Vachellia tortilis

Status:A once common tree throughout southern Egypt, however over-harvesting as a food source for livestock, and firewood has depleted population within the native range. The decline is cause for concern because the tree is a resource for the regional fauna, in particular bats that are endangered.

In Ancient Egyptian lore, the first gods were born under the thorny branches of the Tree of Life, the sacred acacia. Lunaaset, the was the feminine aspect of creation, with Atum being the male. The pair were worshiped in the city of Lunu as primordial beings, and acacias stood at the entrance to Lunaaset‘s sanctuary.

The tree also has Biblical significance, for when God told Moses to build the Tabernacle, the instructions included the Ark of the Covenant made of acacia wood, and it is thought that Christ‘s crown of thorns was woven from acacia.