DISTRIBUTION:
Can grow under a variety of ecological conditions, though generally absent from shallow gravelly soils as well as wet watercourses.
Botanical description: General: It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree of up to 6m with dark grey bark and a compact rounded to flattened crown.
Leaves: The leaves are bipinnately compound with small leaflets. The paired spines are straight to slightly recurved and usually pointing slightly backwards.
Fruit: Flat pods with marked constrictions between seeds like a string of beads.Smells sweetly when crushed.
TOXIC PRINCIPLE:
• Unknown.
• Induces a methaemoglobinaemia, but do not contain NO3¯/NO2¯ or other oxidants.
• Not cyanogenic glycosides either - problem associated with other Acacia spp.
SYSTEMS AFFECTED:
Haemopoietic system.
CLINICAL SIGNS:
Goats are often affected.
Blood:
• Methaemoglobinaemia and abortions
• Tachycardia
• Haemolysis – anaemia and icterus
Respiratory system:
• Hyperpnoea and dyspnoea
Git:
• Ruminal stasis.
• Sweet scented odour (“putrid smell”) of the carcase.
• Soft faeces or diarrhoea.
NECROPSY:
Macroscopical findings:• Liver necrosis
• Nephrosis
DD’s:NO3¯/NO2¯ - poisoning.
TREATMENT:
Possibly methylene blue. Control: prevent excessive consumption.
