Vachellia tortilis, widely known as Acacia tortilis but now attributed to the genus Vachellia,[4] is the umbrella thorn acacia, also known as umbrella thorn and Israeli babool,[5] a medium to large canopied tree native to most of Africa, primarily to the savanna and Sahel of Africa (especially the Somali peninsula and Sudan), but also occurring in the Middle East.

Vachellia tortilis is widespread in Africa, being found in countries like Tunisia, Morocco, Uganda, Angola, Zimbabwe, Djibouti, and Botswana.

[8] Timber from the tree is used for furniture, wagon wheels, fence posts, cages, and pens.

The pods and foliage, which grow prolifically on the tree, are used as fodder for desert grazing animals.

[9] The Umbrella thorn is also an important species for rehabilitation of degraded arid land; it tolerates drought, wind, salinity and a wide range of soil types, and has the additional benefit of fixing nitrogen, an essential plant nutrient, in the soil via its interaction with symbiotic root bacteria.