Common Name: Climbing acacia, Twisted acacia. Tamil Name: Seengai, Vellai Indu
Climbing acacia is an armed climber than can grow to around 8 meters. The woody bark is light grey in color; young branches are rectangular in shape. The lower and upper branches are well armed with prickles. The bipinnate leaves are arranged in an alternate manner. Near the base of the petiole there is a leaf gland. The leaf measure around 6 cm; 10 pairs of pinnae; each having 45-50 pairs of very small leaflets. The leaflets measure around 2 mm each and margins ciliated. Additional leaf glands are seen on the base of the top most three pinnae. Below the leaf rachis small prickles are seen. The inflorescence is in the form of an terminal flower heads. The flower heads are white in color and each consists of around 28-30 flowers. The fruit is in the form of a strap shaped pod. The pollen and nectar rich flowers are much sort after by bees and other insects. Climbing acacia is the larval host plant for Common lineblue butterfly.
