6/17/12 Acacia senegal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1/3en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_senegal

This Gum Acacia tree was

photographed at Taljai hill, Pune

Gum Arabic Tree

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae

(unranked): Angiosperms

(unranked): Eudicots

(unranked): Rosids

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Genus: Acacia

Species: A. senegal

Binomial name

Acacia senegal

Willd.

Acacia senegalFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Acacia senegal is a smalldeciduous Acacia tree knownby the common namesRfaudraksha, Gum Acacia,Gum Arabic Tree, or GumSenegal Tree. It is native tosemi-desert regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, as well asOman, Pakistan, andnorthwestern India. It grows toa 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 incontrast to the related, but inferior, gum arabic from A. seyal or talh

gum.[2]

Contents

1 Uses

1.1 Gum arabic

1.2 Forage1.3 Food

1.4 Agriculture

1.5 Traditional uses

1.6 Rope

1.7 Wood

2 Botanical variations

3 References

3.1 Notes

3.2 General references4 External links

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.

6/17/12 Acacia senegal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2/3en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_senegal

Acacia senegal

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 innaturally 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]

Rope

Roots near the surface of the ground are quiteuseful 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

1. ^ World Agroforestry Centre(http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/SEA/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=108)

2. ̂a b Suliman, Mohamed Osman (2011). The Darfur Conflict : Geography or Institutions. New York: Routledge.

6/17/12 Acacia senegal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3/3en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_senegal

ISBN 978-0-415-88598-0.

3. ̂a b c d e Purdue University (http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Acacia_senegal.html)

4. ̂a b c FAO (http://www.fao.org/docrep/V5360E/v5360e0n.htm)

General references

Van Wyk, Ben-Erik (2005). Food Plants of the World. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, Inc. ISBN 0-88192-743-0

External links

Acacia senegal Photos (Google Images) (http://images.google.com/images?

svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&gbv=1&q=%22Acacia+senegal%22+&btnG=Search+Images)

Acacia senegal (http://www.westafricanplants.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=13&preview=true&searchTextMenue=Acacia+senegal&search=Wikitemplate) in West African

plants - A Photo Guide. (http://www.westafricanplants.senckenberg.de/)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Acacia_senegal&oldid=485638329"

Categories: Acacia Flora of Asia Flora of Africa Medicinal plants Tree stubs

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