Acacia nilotica

Acacia nilotica
	File:Acacia nilotica Hbt2.jpg;
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae;
Phylum:	Magnoliophyta;
Class:	Magnoliopsida;
Order:	Fabales;
Family:	Fabaceae;
Subfamily:	Mimosoideae;
Tribe:	Acacieae;
Genus:	Acacia;
Species:	A. nilotica;
Binomial name
	Acacia nilotica; (L.) Willd. ex Delile
	Range of Acacia nilotica; Range of Acacia nilotica
Synonyms
	Acacia arabica (Lam.) Willd.; Acacia scorpioides W.Wight; Mimosa arabica Lam.; Mimosa nilotica L.; Mimosa scorpioides L.;

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.

Description[edit | edit source]

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]

File:Acacia-nilotica.jpg

Acacia nilotica

Distribution[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Forage and fodder[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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

Medicine[edit | edit source]

Bark[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

The bruised leaves are poulticed and used to treat ulcers.

Resin[edit | edit source]

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

Root[edit | edit source]

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

Seed pods[edit | edit source]

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

Wood[edit | edit source]

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

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

Wood[edit | edit source]

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]