Senegalia megaladena - Large-Gland Acacia

Large-Gland Acacia is a spiny climber or as a straggly shrub or tree 4-10 m tall. The leaves are double compound. Distinguishing feature for this species is, rather prominently raised leaf-stalk gland whose position is variable, commonly near middle of leaf-stalk, orange to orange-brown in colour when fresh. Side-stalks are 8-20 pairs, axis 2-12 cm; leaflets 19-81 pairs, oblong, 3.5-7.5 x 0.8-1.5 mm, both surfaces hairless, except fringed with hairs along margin, midvein close to upper margin, base flat, unequal, tip blunt, straight. Flower-heads are spherical, arranged in branch-end or leaf-axils panicles. Flower buds are reddish when fresh, a distinctive feature. Flowers are stalkless or nearly so. Sepal-cup is 1.7-2.9 mm, 5-toothed. Flowers are light yellow, 2-4.2 mm, petals oblong or narrowly obovate, 0.8-1.1 mm. Stamens numerous. Large-Gland Acacia is found in Indian Subcontinent to China and Jawa. Flowering: July-September.