Characteristics
A medium sized tree. It loses its leaves during the year. The crown is flattened. The bark is dark grey with cracks along it. The young twigs have short hairs. It has spines which are in pairs and straight but usually pointing slightly backwards. The leaves are twice divided compound leaves. The flowers are in round heads. They are golden-yellow. The fruit are flat pods which are black and are deeply constricted between the seeds. They have a sweet scent when crushed.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
tree
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
evergreen
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
entomogamy
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
-
|
| Mature height (meter) |
-
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
-
|
Environment
It is a tropical plant. It is resistant to drought and frost. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall above 100 mm. It grows between 5-1,830 m above sea level.
| Light |
-
|
| Soil humidity |
-
|
| Soil texture |
-
|
| Soil acidity |
-
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The gum from the bark is edible. It is used for sweets. The soft inner bark is used to curdle milk. The roasted pods are used for flavouring.
Cultivation
Seeds are removed from dry pods. These are placed in hot water then left overnight to soak then planted. They germinate in 7-15 days. The plant can be cut back and will re-grow.
| Mode |
-
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
19 - 34
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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