Vachellia seyal, the red acacia, known also as the shittah tree (the source of shittim wood), is a thorny, 6– to 10-m-high (20 to 30 ft) tree with a pale greenish or reddish bark. At the base of the 3–10 cm (1.2–3.9 in) feathery leaves, two straight, light grey thorns grow to 7–20 cm (2.8–7.9 in) long. The blossoms are displayed in round, bright yellow clusters about 1.5 cm (0.59 in) diameter.
| Red acacia | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
| Genus: | Vachellia |
| Species: | V. seyal
|
| Binomial name | |
| Vachellia seyal (Delile) P.J.H.Hurter
| |
| Varieties | |
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
In Vachellia seyal var. fistula, which is more common on heavy clay soils, some of the thorns are swollen and house symbiotic ants.[2]
It is distributed from Egypt to Kenya and west to Senegal. In the Sahara, it often grows in damp valleys. It is also found at wadis on the Arabian Peninsula.
Varieties
editTwo varieties are recognized:[3][4]
- Vachellia seyal var. fistula (Schweinf.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
- Vachellia seyal var. seyal
Hybrids
editVachellia seyal occasionally hybridizes with V. xanthophloea.
Uses
editGum arabic
editVachellia seyal is, along with other Vachellias, an important source for gum arabic, a natural polysaccharide, that exudes from damaged stems and solidifies.[5] The gum of V. seyal is called gum talha, from Arabic طلح ṭalḥ, a term for any fruiting tree.
Tanning
editParts of the tree have a tannin content up to 18-20%. The bark and seed pods of V. seyal var. seyal have a tannin content around 20%.[4]
Wood
editWood from the tree is said to have been used in Ancient Egypt to make coffins and also the Ark of the Covenant.[6]
Medicinal uses
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Bark
editThe bark is used to treat dysentery and bacterial infections of the skin, such as leprosy. It is also used as a stimulant.[5]
Gum
editThe gum is used as an aphrodisiac, to treat diarrhoea, as an emollient, and to treat hemorrhaging, inflammation of the eye, intestinal ailments, and rhinitis. It is used to ward off arthritis and bronchitis.[5]
Wood
editIncense from the wood is used to treat pain from rheumatism and to keep expectant mothers from contracting rhinitis and fevers.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ ILDIS LegumeWeb
- ^ Young, T.P.; Cynthia H. Stubblefield; Lynne A. Isbell (December 1996). "Ants on swollen-thorn acacias: species coexistence in a simple system". Oecologia. 109 (1): 98–107. doi:10.1007/s004420050063. PMID 28307618. S2CID 26354370.
- ^ ILDIS
- ^ a b "Tables (Cont. c)". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
- ^ a b c d Purdue University
- ^ Vachellia seyal in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database
- Acacia seyal in West African plants – A Photo Guide.
- Arbonnier, M. Arbres, arbustes et the lianes zones seches d'Afrique de l'Ouest. CIRAD. Montpellier, 2000 ISBN 2-87614-431-X