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This study was conducted in 2014 at the department of botany and the nutritional laboratory of Faisalabad University of Agriculture, in order to assess the chemical composition of Acacia jacquemontii Benth. and its ethnobotanical uses in local communities of the That desert in Pakistan. To determine its chemical composition, mature leaves and pods of the species were collected in the field and composite samples were prepared. Their chemical composition was then determined for crude protein, fat, fibre, ash, micro and macro-elements, total pheno-lics, flavonoids, total tannins, alkaloids and saponin. An interview schedule was developed to assess ethnobotanical uses of A. jacquemontii by local communities for food, shelter and medicine. Thirteen local people and thirteen Hakims involved in traditional uses were interviewed. Our results showed that the leaves and seeds of the species contained respectively 22% and 33% of crude proteins and 49% and 15% of crude fibre. Fats in the leaves and seeds amounted to 17% and 28%. The leaves contained 0.1% phosphorus, 0.6% potassium, 1.2% calcium, 0.1% sodium and 0.6% magnesium and micro-elements: iron (246 ppm), manganese (29.2 ppm), zinc (27.9 ppm) and copper (14.4 ppm). The amounts of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and total phenolics found in the leaves were 5.8, 168, 196, 124 and 137 respectively. Our results for ethnobotanical uses showed that besides using this shrub for shelter belts, firewood, fodder and medicines, local people have strong religious beliefs, calling A. jacquemontii the ’shrub of the ghosts’ and believing in its "magic" powers in the practice of necromancy. It was used in the past by Greek practitioners in this area to treat common ailments.