Acacia nilotica

Acacia nilotica (Thorn mimosa) is a species of Acacia (wattle) native to Africa and the Indian subcontinent. It is also currently an invasive species of significant concern in Australia. For the ongoing reclassification of this and other species historically classified under genus Acacia, see the list of Acacia species.

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Description

Acacia nilotica is a tree 5-20 m high with a dense spheric crown, 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 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 on peduncles 2-3 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.^[2]  

Distribution

Scented Thorn Acacia is native from Egypt south to Mozambique and Natal. Apparently, it has been introduced to Zanzibar, Pemba, India and Arabia. Acacia nilotica is restricted to riverine habitats and seasonally flooded areas.

Uses

Forage and fodder

In part of its range smallstock consume the pods and leaves, 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 for fodder. Pods are best fed dry as a supplement, not as a green fodder.

Hedges

A. nilotica makes a good protective hedge because of its thorns.^[3]

Medicine

Bark

According to Hartwell, African Zulu take bark for cough. It acts as an astringent and it is used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and leprosy.

Bark and root

Masai are intoxicated by the bark and root decoction, said to impart courage, even aphrodisia, and the root is said to cure impotence.

Bark or gum

In West Africa, the bark or gum is used to treat cancers and/or tumors (of ear, eye, or testicles) and indurations of liver and spleen, condylomas, and excess flesh.

Sap or bark, leaves, and young pods are strongly astringent due to tannin, and are chewed in Senegal as an antiscorbutic.

Leaves

The bruised leaves are poulticed and used to treat ulcers.

Resin

In Lebanon, the resin is mixed with orange-flower infusion for typhoid convalescence.

Root

The Chipi use the root for tuberculosis. In Tonga, the root is used to treat tuberculosis.

Seed pods

Egyptian Nubians believe that diabetics may eat unlimited carbohydrates as long as they also consume powdered pods.

Wood

In Italian Africa, the wood is used to treat smallpox.

In Ethiopia, certain parts of the tree are used as a lactogogue.

Wood

The tree's wood is "very durable if water-seasoned" and its uses include tool handles and lumber for boats.^[3] The wood has a density of about 1170 kg/m³.^[4]

Propagation

There are 5000-16000 seeds/kg.^[5]

Subspecies

• Acacia nilotica subsp. adstringens (Schum. & Thonn.) Brenan^[4]
• Acacia nilotica subsp. cupressiformis
• Acacia nilotica subsp. hemispherica
• Acacia nilotica subsp. indica (Benth.) Brenan^[4]
• Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana (Benth.) Brenan^[4]
• Acacia nilotica subsp. leiocarpa Brenan^[4]
• Acacia nilotica subsp. nilotica
• Acacia nilotica subsp. subalata (Vatke) Brenan^[4]
• Acacia nilotica subsp. tomentosa (Benth.) Brenan^[4][6]

References

1. ^ ILDIS LegumeWeb
2. ^ Handbook on Seeds of Dry-zone Acacias FAO
3. ^ ^{a b} Google Books Select Extra-tropical Plants Readily Eligible for Industrial Culture Or Naturalization By Ferdinand von Mueller
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} FAO
5. ^ Tropical Forages
6. ^ USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)

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