Characteristics
A shrub or tree. It grows 1-20 m tall. It is small and thorny and has a flat top. The thorns are straight and stout. They are white and can be 7 cm long. These can be replaced by short sharp hooks. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are 3 cm long with up to 10 pairs of pinnae and 20 pairs of leaflets. These are 2 mm long by 0.5 mm wide. The flowers are in small groups. They are round and 8 mm across. The flowers are white. The fruit are much twisted. They are 8 cm long, but twisted.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
tree
|
| Growth support |
-
|
| Foliage retention |
evergreen
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
-
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
-
|
| Mature height (meter) |
1.0 - 17.5
|
| 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 and subtropical plant. It is tolerant of drought. It is resistant to frost. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall above 150 mm. It grow between 30-1,600 m above sea level. It can grow on alkaline soils. It can grow in arid places.
| Light |
-
|
| Soil humidity |
-
|
| Soil texture |
-
|
| Soil acidity |
-
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The gum is eaten. The fruit pods have the seeds removed and the pulp is boiled with milk, blood or water to make an edible porridge. Corn can be added. The pods are eaten as a snack.
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seeds. The seeds are removed from the pod and have boiling water poured over them then allowed to soak overnight. They are then planted in fertile soil.
| Mode |
seedlings
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
28 - 45
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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