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Senegalia polyacantha

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Acacia polyacantha)

Senegalia polyacantha
Senegalia polyacantha subsp. polyacantha, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
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]
  • Acacia catechu sensu Griseb.
  • Acacia catechu auct. non L.
  • Acacia polyacantha Willd.
  • Acacia suma (Roxb.) Voigt
  • Gagnebina tamariscina sensu Bojer
  • Mimosa suma Roxb.
  • Senegalia suma (Roxb.) Britton & Rose

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

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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

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Gum

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The tree's gum is used in the manufacture of candy.[2]

Medicinal purposes

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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

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The bark is useful for tanning.[2]

Wood

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The tree's primary use is for wood.[7]

References

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  1. 1 2 ILDIS LegumeWeb(ILDIS)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 PlantZAfrica.com
  3. "Senegalia polyacantha (Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  4. Brenan, J.P.M. (1970). "Leguminosae". Flora Zambesiaca. 3 (1): 71.
  5. 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.
  6. 1 2 3 Uhlig, Siegbert (2003). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: A-C. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 66. ISBN 3447047461. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  7. Speedy, Andrew. "Acacia polyacantha". www.fao.org. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
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  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Senegalia polyacantha at Wikimedia Commons
  • Wikispecies logo Data related to Senegalia polyacantha at Wikispecies
  • Acacia polyacantha in West African plants – A Photo Guide.