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Vachellia nilotica

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Vachellia nilotica,more commonly known asAcacia nilotica,and by thevernacular namesofgum arabic tree,[5]babul,[6]thorn mimosa,Egyptian acaciaorthorny acacia,[7]is afloweringtree in the familyFabaceae.It is native to Africa, the Middle East and theIndian subcontinent.It is also considered a 'weed of national significance' and aninvasive speciesof concern in Australia, as well as anoxious weedby the federal government of the United States.[8]

Vachellia nilotica
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Vachellia
Species:
V. nilotica
Binomial name
Vachellia nilotica
(L.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.[1]
Subspecies
Range ofVachellia nilotica
Synonyms[4]
  • Acacia arabica(Lam.) Willd.
  • Acacia nilotica(L.)Willd.exDelile
  • Acacia scorpioides(L.)W.Wight
  • Mimosa arabicaLam.
  • Mimosa niloticaL.
  • Mimosa scorpioidesL.

Taxonomy

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This species of tree is thetype speciesof theLinnaeangenusAcacia,which derives its name fromGreekἀκακία,akakía,the name given by early Greek botanist-physicianPedanius Dioscorides(c. 40–90 CE)to this tree as a medicinal, in his bookMateria Medica.[9]The genusAcaciawas long known not to be taxonomically monophyletic, and despite being the type species of that genus,A. niloticahas since been moved to the genusVachellia,with the genus nameAcaciabeing reserved for Australian species; theprinciple of priority,which would normally prevent such a taxonomic change, was waived with a majority vote by theInternational Botanical Congressin 2005. The renaming of the traditionalAcaciatoVachelliaremains controversial, especially in Africa, whereV. niloticais an iconic species and is widely referred to as "the acacia".[10]For the new classification of this and other species historically classified under genusAcacia,seeAcacia.

The genus nameAcaciaderives fromἀκακία,which may come from the ancient Greek wordἄκις,ákis,"thorn", for its characteristic thorns,[11]or may have been borrowed from apre-Greeklanguage.[12]Thespecific epithetniloticawas probably given by Linnaeus from the tree's originally known range along theNileriver.[citation needed]In Australia the tree is known as aprickly acacia,[13]despite usurping Dioscorides' two millennia-old etymology, the Australian species classified asAcaciain Australia do not have thorns.

Description

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Spring blossoms atHodalinFaridabadDistrict ofHaryana,India

Acacia niloticaorVachellia niloticais a tree 5–20 m high with a dense sphericcrown,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 (3 in) 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 onpeduncles2–3 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.[14]

Distribution

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Acacia niloticaorVachellia niloticais native fromEgypt,across theMaghrebandSahel,south toMozambiqueandKwaZulu-Natal,South Africa, and east through theArabian Peninsulato theIndian subcontinentandBurma.It has become widelynaturalisedoutside its native range includingZanzibarand Australia.[15]It is spread by livestock.[13]

Uses

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Seed pods
Gum arabicexuding
Trunk atHodalinFaridabadDistrict ofHaryana,India

Forage and fodder

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In part of its range smallstock consume the pods and leaves,[16]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 forfodder.In West Africa, the pods and leaves are considered to haveanthelminthicproperties on small ruminants and this has been confirmed by in vitro experiments onnematodes.[16]InKanoofNigeria,acacia pods have traditionally been used to dye leather a reddish-tinge.[17]

Tooth brushing

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The tender twig of this plant is used as a toothbrush in south-east Africa and the Indian subcontinent.[18] 

Gum arabic

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Main article:Gum arabic

The exudate gum of this tree is known asgum arabicand has been collected from thepharaonictimes for the manufacture of medicines, dyes and paints. In the present commercial market, gum arabic is defined as the dried exudate from the trunks and branches ofSenegalia (Acacia) senegalorVachellia (Acacia) seyalin the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae).[19]: 4 The gum ofA. niloticais also referred to in India asAmaravati gum.[20]

Lumber

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The tree's wood is "very durable ifwater-seasoned"and its uses include tool handles and lumber for boats.[21]The wood has a density of about 833 kg/m3.[2]

Food and medicine

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In India it's used as an ingredient in various dishes.

TheMaasai peopleeat both the inner bark (phloem) and the fruit pulp boiled in water. The East african tribes living on the savanna use this plant medicinally to treat sore throat, cough, chest pains etc.[22]

In Northern Nigeria it is calledbagaruwainHausa.Medicinal uses include soaking the tender bark in water to be taken against dysentery and pile. The fruits are ground together with the seeds and taken with honey as treatment against stomach ulcers.

Phytochemistry

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Two new[clarification needed]antiprotozoal diterpenes have been isolated from the root bark ofAcacia nilotica. [23]

Propagation

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There are 5000–16000 seeds/kg.[24]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^Kyalangalilwa B, Boatwright JS, Daru BH, Maurin O, van der Bank M (2013)."Phylogenetic position and revised classification ofAcacia s.l.(Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) in Africa, including new combinations inVachelliaandSenegalia".Bot J Linn Soc.172(4): 500–523.doi:10.1111/boj.12047.hdl:10566/3454.
  2. ^abWickens, G.E. (1995)."Table 2.1.2 The timber properties ofAcaciaspecies and their uses ".Role of Acacia species in the rural economy of dry Africa and the Near East.FAO Conservation Guide. Vol. 27. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.ISBN978-92-5-103651-8.
  3. ^"Acacia nilotica".Germplasm Resources Information Network.Agricultural Research Service,United States Department of Agriculture.Retrieved12 December2017.
  4. ^"Acacia nilotica".LegumeWeb.International Legume Database & Information Service.
  5. ^"Acacia nilotica".Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  6. ^"Definition of BABUL".merriam-webster.Retrieved2017-08-03.
  7. ^"Vachellia nilotica".Germplasm Resources Information Network.Agricultural Research Service,United States Department of Agriculture.Retrieved30 June2017.
  8. ^Federal Noxious Weed List} web(PDF)
  9. ^"Acacia nilotica(acacia) ".Plants & Fungi.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archived fromthe originalon 12 January 2010.Retrieved28 January2010.
  10. ^Kull, Christian A.; Rangan, Haripriya (2012)."Science, sentiment and territorial chauvinism in the acacia name change debate".In Haberle, Simon G.; David, Bruno (eds.).Peopled Landscapes.Archaeological and Biogeographic Approaches to Landscapes. Vol. 34. ANU Press. pp. 197–220.ISBN978-1-921862-71-7.JSTORj.ctt24h85b.11.Retrieved2022-04-12.
  11. ^Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000).CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names.Vol. 1 A–C. CRC Press. p. 6.ISBN978-0-8493-2675-2.
  12. ^Beekes, Robert (2010). "ἀκακία".Etymological Dictionary of Greek.Brill. p. 46.
  13. ^ab"Prickly acacia –Acacia nilotica".Weed Management Guide(PDF)(Report). Weeds of National Significance. 2003.ISBN978-1-920932-14-5.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2016-04-08.Retrieved2024-05-24– via weeds.org.au.
  14. ^"handbook on seeds of dry-zone acacias".fao.org.Retrieved2017-08-03.
  15. ^Kriticos, Darren; Brown, Joel; Radford, Ian; Nicholas, Mike (1999-10-01)."Plant Population Ecology and Biological Control: Acacia nilotica as a Case Study".Biological Control.16(2): 230–239.Bibcode:1999BiolC..16..230K.doi:10.1006/bcon.1999.0746.ISSN1049-9644.
  16. ^abZabré, Geneviève; Kaboré, Adama; Bayala, Balé; Katiki, Luciana M.; Costa-Júnior, Lívio Martins; Tamboura, Hamidou H.; Belem, Adrien M.G.; Abdalla, Adibe L.; Niderkorn, Vincent; Hoste, Hervé; Louvandini, Helder (2017)."Comparison of the in vitro anthelmintic effects ofAcacia niloticaandAcacia raddiana".Parasite.24:44.doi:10.1051/parasite/2017044.PMC5703060.PMID29173278.
  17. ^Dalziel, J.M. (1926). "African Leather Dyes".Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information.6(6). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: 225–238.doi:10.2307/4118651.JSTOR4118651.
  18. ^Saurabh Rajvaidhyaet al.(2012)"A review onAcacia Arabica,an Indian medicinal plant "International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and ResearchVol 3(7) pp 1995-2005
  19. ^"Production and marketing of gum arabic"(PDF).Nairobi, Kenya: Network for Natural Gums and Resins in Africa (NGARA). 2004. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2016-03-11.Retrieved2016-03-10.
  20. ^"Acacia nilotica (gum arabic tree)".Invasive species compendium.Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International.Retrieved24 January2016.
  21. ^Mueller, Ferdinand (1884)."Acacia longifolia,Willdenow ".Select extra-tropical plants readily eligible for industrial culture or naturalization.G.S. Davis. p. 7.
  22. ^Ruffo, Christopher K.; Birnie, Ann; Tengnäs, Bo (2002).Edible wild plants of Tanzania.Regional Land Management Unit/Sida.ISBN9966-896-62-7.
  23. ^Anyam, John V.; Daikwo, Priscilla E.; Ungogo, Marzuq A.; Nweze, Nwakaego E.; Igoli, Ngozichukwuka P.; Gray, Alexander I.; De Koning, Harry P.; Igoli, John O. (2021)."Two New Antiprotozoal Diterpenes From the Roots ofAcacia nilotica".Frontiers in Chemistry.9:624741.Bibcode:2021FrCh....9...76A.doi:10.3389/fchem.2021.624741.PMC8097170.PMID33968894.
  24. ^"Vachellia nilotica(asAcacia nilotica) ".Tropical Forages.
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