Acacia senegal
| Acacia senegal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Acacia |
| Species: | A. senegal |
| Binomial name | |
| Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Acacia senegal (synonym: Senegalia senegal) is a small thorny deciduous tree from the genus Acacia, which is known by several common names, including Gum acacia, Gum arabic tree, Senegal gum and Sudan gum arabic. It is native to semi-desert regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as Oman, Pakistan, west coastal India. It grows to a height of 5-12m, with a trunk up to 30 cm in diameter.[2] 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 Red acacia or talah gum.[3]
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. Eighty percent of the world's gum arabic is produced in Sudan.[4] The Chauhatan area of Barmer district in Rajasthan is also famous for gum production,this is called कुम्मत (Kummat) in local language there.
Forage
New foliage is very useful as forage.[5]
Food
Dried seeds are used as food by humans.[5]
Agriculture
Like other legume species, A. senegal fixes nitrogen within Rhizobia or nitrogen-fixing bacteria living in root nodules.[3] 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.[5]
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.[5]
Wood
Handles for tools, parts for weaving looms.[5]
Chemistry
A. senegal contains hentriacontane, a solid, long-chain alkane hydrocarbon. The leave also contain the psychoactive alkaloid dimethyltryptamine.[6]
See also
References
Notes
- ↑
- ↑ World Agroforestry Centre
- 1 2 Suliman, Mohamed Osman (2011). The Darfur Conflict : Geography or Institutions. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-88598-0.
- ↑ "Gum arabic in Sudan: production and socio-economic aspects, United Nations Food & Agricultural Organisation"
- 1 2 3 4 5 Purdue University
- ↑ Khalil, S.K.W. & Elkheir, Y.M. 1975. “Dimethyltryptamine from the leaves of certain Acacia species of Northern Sudan.” Lloydia 38(3):176-177.
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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