Name
This plant was first discovered in 1822 and named ''Acacia viridiramis'' by Burchell. In 1862, Harvey described the new genus ''Xerocladia'', based on his species ''Xerocladia zeyheri'' Harv. In 1891, Taubert studied this species and discovered that Burchell and Harvey were actually describing the same species. He also determined that the plant doesn't fit into the genus ''Acacia'' and kept the name ''Xerocladia''. Because the earliest publication (after 1753) has priority, Taubert made the new combination ''Xerocladia viridiramis'' (Burch.) Taub. In conclusion, ''Acacia viridiramis'' Burch. is the basionym for ''Xerocladia viridiramis'' (Burch.) Taub, and ''Xerocladia zeyheri'' Harv. is a synonym.Geographic distribution
South West Africa and Namaqualand, occurs in sandy to gravel riverbeds, or on riverbanks.Plant description
Shrub to 1m tall, twigs zig-zag shaped, pale green to olive, terete, internodes 10–14 mm. Leaves alternate, bipinnately compound, with a pair of spiny incurved basal stipules, 1.0-2.5 mm. Rachis 1.0-2.0 mm, with one pair of terminal pinnae, an acuminate to deltoid bract clasping the base of pinnae, small gland opposite the bract between the pinnae, rachilla 5.0-13.0 mm. Leaflets alternate, ovate to elliptic, 2.5-5.5 mm x 0.5-1.5 mm, with 13-17 leaflets per rachilla, margin entire. Inflorescence a capitulum, red to deep maroon, 5.0-8.5 mm in diameter, peduncle hirtellous, 4.0-13.5 mm. Flowers hermaphroditic, actinomorphic. Sepals 5, fused at the base, ovate to deltoid, hirtellous, 0.6-1.2 mm x 0.5–1 mm. Petals 5, ovate to acuminate, free, 2.0-3.0 mm x 0.6-1.0 mm. Stamens 10, distinct, filaments 2.0-2.8 mm, anther dorsifixed, 0.4-0.5 x 0.3-0.5 mm, pollen grains bright yellow. Ovary extremely hirtellous at the base, style 2.3-3.0 mm, stigma club to disc-shaped. Fruit an indehiscent, asymmetric, winged legume, 1-6 per head, 7.5-17.5 x 7.0-12.5 mm, reniform to flabellate, with an acute tip, pericarp red brown, pubescent, raised ridge forming a ring above the seed(s), style and stigma sometimes persistent on the fruit. Seeds 1-2 per fruit, obovate, 2.5-3.0 x 4.5–5 mm.Relationship
''Xerocladia'' is most closely related to ''Prosopis'' (Melissa A. Luckow, personal communication, March 29, 2013 ). They both have stipular spines, leaves with few pairs of pinnae, and 10 stamens. In contrast to ''Xerocladia'', ''Prosopis'' usually has a spicate inflorescence instead of a capitulum, an elongate straight or spiral legume pod which is not winged. ''Prosopis'' also has more (18-30) leaflets per rachilla, and leaflets opposite or sub opposite rather than alternate.References
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q13962449, from2=Q9298105 Mimosoids