Vachellia hockii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acacia stenocarpa var. chariensis
• Acacia flava f. chariensis
• Acacia flava var. atacorensis
• Acacia stenocarpa var. boboensis
• Acacia seyal var. lescrauwaetii
• Acacia seyal var. kassonionga
• Acacia seyal var. seretii
• Acacia seyal var. multijuga
• Acacia chariensis
• Acacia hockii
• Acacia holstii
• Acacia atacorensis
• Acacia boboensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae, eventually falling into the genus Vachellia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Vachellia hockii, exhibits a specific distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is documented within the borders of Benin, where it thrives in local ecosystems. The species also extends its range into Burkina Faso, contributing to the regional biodiversity. Furthermore, the plant can be found growing throughout the territories of Ghana and Guinea. Finally, its geographical reach includes the coastal and inland areas of the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vachellia hockii is characterized by its presence in diverse semi-arid and savanna-type environments, primarily thriving within wooded grasslands, Acacia woodlands, and bushed grasslands. It is frequently found in deciduous bushland settings, where it integrates into the structural complexity of the vegetation. While it serves as a natural component of these ecosystems, the species exhibits a competitive tendency toward becoming invasive when colonizing overgrazed grasslands, where the reduction of competing vegetation allows it to spread more aggressively.

Habitat :

wooded grassland, Acacia woodland, bushed grassland, deciduous bushland, sometimes invasive on overgrazed grassland

Life history

The life history of Vachellia hockii is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit and positioning of its buds, it is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting traits consistent with both the phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, which indicates that its regenerative buds are elevated above the ground level on woody stems.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vachellia hockii is characterized by its robust growth form, primarily developing as a tree. This woody species exhibits a sturdy, perennial structure and functions as an independent organism, meaning it does not exhibit parasitic behavior toward other plants. As a terrestrial plant, it grows directly in the soil rather than as an epiphyte. While it possesses a significant vertical presence, its climbing habit is classified as self-supporting, allowing it to maintain its structural integrity without the need for external hosts.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vachellia hockii is characterized by a metabolic framework centered on a C3 photosynthetic pathway. As a C3 plant, its carbon fixation process occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle, where the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) facilitates the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide into three-carbon molecules. This physiological mechanism indicates that the plant typically optimizes gas exchange and energy production under temperate to moderate environmental conditions, relying on the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate. Unlike plants utilizing C4 or CAM pathways, Vachellia hockii does not employ specialized Kranz anatomy or nocturnal acid storage for carbon sequestration, instead maintaining a standard leaf structure and stomatal regulation consistent with C3 metabolism to balance water loss with photosynthetic efficiency.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vachellia hockii is characterized by specific seed morphological traits and dispersal mechanisms. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a consistent volume, with a measured mean, minimum, and maximum all recorded at 33 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds show slight variability, with a minimum mass of 0.02369 g, a maximum mass of 0.03927 g, and an average seed mass of approximately 0.032153333 g. Regarding its dispersal strategy, the plant utilizes an autochorous syndrome, indicating that it relies on mechanisms for self-dispersal to distribute its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Seed mass max:

0.03927 g

Seed mass mean:

0.032153333 g

Seed mass min:

0.02369 g

Seed volume max:

33 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Vachellia hockii has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Phenols, Saponins, Terpenoids.

Flavonoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Phenols

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Saponins

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Terpenoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Vachellia hockii has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanolic Extracts, extracts.

Methanolic extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Extracts

1. Frontiers in toxicology