Senegalia polyacantha

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]

## Uses

[edit]

### Repellent uses

[edit]

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

### Gum

[edit]

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

### Medicinal purposes

[edit]

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

[edit]

The bark is useful for tanning.[2]

### Wood

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b ILDIS LegumeWeb(ILDIS)
2. ^ a b c d e f 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. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
4. ^ a b c Uhlig, Siegbert (2003). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: A-C. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 66\. ISBN 3447047461. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
5. ^ Speedy, Andrew. "Acacia polyacantha". www.fao.org. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Senegalia polyacantha at Wikimedia Commons
* Data related to Senegalia polyacantha at Wikispecies
* Acacia polyacantha in West African plants – A Photo Guide.

Taxon identifiers

Acacia polyacantha|

* Wikidata: Q3320522
* Wikispecies: Senegalia polyacantha
* APDB: 129406
* CoL: 64BRB
* Ecocrop: 400001
* EoL: 689285
* EPPO: ACAPQ
* GBIF: 2981165
* GRIN: 313143
* iNaturalist: 68674
* IPNI: 60451311-2
* IRMNG: 11037685
* ITIS: 182088
* Plant List: ild-556
* PLANTS: ACPO3
* PlantZAfrica: acacia-polyacantha-0
* POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60451311-2
* Tropicos: 13024374
* WFO: wfo-0000209605

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