Dichrostachys cinerea fruit pods

The fruits of Dichrostachys cinerea or sicklebush are dense clusters of intricately contorted pods. They remind of the similarly convoluted pods of Vachellia tortilis, but in that case a single pod makes up each cluster.

Sickle-bush pods start off green, filled with sap as in the picture. They gradually dry out to a brown colour as the seeds ripen. Pod dimensions, for those who need to be spared the challenge of straightening some for measurement, are about 1 cm by 10 cm. The pods are indehiscent, eventually dropping off and rotting on the ground, if not eaten by livestock or game (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).