canary yellow powder puffs, sweetly fragrant.

This is one of South Africa's most beautiful and useful trees. It is integrally part of Africa's history having been used for everything from raft-making to sewing needles and fencing for the houses of the royal Zulu women. The thorns were even used by early naturalists to pin the insects they collected!

Bark used in tanning, rope making and production of edible gum. The root is used in traditional medicine.

Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping.

This tree is easily propagated from seed that has been immersed in boiling water and soaked overnight. Protect young plants from frost. They are suited to medium to large gardens. Allow these magnificent trees the space to show off their wonderful shapes - don't crowd and clutter them.

This tree is half-hardy and very fast-growing with fertile soil and sufficient water, and tolerates temperatures ranging from about -2C to +40C.

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.