Common name: Twisted Acacia • Hindi: अलिया Alia, Katnar • Marathi: चिल्लारी Chillari • Telugu: Konda-korinta • Kannada: Kad Siege
Botanical name: Acacia torta Family: Mimosaceae (Touch-me-not family)
Synonyms: Mimosa torta, Acacia intsia, Acacia caesia
Twisted Acacia is a large climbing shrub, 5-6 m tall. Stem prickly and
pubescent when young, prominently fluted and angled when old. Thorns up to
2.5 mm long. Leaves double-pinnate. Pinnae 7-19 pairs, 5-10 cm long.
Leaflets 6-42 pairs, 4-8 mm long, 2-3 mm broad, ciliate, pubescent on both
sides. Leaflets are close enough tp touch each other. Inflorescence large
terminal panicle. White-creamish spherical flower-heads 30 flowered, like
bract 1.5 mm long, linear, spathulate, villous. Corolla 3 mm long, slightly
pubescent. Pod 10-15 cm long, 2-3 mm broad, velvety brown when young,
glabrous when mature, flat, reddish brown.
Flowering: June-September.
| Photographed in Maharashtra. |
Identification credit: Prashant Awale
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