anatree, noun

Forms:
Also anna tree, and with initial capital.
Origin:
Nama, EnglishShow more Nama ana name for this tree + English tree.
A species of tall thorn-tree, Acacia albida of the Leguminosae, which bears large, edible pods; anaboom; also called apiesdoring. Also shortened form ana, anna.
1856 C.J. Andersson Lake Ngami 27The principal trees thereabouts are the ana and the giraffe-thorn (acacia giraffæ).
1864 T. Baines Explor. in S.-W. Afr. 42Halting before the house under the most magnificent anna-trees (a kind of thorn) I had seen in the country.
1877 Sel. Comm. Report on Mission to Damaraland 11Amongst the trees the Anna, often 80 feet high, is the most conspicuous.
1886 G.A. Farini Through Kalahari Desert 257We camped under some ‘anna’ trees — immensely tall trees, with wide-spreading branches, bearing large fruit of a beautiful scarlet colour when opened, and no less delicious to the taste than attractive to the eye. The fruit is full of seeds, which are also edible.
1915 W. Eveleigh S.W. Afr. 57The handsome Ana tree, Acacia albida, is found. The fruit of this remarkable tree is a legume. The beans, when ripe and dry, are used for fodder for cattle.
1917 R. Marloth Dict. of Common Names of Plants 6Ana tree, Acacia albida. One of the largest species of the genus, the crown being up to 100 feet in diameter. Frequent along rivers of tropical Africa...The large pods form a very nutritious food for all kinds of stock.
1961 Palmer & Pitman Trees of S. Afr. 148The flowers of the ana tree grow in long creamy spikes.
1973 W.F.E. Immelman et al. Our Green Heritage 274There are many species of trees which occur naturally in certain bushveld areas which are important as fodder..Capparis spp. (witgat),..Rhus spp. (karee trees), Acacia giraffae (Camel-thorn), Acacia albida (ana tree) and various other acacias.
1980 E. Prov. Herald 30 Apr. 9Anaboom/Ana Tree and Koorsboom/Fever Tree might as well have had thorn added to complete the umbrella of uniformity.
1988 A. Hall-Martin et al. Kaokoveld 11Along watercourses which cut through the rugged terrain the dominant trees are mopane, the scented thorn.., the ana tree or winter thorn (Acacia albida) and leadwood.
A species of tall thorn-tree, Acacia albida of the Leguminosae, which bears large, edible pods; anaboom; also called apiesdoring.
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18561988