Acacia senegal
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Acacia senegal
| Gum Arabic Tree | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Acacia |
| Species: | A. senegal |
| Binomial name | |
| Acacia senegal Willd. |
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Acacia senegal is a small deciduous Acacia tree known by the common names Rfaudraksha, Gum Acacia, Gum Arabic Tree, or Gum Senegal Tree. It is native to semi-desert regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as Oman, Pakistan, and northwestern India. It grows to a height of 5-12m, with a trunk up to 30 cm in diameter.[1] A. senegal is the source of the world's highest quality gum arabic, known locally as hashab gum in contrast to the related, but inferior, gum arabic from A. seyal or talh gum.[2]
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Contents
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Uses
Gum arabic
The tree is of great economic importance for the gum arabic it produces to be is used as a food additive, in crafts, and as a cosmetic. The gum is drained from cuts in the bark, and an individual tree will yield 200 to 300 grams. Seventy percent of the world's gum arabic is produced in Sudan.
Forage
New foliage is very useful as forage.[3]
Food
Dried seeds are used as food by humans.[3]
Agriculture
Like other Acacia species, A. senegal fixes nitrogen within Rhizobia or nitrogen-fixing bacteria living in root nodules.[2] This nitrogen fixation enriches the poor soils where it is grown, allowing for the rotation of other crops in naturally nutrient-poor regions.
Traditional uses
It is reportedly used as for its astringent properties, to treat bleeding, bronchitis, diarrhea, gonorrhea, leprosy, typhoid fever and upper respiratory tract infections.[3][unreliable medical source?]
Rope
Roots near the surface of the ground are quite useful in making all kinds of very strong ropes and cords. The tree bark is also used to make rope.[3]
Wood
Handles for tools, parts for weaving looms.[3]
Botanical variations
- Acacia senegal var. leiorhachis Brenan[4]
- Acacia senegal var. rostrata Brenan[4]
- Acacia senegal var. senegal[4]
References
Notes
- ^ World Agroforestry Centre
- ^ a b Suliman, Mohamed Osman (2011). The Darfur Conflict : Geography or Institutions. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-88598-0.
- ^ a b c d e Purdue University
- ^ a b c FAO
General references
Van Wyk, Ben-Erik (2005). Food Plants of the World. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, Inc. ISBN 0-88192-743-0
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