Records made by Maureen Silva-Jones

This site 'by the Old Bulawayo Road' was well known in the late 80s and 90s and was at that time the only record of this species from Zimbabwe. 4 plants were seen on this visit, varying from very large to a shrub only. The trees were in fruit. The area is becoming more and more built-up and disturbed.

8 trees of various sizes in a colony in the middle of open grassland with few other trees present. The trees were originally found by Ferdi Couto (Maureen Silva-Jones, pers. comm.). Specimens collected on 9 May were shown to Bob Drummond on 17 May 1992 and a careful examination was made, especially to check that were not Acacia polyacantha. Bob agreed that they were A. hereroensis. There already is a specimen from the same place in SRGH dated March 1988, collected by Rolf Hangartner. I understand that subsequently the trees were cut down. Mark Hyde, 3 August 2015.

Seen in distance

Trees disclosed by Jenny Holman and seen by us from below

Bark grey, falling off in circular or oblong pieces; underbark is pale grey or brownish.

Bark peeling upwards so the strips hang down and outwards

Flowers orange-yellow. In shade of prickly bush.

Bark rough with both horizontal and vertical lines, cracking into squares but not peeling, often bearing a green lichen.

In striking red flower. Climber with spiny leaf petioles.