Twisted Acacia
Schaffner’s Wattle
Acacia schaffneri (S. Wats.) Herm. var. bravoensis Isley
Whole plant
Family : Fabaceae
Longevity : Perennial
Origin : Native
Season : Warm
Twisted acacia spreads thorny branches low to the ground and grows four to twelve feet in height. It is native to the Edwards Plateau and the South Texas Plains in a variety of soils, especially where land has been disturbed. The stems are dark brown to purple and have paired thorns at the base of each leaf. The leaves are twice compound with two to five pairs of pinnae and ten to fifteen pairs of leaflets. It is quite similar to huisache but can be distinguished by the position of the glands on the leaf stem. Huisache has glands that are below the first pair of leaflets while twisted acacia has glands above the first pair of leaflets. The yellow to orange flowers form round clusters and bloom during the spring. The fruit is a legume that is brown to black and slightly curved or twisted. The leaves of twisted acacia are browsed by deer, sheep and goats. Javelina and feral hogs have been reported to eat the legumes, while some birds, including quail, eat the seeds.
Click image to enlarge
