Acacia cornigera

Acacia cornigera, bull-horn acacia, bullhorn wattle, or swollen-horn acacia (scientific name: Acacia cornigera), native to Mexico and Costa Rica, is a small evergreen tree of the genus Acacia in the family Fabaceae. It has two thick, hollow, angular spines at the base of its leaves. Inside the spines live Acacia ants (Pseudomyrmex ferrugineus). The ants feed on the yellow grains on the tips of the leaves and the nectar secreted by the glands on the petiole. On the other hand, the ants protect the acacia from their natural enemies, the "huckleberries" that attack the leaves in swarms, and the vines that entangle and kill the plants. They build a symbiotic relationship of mutual help.

Common name: Acacia cornigera, scientific name: Acacia cornigera, aka: bull-horn acacia, bullhorn wattle, swollen-horn acacia, Type of life: evergreen small tree, height: 10 m, bark color: gray to brown, leaf shape: twice pinnate compound leaf, spine length: 3 cm, flower color: yellow, inflorescence shape: acicular inflorescence, inflorescence length: 4 cm, characteristics: ant plant.