Karroo Thorn (Acacia karroo) (Nox)
Potential Distribution
Scientific name: Acacia karroo Hayne and A. erioloba E. Meyer
Common Name: Karroo thorn and Giraffe thorn
Status: State Prohibited weed.
Habitat: Karroo thorn is a very widely dispersed tree in southern Africa. Occupies a diverse range of habitats including dry thornveld, river valley scrub, bushveld, woodland, grassland, the banks of dry watercourses, rivers coastal dunes and coastal scrub (Ross, 1975). It prefers light to medium well drained soils in an open sunny position and does well in alkaline soil (Bodkin, 1986). Giraffe thorn is a highly drought tolerant plant found in the southern African desert regions (Palgrave, 1996). “Occurs frequently on the Kalahari sands and in other areas where sandy soils are prevalent, i.e. in dry woodland, bush or thornveld. In very dry areas it occurs along watercourses and in other situations where underground water is available” (Ross, 1975). It tolerates extremes of temperature in the desert regions and it is soil rather than freezing conditions that provide constraints to its distribution (FAO, 1997).
Related Links
Weed Identification Note for Karroo Thorn - on the Weeds Australia website. Information is provided on the generalised current distribution in Australia as well as other information such as origin, distinguishing features, dispersal etc (external link).
Information Note on Karroo Thorn and Giraffe Thorn: State Prohibited Weeds - DPI Information Series.
A Weed Management Guide for Karroo Thorn is available on the CRC website (external link)
© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2008.
This document was last reviewed on 24/09/2008