The umbrella thorn is the dominant tree in many savanna communities and provides an important source of browse for both wild and domesticated animals. Unlike the Australian acacias, African acacias are armed with thorns and produce highly palatable pods. Although some French and Israeli authors consider ssp. White or pale-yellow fragrant flowers cluster in 1 cm diameter round heads.
Flowers later develop into bunches of spirally twisted, indehiscent pods.
Pods vary considerably in size depending on provenance but range from 8 to 12 cm long. Ecology Acacia tortilis occurs throughout dry Africa, ranging from Senegal to Somalia and down into South Africa. In Asia, trees occur in Israel southern Arabia, and Iran. A. tortilis is found in all countries fringing the Sahara and is often the tree that extends furthest into the desert. Young A. tortilis forms natural thickets in heavily over-grazed savanna in southern Africa.