Senegalia polyacantha

Short description: Species of legume

Senegalia polyacantha

Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Plantae
Clade:  | Tracheophytes
Clade:  | Angiosperms
Clade:  | Eudicots
Clade:  | Rosids
Order:  | Fabales
Family:  | Fabaceae
Subfamily:  | Caesalpinioideae
Clade:  | Mimosoid clade
Genus:  | Senegalia
Species:  |

S. polyacantha

Binomial name
Senegalia polyacantha

(Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger

Subspecies

* Senegalia polyacantha subsp. campylacantha (Hochst. ex. A.Rich.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
* Senegalia polyacantha subsp. polyacantha (Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger

Synonyms[1]

* Acacia catechu sensu Griseb.
* Acacia catechu auct. non L.
* Acacia polyacantha Willd.
* Acacia suma (Roxb.) Voigt
* Gagnebina tamariscina sensu Bojer
* Mimosa suma Roxb.
* Senegalia suma (Roxb.) Britton & Rose

Senegalia polyacantha, also known as white thorn, is a flowering tree which can grow up to 25m tall. Polyacantha has the meaning "many thorns" in Latin.[2] The tree is native to Africa, India , the Indian Ocean and Asia, but it has also been introduced to the Caribbean.[1]

## Contents

* 1 Uses
* 1.1 Repellent uses
* 1.2 Gum
* 1.3 Medicinal purposes
* 1.4 Tannin
* 1.5 Wood
* 2 References
* 3 External links

## Uses

### Repellent uses

The root of Senegalia polyacantha subsp. campylacantha emits chemical compounds that repel animals including rats, snakes and crocodiles.[2]

### Gum

The tree's gum is used in the manufacture of candy.[2]

### Medicinal purposes

Senegalia polycantha's roots and perhaps its bark have medicinal uses. The root extract is useful for snakebites[2] and is applied to wash the skin of children who are agitated at night time.[2] The root is also used for treating gonorrhea,[3] venereal diseases,[4] dysentery[4] and gastrointestinal disorders.[4]

### Tannin

The bark is useful for tanning.[2]

### Wood

The tree's primary use is for wood.[5]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 ILDIS LegumeWeb(ILDIS)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 PlantZAfrica.com
3. ↑ van der Maesen, L. J. G.; van der Burgt, X. M.; van Medenbach de Rooy, J. M. (1996). The Biodiversity of African Plants. Springer Science+Business Media. p. 254. ISBN 0792340957. https://books.google.com/books?id=9VKdjrt8J9wC&q=Acacia+polyacantha+snakebites&pg=PA254. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Uhlig, Siegbert (2003). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: A-C. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 66. ISBN 3447047461. https://books.google.com/books?id=nobesFx6E7oC&q=Acacia+polyacantha+snakebites&pg=PA66. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
5. ↑ Speedy, Andrew. "Acacia polyacantha". http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/gbase/data/pf000129.htm.

## External links

Wikidata ☰ Q3320522 entry

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