[2] Other common names include omubambanjobe (Tooro Uganda), acacia Saint Domingue (French), el marabú (Cuba), " Mpangara" (Shona), Kalahari-Weihnachtsbaum (German of former South West Africa), kéké or mimosa clochette (Réunion).

The generic name Dichrostachys means 'two-colored spike', referring to its two-colored inflorescence, from the Ancient Greek δί- (di-, 'twice'), χροός (khroos, 'color'), and στάχυς (stakhus, 'ear of grain').

It is native to Africa, the Indian subcontinent and North Australia[3] and had been introduced to the Caribbean and parts of Southeast Asia.

[6] In Cuba, where it is known as El Marabú or Marabou weed, it has become a serious invasive species problem, occupying about 4,900,000 acres (20,000 km2) of agricultural land.

Flowers of the Dichrostachys cinerea are characteristically arranged in bicoloured cylindrical spikes that resemble Chinese lanterns, 6 to 8 centimetres (2.4 to 3.1 in) long and fragrant.

Cattle, camels and game such as giraffe, buffalo, kudu, hartebeest, nyala, red forest duiker and Damara dik-dik feed on the juicy pods that fall to the ground.

Although there are currently limited to no evidence that can support these claims, the bark is used in traditional medicine for headache, toothache, dysentery and elephantiasis, while root infusions are used for leprosy, syphilis, coughs, as an anthelmintic, purgative and strong diuretic.

[12][13] In Siddha medicine of the Tamils in southern India, Dichrostachys cinerea is called vidathther and used for treatment of gonorrhea, syphilis and eczema.