Acacia nilotica (
gum arabic tree,
[2] babul,
Egyptian thorn,
Sant tree,
Al-sant or
prickly acacia;[3] called
thorn mimosa in Australia;
lekkerruikpeul or
scented thorn in South Africa) is a species of
Acacia (wattle) native to
Africa and the
Indian subcontinent. It is also currently an
invasive species of significant concern in
Australia. For the ongoing reclassification of this and other species historically classified under genus
Acacia, see the
list of Acacia species.
| Contents- 1 Description
- 2 Distribution
- 3 Uses
- 3.1 Forage and fodder
- 3.2 Hedges
- 3.3 Medicine
- 3.3.1 Bark
- 3.3.2 Twigs
- 3.3.3 Bark and root
- 3.3.4 Bark or gum
- 3.3.5 Leaves
- 3.3.6 Resin
- 3.3.7 Root
- 3.3.8 Seed pods
- 3.3.9 Wood
- 3.4 Lumber
- 4 Propagation
- 5 Subspecies
|
Description
Acacia nilotica is a tree 5–20 m high with a dense spheric
crown, stems and branches usually dark to black coloured, fissured bark, grey-pinkish slash, exuding a reddish low quality gum. The tree has thin, straight, light, grey spines in axillary pairs, usually in 3 to 12 pairs, 5 to 7.5 cm long in young trees, mature trees commonly without thorns. The leaves are bipinnate, with 3-6 pairs of pinnulae and 10-30 pairs of leaflets each, tomentose, rachis with a gland at the bottom of the last pair of pinnulae. Flowers in globulous heads 1.2-1.5 cm in diameter of a bright golden-yellow color, set up either axillary or whorly on
peduncles 2–3 cm long located at the end of the branches. Pods are strongly constricted, hairy, white-grey, thick and softly tomentose. Its seeds number approximately 8000/kg.
[4]Distribution
Scented Thorn Acacia is native from
Egypt south to
Mozambique and
Natal through to
Pakistan,
India and
Burma.
[5] It has become widely
naturalised outside its native range including
Zanzibar, and
Australia.
Acacia nilotica is restricted to
riverine habitats and seasonally flooded areas within its native range
[citation needed] however in its introduced range it is spread by
livestock and grows outside
riparian areas.
[5]Uses
Forage and fodder
In part of its range smallstock consume the pods and leaves, but elsewhere it is also very popular with
cattle. Pods are used as a supplement to
poultry rations in
India. Dried pods are particularly sought out by animals on rangelands. In India branches are commonly lopped for
fodder. Pods are best fed dry as a supplement, not as a green fodder.
Hedges
A. nilotica makes a good protective hedge because of its thorns.
[6]Medicine
A. nilotica may also be used for medicinal purposes, as a
demulcent or for conditions such as
gonorrhoea,
leucorrhoea,
diarrhea,
dysentery or
diabetes. It is styptic and astringent. In
Siddha medicine, the gum is used to consolidate otherwise watery semen.
[7]Bark
According to Hartwell, African
Zulu take bark for
cough. It acts as an
astringent and it is used to treat
diarrhea,
dysentery, and
leprosy.
Twigs
In most parts of Indian sub-continent, thin twigs are chewed and used as a toothbrush.
Bark and root
Maasai are intoxicated by the bark and root decoction, said to impart
courage, even
aphrodisia, and the root is said to cure
impotence.
Bark or gum
In West
Africa, the
bark or
gum is used to treat
cancers and/or
tumors (of
ear,
eye or
testicles) and
indurations of
liver and
spleen,
condylomas, and excess flesh.
Sap or
bark, leaves, and young pods are strongly
astringent due to
tannin, and are chewed in
Senegal as an
antiscorbutic.
Leaves
The bruised leaves are poulticed and used to treat
ulcers.
Resin
In
Lebanon, the
resin is mixed with orange-flower infusion for
typhoid convalescence.
Root
The
Chipi use the
root for
tuberculosis. In
Tonga, the
root is used to treat
tuberculosis.
Seed pods
Egyptian Nubians believe that
diabetics may eat unlimited
carbohydrates as long as they also consume powdered pods.
Wood
In
Italian Africa, the wood is used to treat
smallpox. In
Ethiopia, certain parts of the tree are used as a
lactogogue.
Lumber
The tree's wood is "very durable if water-seasoned" and its uses include tool handles and lumber for boats.
[6] The wood has a density of about 1170 kg/m³.
[8]Propagation
There are 5000-16000 seeds/kg.
[9]Subspecies
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