Why are spines of African Acacia species white?

African Journal of Range and Forage Science

Volumn 21, Issue 3, 2004, Pages 211-212

  Midgley, J J ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN   (South Africa)

Author keywords

Crypsis; Feeding ecology; Spinescence

Indexed keywords

ACACIA; CRYPSIS;

EID: 13744256147     PISSN: 10220119     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2989/10220110409485854     Document Type: Article

References (7)

1. Cooper SM and Owen-Smith N 1986. Effects of plant spinescence on large mammalian herbivores. Oecologia 68: 446-455.
2. Gowda JH 1996. Spines of Acacia tortilis: what do they defend and how? Oikos 77: 279-284.
3. Lev-Yadun S 2001. Aposematic (warning) coloration associated with thorns in higher plants. Journal of Theorical Biology 210: 385-388.
4. Midgley JJ and Ward D 1996. Tests for inducible thorn defences against herbivory must consider plant growth strategies. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 13(2): 757-759.
5. Midgley JJ, Botha MA and Balfour D 2001. Patterns of thorn length, density, type and colour in African Acacias. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 8: 59-61.
6. Ross JB 1979. A conspectus of African Acacia species. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 44. Pretoria, South Africa.
7. Young TP and Okello BD 1997. Relaxation of an induced defence after exclusion of herbivores: spines on Acacia depranolobium. Oecologia 115: 508-513.