Weeping wattle

The Weeping Wattle gets its name from to the large quantities of liquid exuded by cuckoo-spit insects (Ptyelus grossus) that drips from the tree while they are actively feeding on sap from the twigs. It is common in woodland and woodland grassland areas and can be found in the north of Namibia, particularly in the Oshakati region.

It is a small to medium-sized (4-8m, can reach up to 15m) deciduous tree, often multi-stemmed, branching low down, with a dense, spreading crown. The bark is rough and grey-brown and reddish-brown hairs cover the young branchlets, leaf and flower stalks, sepals and pods. The leaves are compound with small leaflets and have a feathery appearance. The flowers have crinkled petals and are held in beautiful erect, yellow sprays or inflorescences. The pods are flat, velvety at first, becoming smooth and woody.

The leaves of the weeping wattle are browsed by livestock and game and the bark is stripped by black rhino. The pods are eaten by cattle, and the butterflies breed on the trees. The flowers attract insects, which in turn attract birds. The bark and roots are used in traditional medicine and the timber is used for manufacturing furniture, pounding blocks, ornaments, carving and firewood.