Vachellia nilotica (L.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Species

Angiosperms > Fabales > Fabaceae > Vachellia

Characteristics

A small spiny tree. It varies a lot in details. It is mostly about 6 m high but can be 20 m high. It is often branched from the base. The crown is usually rounded. The bark is brown-black and rough. It has cracks along it. The young shoots are reddish-brown and hairy. It has thorns up to 10 cm long. The thorns often point away from the shoot tip. The leaves divide twice and are grey-green. New growth occurs in the dry season. Small glands are visible along the leaf stalk. The flowers have a scent. They are rounded heads and are bright yellow. The pods can be straight or curved. They are about 17 cm long and 2 cm wide. They are green and fleshy when young. They have a sweet smell. They are rounded at both ends. The pods turn purple-brown when mature. Gum is exuded out of the pods if they are squeezed. There are 8-15 seeds. they are flat and about 1 cm across. They are smooth and dark brown. The pods rot and do not break open. Seven subspecies have been recognised.
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For description of taxon/taxa occurring in Australia, see Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica.
Spinis geminis patentibus, foliis bipinnaitis: partialibus extimis glandula interftinetis.
Life form perennial
Growth form tree
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination entomogamy
Spread -
Mature width (meter) -
Mature height (meter) 5.0 - 14.0
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months -
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer
Photosynthetic pathway c3

Environment

It is a tropical plant. It is common in Africa. It grows in the Sahel and the Sahara. It grows in semi arid and arid areas. It can grow on a wide variety of soils. Near the equator is grows from 600-1800 m altitude. It is also grown in India. It can grow in arid places.
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Woodlands of various sorts, wooded grasslands, scrub and thickets. Often found along river banks which are subject to periodic inundation. Found at elevations from sea level to 1,300 metres.
Light 7-9
Soil humidity 4-6
Soil texture 1-4
Soil acidity -
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 9-11

Usage

The pulp in the pod is eaten. It is also boiled in water and sugar added to make a drink, The young pods can be used as a vegetable or the seeds fried and eaten alone. The gum is edible and used for sweets. It is mixed with sesame seeds and fried in ghee. It is eaten fresh or roasted. It is used in the preparation of candied flowers. The flowers are made into fritters. A bark is used to make wine. The bark is also eaten with meat soup.
Uses animal food charcoal dye environmental use fiber fodder food forage fuel gene source gum invertebrate food material medicinal oil ornamental social use tanning tea timber windbreak wood
Edible barks flowers fruits gums leaves pods seeds shoots stems
Therapeutic use Anthelmintics (bark), Anti-bacterial agents (bark), Antifungal agents (bark), Antimutagenic agents (bark), Antiprotozoal agents (bark), Aphrodisiacs (bark), Ascites (bark), Asthma (bark), Astringents (bark), Bronchitis (bark), Cardiovascular system (bark), Central nervous system diseases (bark), Demulcents (bark), Diabetes mellitus (bark), Diarrhea (bark), Diuretics (bark), Dysentery (bark), Disorder of ejaculation (bark), Emollients (bark), Expectorants (bark), Eye diseases (bark), Helminthiasis (bark), Hemorrhage (bark), Hemorrhoids (bark), Hemostatics (bark), Hypotension (bark), Infection (bark), Leprosy (bark), Leukorrhea (bark), Meningitis (bark), Mouthwashes (bark), Oral ulcer (bark), Pain (bark), Parasympatholytics (bark), Periodontal diseases (bark), Pharyngitis (bark), Pneumonia (bark), Rectal prolapse (bark), Skin diseases (bark), Stomatitis (bark), Tooth diseases (bark), Toothache (bark), Toothbrush (bark), Ulcer (bark), Urination disorders (bark), Uterine diseases (bark), Vitiligo (bark), Wound healing (bark), Wounds and injuries (bark), Depurative (bark), Cooling effect on body (bark), Antipyretics (flower), Contraceptive agents (flower), Diarrhea (flower), Dysentery (flower), Ear diseases (flower), Earache (flower), General tonic for rejuvenation (flower), Astringents (fruit), Cough (fruit), Demulcents (fruit), Diabetes mellitus (fruit), Diarrhea (fruit), Dysentery (fruit), Erectile dysfunction (fruit), Urologic diseases (fruit), Abscess (leaf), Anthelmintics (leaf), Astringents (leaf), Diarrhea (leaf), Dysentery (leaf), Eczema (leaf), Endophthalmitis (leaf), Eye diseases (leaf), Eye pain (leaf), Gonorrhea (leaf), Headache (leaf), Pharyngitis (leaf), Increase physical endurance, strength and stamina (leaf), Pruritus (leaf), Sexually transmitted diseases (leaf), Urologic diseases (leaf), Acne vulgaris (plant exudate), Analgesics (plant exudate), Anti-inflammatory agents (plant exudate), Antipyretics (plant exudate), Aphrodisiacs (plant exudate), Asthma (plant exudate), Astringents (plant exudate), Bites and stings (plant exudate), Burns (plant exudate), Cough (plant exudate), Demulcents (plant exudate), Diabetes mellitus (plant exudate), Diarrhea (plant exudate), Dysentery (plant exudate), Disorder of ejaculation (plant exudate), Emollients (plant exudate), Expectorants (plant exudate), Eye diseases (plant exudate), Furunculosis (plant exudate), Gastrointestinal diseases (plant exudate), Hematuria (plant exudate), Hemorrhage (plant exudate), Hemostasis (plant exudate), Hemostatics (plant exudate), Laryngeal diseases (plant exudate), Leukorrhea (plant exudate), Liver diseases (plant exudate), Low back pain (plant exudate), Mouth diseases (plant exudate), Pharyngitis (plant exudate), General tonic for rejuvenation (plant exudate), Urinary tract infections (plant exudate), Vaginal discharge (plant exudate), Cooling effect on body (plant exudate), Abortifacient agents (root), Liver diseases (root), Pain (root), Wound healing (root), Wounds and injuries (root), Antifungal agents (seed), Diabetes mellitus (seed), Insulin regulation (seed), Increase physical endurance, strength and stamina (seed), Anthelmintics (stem), Asthma (stem), Astringents (stem), Burns (stem), Cough (stem), Demulcents (stem), Diabetes mellitus (stem), Diarrhea (stem), Dysentery (stem), Gonorrhea (stem), Hemorrhoids (stem), Skin diseases (stem), Toothbrush (stem), Wounds and injuries (stem), Arthralgia (thorns/spines/prickles), Cancer (unspecified), Gall-Bladder (unspecified), Sclerosis(Spleen) (unspecified), Decongestant (unspecified), Tumor(Eye) (unspecified), Hair loss (unspecified), Cholera (unspecified), Diabetes mellitus (unspecified), Diarrhea (unspecified), Dysentery (unspecified), Leukorrhea (unspecified), Skin diseases (unspecified), Syphilis (unspecified), Ulcer (unspecified), Uterine diseases (unspecified), Burns (whole plant), Demulcents (whole plant), Skin diseases (whole plant), Urologic diseases (whole plant), Wound infection (whole plant)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. There are 6,000-11,000 seeds per kg. Bad and insect damaged seeds can be floated off in water. For fresh seeds, seed treatment is no necessary. For dry stored seed the hard seed coat needs to be broken. Normally this is by putting the seeds in very hot water and letting the water cool down overnight then planting the seeds immediately. It can be done by scratching the seed. Seed stores well if kept in a cool dry insect free place.
Mode seedlings
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment soaking
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) 19 - 34
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Leaf

Vachellia nilotica leaf picture by Nneka Allicock (cc-by-sa)
Vachellia nilotica leaf picture by cecile MAHE (cc-by-sa)
Vachellia nilotica leaf picture by MaiteO (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Vachellia nilotica flower picture by Mr Coetzer (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Vachellia nilotica fruit picture by MaiteO (cc-by-sa)

Distribution

Vachellia nilotica world distribution map, present in Angola, Argentina, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahamas, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Barbados, Botswana, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guernsey, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Libya, Saint Lucia, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Myanmar, Montserrat, Martinique, Mauritius, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Chad, Tanzania, United Republic of, Uganda, United States of America, Viet Nam, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

Conservation status

Vachellia nilotica threat status: Least Concern

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77089275-1
WFO ID wfo-0001284776
COL ID 7F8VF
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID 639351
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR) Link

Synonyms

Mimosa scorpioides Mimosa nilotica Acacia scorpioides Acacia vera Acacia nilotica Gumifera nilotica Mimosa nilotica Vachellia nilotica Acacia nilotica subsp. nilotica Acacia arabica var. nilotica Acacia scorpioides var. nilotica Acacia arabica var. adansonii Acacia nilotica var. adansonii

Lower taxons

Acacia nilotica subsp. cupressiformis Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana Acacia nilotica subsp. subalata Acacia nilotica subsp. tomentosa Acacia nilotica subsp. adstringens Acacia nilotica var. adansoniana Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica Vachellia nilotica subsp. tomentosa Vachellia nilotica subsp. adstringens Vachellia nilotica subsp. subalata Vachellia nilotica subsp. leiocarpa Vachellia nilotica subsp. kraussiana Vachellia nilotica subsp. hemispherica Vachellia nilotica subsp. cupressiformis