Apple-ring acacia
Faidherbia albida 路 Fabaceae 路 also Winter thorn, White acacia, Gao, Ana tree
One of Africa's largest thorn trees, reaching 30 m with a rounded crown and roots to 40 m deep, famous for its reverse phenology: it drops its leaves in the rainy season and greens up in the dry season. That lets farmers grow millet, sorghum and maize right under it while it fixes nitrogen, drops leaf litter and feeds livestock on its pods in the hungry season. It is the flagship tree of farmer-managed natural regeneration in Niger, Malawi and Zambia and of 'evergreen agriculture'.
Where it stands
Native
Care
Plant seedlings at the start of the rains, weed and protect from browsing for two or three years; natural regeneration from root stock is usually cheaper than planting. Prune in the second year to control low branching; lop a third of the crown every three to four years for fodder, avoiding ragged wounds that let in pathogens. Bruchid beetles destroy stored seed; strangler figs and mistletoe can kill old trees.
Benefits
Good for