Plate 076 · branch with flowers and pods IdentificationFive marks on the plate
- 1Grey, spineless branches, unusual among acacias.
- 2Bipinnate leaf with many tiny leaflets.
- 3Round flower head pale yellow.
- 4Flat, papery pod, 7 to 15 cm long.
- 5Seeds showing through the pod wall.
Easily confused with Aroma acaciaVachellia aromaBranches with straight white spines, bright yellow heads and thick pods. 076 / 100 · PLANTS · FABACEAELEAST CONCERN Visco
Parasenegalia visco
Viscote · Acacia visco
Unlike the other acacias of the region, it has no spines. In Tucumán it grows in the foothills and on dry slopes, and it is commoner in the dry Chaco and the Monte. In winter its seeds are a key food for the Tucumán Amazon.
- Height
- 7 – 15 m
- Leaf
- bipinnate, up to 15 cm
- Pod
- 7 – 15 cm, flat
- Spines
- none
- Spineless
- Deciduous
- Honey plant
- Legume family
Altitude rangeA tree of the dry edge
Foothills and dry slopes In the Yungas it is uncommon and appears in the foothill forest. It is commoner in the dry Chaco and the Monte of west-central and north-west Argentina.
EcologySeeds for winter
- Tucumán Amazoneats its seeds in winter
- Beesa honey plant
- Full sunsemi-arid climates
- Dry soilsslopes and valleys
It suits semi-arid climates well, so it is planted along streets and in squares across the north-west. Its wood makes good firewood and charcoal.
Life cycleFlower heads, pods and bare branches
- Yellow heads. The flowers are packed into round, pale yellow heads.
- Papery pods. The pod is flat and papery, yellowish brown, and splits easily when ripe.
- Sheds its leaves. It is deciduous and stands bare for part of the year.
Where to look in Tucumán- Sierra de San Javier
- Raco
- El Siambón