Senegalia polyacantha
| Senegalia polyacantha | |
|---|---|
| Senegalia polyacantha subsp. polyacantha, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
| Genus: | Senegalia |
| Species: | S. polyacantha
|
| Binomial name | |
| Senegalia polyacantha (Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger
| |
| Subspecies | |
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Senegalia polyacantha (syn. Acacia polyacantha), also known as white thorn, is a flowering tree which can grow up to 25 m tall. The species name polyacantha has the meaning "many thorns" in Latin.[2] The tree is native to Africa, India, the Indian Ocean and Asia, but it has also been introduced to the Caribbean.[1]
Taxonomy
There are two subspecies:[3]
- Senegalia polyacantha subsp. polyacantha — Indian subcontinent.
- Senegalia polyacantha subsp. campylacantha — Africa. Leaves very finely divided bipinnate, with up to 60 pairs of primary pinnae, each with as many as 66 pairs of leaflets.[4]
Uses
Repellent uses
The root of Senegalia polyacantha subsp. campylacantha emits chemical compounds that repel animals including rats, snakes and crocodiles.[2]
Gum
The tree's gum is used in the manufacture of candy.[2]
Medicinal purposes
The roots and perhaps its bark have medicinal uses. The root extract is useful for snakebites[2] and is applied to wash the skin of children who are agitated at night time.[2] The root is also used for treating gonorrhea,[5] venereal diseases,[6] dysentery[6] and gastrointestinal disorders.[6]
Tannin
The bark is useful for tanning.[2]
Wood
The tree's primary use is for wood.[7]
References
- ^ a b ILDIS LegumeWeb(ILDIS)
- ^ a b c d e f PlantZAfrica.com
- ^ "Senegalia polyacantha (Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ Brenan, J.P.M. (1970). "Leguminosae". Flora Zambesiaca. 3 (1): 71.
- ^ van der Maesen, L. J. G.; van der Burgt, X. M.; van Medenbach de Rooy, J. M. (1996). The Biodiversity of African Plants. Springer Science+Business Media. p. 254. ISBN 0792340957. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ a b c Uhlig, Siegbert (2003). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: A-C. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 66. ISBN 3447047461. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ Speedy, Andrew. "Acacia polyacantha". www.fao.org. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
External links
- Media related to Senegalia polyacantha at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Senegalia polyacantha at Wikispecies
- Acacia polyacantha in West African plants – A Photo Guide.