Cape gum: dev-babul: acacia
These spines are from WSM D’Urban’s collection. He notes that: ‘Thorns or spines - metamorphised stipules - of Acacia horrida. Banks of Imvani River at Tylden [...] South Africa. Jan.26, 1861. This shrub is widely spread over South Africa. Some plants bear nothing but these spines, which are eaten by elephants. Small bees and ants make their nests in the hollow interior.’
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 35/1927/6
- Collection Class
- Plants
- Collection Area Region
- Southern Africa
- Collector Excavator
- D'Urban, Mr William Stewart Mitchell
- Common Name
- Cape gum: dev-babul: acacia
- Simple Name
- spines
- Period Classification
- Victorian (1837-1901)