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• Physical Description
• Distribution
• Reproduction
• Growth
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Overview:

In some dry plains of Africa and Asia, this can be almost the only tree. Planted for bark, 12% tannin., and yields Babull gum, similar to gum Arabic (A.Senegal). The fruits ('Gambia pods') are edible and containing 30% tannin, are also used for tanning and as an agricultural molluscicide. Some feel that the thorn bush of Exodus 3 was Acacia nilotica Roasted seed kernels, sometimes used for flavoring and when crushed provide the dye for black strings worn by Nankani women. Trees used in Sudan for afforestation of inundated areas A valuable wood exported from ancient Egypt, used for house beams, statues etc. - with a reputation as impermeable and incorruptible, and especially used for boats. The sap of leaveas and young fruits is very rich in tannin,: an extract called Acacia vera was also exported from Egypt long ago, and used as one of various types of 'cutch' for tanning leather (Dalziel, 1948). Zulu take bark for cough, Chipi use root for tuberculosis. Masai are intoxicated by the bark and root decoction, said to impart courage, even aphrodisia, and the root is said to cure impotence etc. Egyptian Nubians believe that diabetics may eat unlimited carbohydrates as long as they also consume powdered pods (Duke, 1983a Duke, J.A. 1983a. Medicinal plants of the Bible. Trado-Medic Books, Owerri, NY. sensu lato An important source of firewood and good quality charcoal in the Sahelian regions and Tanzania, its calorific value 4950 kcal/kg for heartwood and 4800 kcal/kg for sapwood. Its bark is preferred by the Mbeere tribe (Kenya) for firing pottery, and its thorny branches for livestock pens. Its heartwood is very hard and heavy, 1170 kg/m3, red brown and sometimes with dark striations, it dries and works well but the its high silica content blunts tools. Has many timber uses, in hut construction, boat building, oil, sugar and cane presses, railway sleepers, poles for graneries and digging sticks (Wickens et al. 1995). Produces a gum with a positive optical rotation, and usually with high tannin contents. It is an important source of tannin for producing high quality leather in parts of Africa, bark containing over 20%, green pods 30% but only half this when mature, and the seeds must be removed first. Bark fibre is used in Somalia for making rope, and a preferred fibre source in Tanzania. The bark is also used to produce a red or black dye, and the pods produce a black red or yellow dye and an ink. Tender young pods are eaten as a vegetable, and roasted seeds serve as a spice or are fermented to make an alcoholic beverage. Boiled bark produces a coffee like beverage in Tanzania. Mbeere use the tree sap and shreds of bark to deter bed bugs, and the sap also produces a black anti-rust coating on iron. The sharp spines are used to remove jiggers from feet and in the circumcision of boys.

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms:

1. Acacia arabica (Lam.)Willd.
2. Acacia scorpioides W.Wight
3. Mimosa arabica Lam.
4. Mimosa nilotica L.
5. Mimosa scorpioides L.

Notes:

Publishing author: Garsault Publication: Fig. Pl. Anim. Med. t. 95 (1764); Descr. Pl. Anim. 68 (1767); Thell. in Bull.Herb. Boiss. Ser. II. viii. 785

Publishing author: Guill. & Perr. Publication: Fl. Seneg. Tent. i. 249

Basionym: Leguminosae Acacia arabica Willd. var. cupressiformis

Basionym author: (Stewart)

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Rico M.L., 1994

Place of publication: Descr. Egypte, Hist. nat. 79. 1813 ("1812")

Name verified on 28-Oct-1988 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 15-Sep-2004

Physical Description

Subfamily Mimosoideae:

Mostly trees or shrubs. Leaves mostly bipinnate. Corolla usually not showy, actinomorphic, sympetalous, the lobes valvate. Stamens 10-numerous, often monadelphous, showy. Pollen released in monads, tetrads, or polyads. Seeds with u-shaped line (pleurogram) present. [Carr]

Genus Acacia:

Trees, shrubs, rarely herbs, often prickly or spinose. Leaves bipinnate; leaflets small and numerous or leaves reduced to phyllodes; petiolar glands often present; stipules generally spinescent. Inflorescence cylindric spike or globose head; peduncle solitary axillary or fasciculate or paniculate at the end of branches; bracts often two, scale like, situated on the peduncle at various levels. Flowers small, 3-5-merous, bisexual or plants polygamous. Calyx campanulate, dentate, lobed or polysepalous. Petals usually more or less united, rarely absent. Stamens indefinite, free or shortly and irregularly connate at the base; anthers small, eglandular. Ovary sessile or stipitate, with 2 or more ovules. Fruit ovate to linear, straight, arcuate or contorted, membranous to woody, rarely articulated or moniliform. Seed large, with a filiform funicle or fleshy aril.

A genus with about 900 species; distributed mainly in tropics and subtropics, especially in Africa and Australia.^[1]

Species Acacia nilotica:

Very widespread species in Africa and also streaching to the Indian subcontinent and Shri Lanka, it is divided into nine subspecies. Single stemmed, deciduous or evergreen tree, usually 2.5-15 m tall, but reaching 25 m or more in the riverine subspecies, with a flattened spreading or rounded crown. Root system deep and extensive in dry sites, the taproot developing first and then the laterals, which become compact and massive, but in flooded sites the root system is largely lateral. Distinguished from most African Acacia species in possessing long straight paired thorns at the leaf axil which are characteristically deflexed. Acacia nilotica in Africa exhibits two very distinct ecological preferences: the subspecies subalata, leiocarpa and adstringens occur in wooded grassland, savanna and dry scrub forests on deep sandy loamy soils, and also on lateritic and calcareous sites. Subsp. kraussiana also prefers dry grasslands and savannas, especially on compacted sandy loam, shallow granite or clay soils along drainage lines and rivers, but away from flooding. On the other hand, subspecies nilotica and tomentosa are restricted to riverine habitats and seasonally flooded areas on clay alluvial soils. In the Indian subcontinent, subsp. indica forms low altitude dry forests usually on alluvium soils subject to flooding or black cotton soils. Now widely planted on farms throughout the plains, it will also grow on saline, alkaline, and on soils with calcareous pans.

Habit: Shrub, Tree • Climbing: Not Climbing

Flowers: Flower Color: yellow

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

Native: .

Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Growth

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun.

Similar Species

Members of the genus Acacia:

There are approximately 2,924 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them: A. acuminata burkitii · A. angustissima smithii · A. aspera parviceps · A. ataxiphylla magna · A. bivenosa bivenosa · A. bivenosa wayi · A. disparrima calidestris · A. euthycarpa oblanceolata · A. farnesiana minuta · A. farnesiana pinetorum · A. julifera curvinervia · A. solandri solandri · A. sphacelata recurva · A. sphacelata verticillata · A. stipuligera stipuligera · A. tortilis campoptila · A. victoriae arida · A. yemenensis obtusifoliolata · A. hanburyana · A. 'Cascade' · A. 'Clair de Lune' · A. 'Mireille' · A. 'Rustica' · A. 'Winter Gold' · A. 05ana · A. abbatiana · A. abbreviata · A. abrupta · A. abstergens · A. abyssinica · A. abyssinica abyssinica · A. abyssinica calophylla · A. acanthaster · A. acanthocarpa var. uncinella · A. acanthoclada · A. acanthoclada acanthoclada · A. acanthoclada glaucescens · A. acanthoclada subsp. glaucescens · A. acanthoclada var. glaucescens · A. acanthophora · A. acatlensis · A. acellerata · A. acinacea (Gold Dust Wattle) · A. acinacea 'Ruby Tips' · A. acinacea var. acinacea · A. acinacea var. brevipedunculata · A. aciphylla · A. aciphylla var. aciphylla · A. acoma · A. acradena · A. acradenia · A. acrionastes · A. acuaria · A. acuifera · A. aculeaticarpa · A. aculeatissima · A. aculeiformis · A. acuminata (Raspberry Jam) · A. acuminata acuminata (Raspberry Jam) · A. acuminata burkittii · A. acuminata subsp. burkitii · A. acuminata var. acuminata · A. acutangula · A. acutata · A. acutistipula · A. adenanthera · A. adenocalyx · A. adenocarpa · A. adenogonia · A. adenopa · A. adenophora · A. adenostylis · A. adhaerens · A. adhaerens var. parviceps · A. adherens · A. adinophylla · A. adnata · A. adoxa · A. adoxa var. adoxa · A. adoxa var. subglabra · A. adoxa x · A. adpressa · A. adsurgens · A. adunca (Wallangarra Wattle) · A. aegyptiaca · A. aemula · A. aemula aemula · A. aemula muricata · A. aemula subsp. muricata · A. aestivalis · A. alata · A. alata var. alata · A. alata var. biglandulosa · A. alata var. glabrata · A. alata var. platyptera · A. alata var. tetrantha · A. alaticaulis · A. alaticaulisTindale · A. albescens · A. albicorticata (Aromo)

Bibliography

• Baker,E.G. 1923 Bothalia 1:113-138. Rev. of S.Afr. spp. of Rhynchosia
• Berhaut, J. 1971–. Flore illustrée du Senegal. (F Senegal) [lists as A. nilotica (L.) Willd.].
• Boudet, G. et al. 1986. Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali. (L Mali) [lists as A. nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del.].
• Boutelje, J. B. 1980. Encyclopedia of world timbers, names and technical literature. (Ency WTimber) [= A. arabica (Lam.) Willd.].
• Brunel, J. F. et al., eds. 1984. Flore analytique du Togo. Phanerogames. (F Togo) [lists as A. nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del.].
• Burkill, H. M. 1985–2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa. (Use Pl WT Afr) [lists as A. nilotica (L.) Willd.].
• Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959–. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae. (F China)
• Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980–. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon. (F Ceylon)
• Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs. (CRC MedHerbs ed2)
• Dyer, R. A. et al., eds. 1963–. Flora of southern Africa. (F SAfr) [lists as A. nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del.].
• Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960–. Flora zambesiaca. (F Zamb) [lists as A. nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del.].
• Fagg, C. W. & J. L. Stewart. 1994. J. Arid Environm. 27:11.
• Ghazanfar, S. A. 1992. An annotated catalogue of the vascular plants of Oman. Scripta Botanica Belgica 2. (L Oman)
• Hara, H. et al. 1978–1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal. (L Nepal) [lists as A. nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del.].
• Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953–1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2. (F WT Afr) [lists as A. nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del.].
• Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist. (Leg SAsia)
• Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia. (Econ Pl Aust)
• Lock, J. M. & K. Simpson. 1991. Legumes of West Asia: a checklist. (Leg WAsia)
• Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist. (Leg Africa)
• Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2. (Food Feed Crops US)
• McGuffin, M. et al., eds. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2. (Herbs Commerce ed2)
• Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970–. Flora of [West] Pakistan. (F Pak)
• Nasir, S. M. & M. Athar. 1998. Fuelwood as an energy source. Phytologia 85:106.
• National Academy of Sciences. 1980. Firewood crops. Shrub and tree species for energy production. (Firewood Cr)
• PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) - on-line resource. (PROTABASE)
• Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963–. Flora iranica. (F Iran)
• Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants. (Dict Rehm)
• Ross, J. H. 1979. A conspectus of the African Acacia species. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa 44:106. [lists as A. nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del.].
• Sanjappa, M. 1992. Legumes of India. (Leg India)
• Thulin, M. 1983. Leguminosae of Ethiopia. Opera Bot. 68:1-223. (Leg Ethiop) [lists as A. nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del.].
• Timberlake, J. et al. 1999. Field guide to the acacias of Zimbabwe. (FG Acacia Zimbabwe)
• Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966–. Flora of Iraq. (F Iraq) [lists as A. nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del.].
• Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952–. Flora of tropical East Africa. (F TE Afr)
• Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds. (Invasive Pl Spec)
• Wood, J. R. I. 1997. A handbook of the flora of Yemen. (F Yemen)

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Notes

Contributors:

• Bisby FA, Roskov YR, Orrell TM, Nicolson D, Paglinawan LE, Bailly N, Kirk PM, Bourgoin T, van Hertum J, eds (2008). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist Taxonomic Classification. CD-ROM; Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed January 27, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 12 providers.
• ILDIS
• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL (April 24, 2008)

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal January 27, 2008:

• Australian National Herbarium
• , Australian National Herbarium
• Herbarium of the University of Aarhus, The AAU Herbarium Database
• Herbier de la Guyane, Herbier de la Guyane
• Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Israel Nature and Parks Authority
• Marine Science Institute, UCSB, Paleobiology Database
• Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden
• National Herbarium of New South Wales, NSW herbarium collection

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 182086
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13625939
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:470993-1
• U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: MINI2
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 1159

Footnotes:

1. "Acacia". in Flora of Pakistan. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.