Acacia thomsonii Maslin & M.W.Mcdonald

Often ± spindly shrub or tree 2–6 m high. New shoots encrusted with bronze or brownish resin at initiation, not viscid. Branchlets sericeous. Phyllodes patent to ascending, mostly slightly asymmetric, oblanceolate to narrowly oblong-elliptic, ± straight to shallowly falcate, 7.5–17 cm long, 10–20 mm wide, rounded-obtuse to subacute, green to grey-green, sparsely to moderately sericeous, multistriate with normally 3 veins more evident that the rest, sparingly anastomosing. Inflorescences rudimentary 2-headed racemes with axes to 0.5 mm long; peduncles normally 3–7 mm long and sparsely sericeous; spikes 15–30 mm long, golden. Flowers 5-merous; sepals united to near apex. Legumes linear, straight to shallowly curved, mostly 4.5–8 cm long, 3–4 (–4.5) mm wide, firmly chartaceous to thinly coriaceous, glabrous to subglabrous. Seeds longitudinal, ± oblong, (3–) 3.5–4 (–5) mm long, glossy, dark brown to black; aril normally bright yellow.

Grows in usually skeletal, slightly acidic soil on dissected plateaux and rocky low hills (often along diffuse drainage lines) and stony or sandy plains.

Under evaluation for multipurpose use in dry areas of sub-Saharan Africa; the potential of its seeds as a source of human food is also being assessed.

Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.