Acacia seyal

Red acacia (Acacia seyal; also known as Shittim wood or Shittim tree) is a thorny, 6-10 m (20-30 ft) high tree with a greenish or reddish bark. At the base of the 3-10 cm (1-4 in) feathery leaves there are two straight, light grey thorns. The blossoms form round, bright yellow clusters approximately in 1.5 cm (0.5 in) diameter, growing to 7-20 cm (3-8 in) long.

It is distributed from Egypt to Kenya and west Senegal. In the Sahara, it often grows in damp valleys.

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Uses

Gum arabic

    Acacia seyal is beside other acacias, the most important supplier for gum arabic, a natural polysaccharide, that drips out of the cracks of the bark and solidifies.^[2]

Tanning

Parts of the tree have a tannin content of up to 18-20%. The bark and seed pods of Acacia seyal sensu lato var. seyal have a tannin content of about 20%.^[3]

Wood

Wood from the tree is said to have been used in Ancient Egypt to make coffins and also Noah's Ark.^[4]

Medicinal uses

Bark

The bark is used to treat dysentery and bacterial infections of the skin, such as leprosy. The bark is also used as a stimulant.^[2]

Gum

The gum is used as an aphrodesiac, to treat diarrhea, as an emollient, to treat hemorrhaging, inflammation of the eye, intestinal ailments and rhinitis. The gum is used to ward off arthritis and bronchitis.^[2]

Wood

Incense from the wood is used to treat pain from rheumatism and to keep expectant mothers from contracting rhinitis and fevers.^[2]

Botanical varieties

• Acacia seyal Del. Var. fistula (Schweinf.)Oliver^[5]
• Acacia seyal sensu lato var. seyal^[3]

References

1. ^ ILDIS LegumeWeb
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Purdue University
3. ^ ^{a b} FAO
4. ^ Botanical Dermatology Database
5. ^ ILDIS

• Arbonnier, M. Arbres, arbustes et the lianes zones seches d'Afrique de l'Ouest. CIRAD. Montpellier, 2000 ISBN 287614431X
• Wikipedia (German) "Seyal-Akazie"