{{Short description|Species of legume}} {{Redirect|Marabu|the bird|Marabou stork|the airline|Marabu (airline)}} {{Speciesbox |image = Dichrostachys cinerea-IMG 9469.jpg |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref>{{cite journal|last=Contu|first= S|date=2012|title=Dichrostachys cinerea|journal=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T164134A20066865.en|doi-access=free}}</ref> |genus = Dichrostachys |species = cinerea |authority = Wight et Arn. |synonyms = *''Cailliea dichrostachys'' Guill. et Perr. *''Dichrostachys glomerata'' Chiov. *''Dichrostachys nutans'' (Pers.) Benth. *''Dichrostachys nyassana'' Taub. *''Mimosa cinerea'' L. |}}
'''''Dichrostachys cinerea''''', known as '''sicklebush''', '''bell mimosa''', '''Chinese lantern tree''' or '''Kalahari Christmas tree''' (South Africa), is a legume of the genus ''Dichrostachys'' in the family Fabaceae.<ref name="World Agroforestry Centre">{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/products/afdbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=675 |title=World Agroforestry Centre |access-date=2008-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930042837/http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/products/afdbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=675 |archive-date=2011-09-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Other common names include '''omubambanjobe''' (Tooro Uganda), '''acacia Saint Domingue''' (French), '''el marabú''' (Cuba), " Mpangara" (Shona), '''Kalahari-Weihnachtsbaum''' (German of former South West Africa), '''kéké''' or '''mimosa clochette''' (Réunion), '''burli''' (Fula), '''sinté''' (Soninke).
==Etymology== The generic name ''Dichrostachys'' means 'two-colored spike', referring to its two-colored inflorescence, from the Ancient Greek ''δί-'' (''di-'', 'twice'), ''χροός'' (''khroos'', 'color'), and ''στάχυς'' (''stakhus'', 'ear of grain'). The specific name ''cinerea'' refers to the greyish hairs of the typical subspecies, from the Latin ''cinereus'' ('ashes').
==Distribution== It is native to Africa, the Indian subcontinent and North Australia<ref name="Duthie1973">{{cite book|last=Duthie|first=John Firminger |author-link=John Firminger Duthie|title=Flora of the Upper Gangetic Plain and of the Adjacent Siwalik and Sub-Himalayan Tracts|url=https://archive.org/details/floraofupp11219031905duth|year=1973|publisher=Govt Printer India|location=Calcutta}}</ref> and had been introduced to the Caribbean and parts of Southeast Asia. In Ethiopia, the species is common in the Nechisar National Park.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://realethiopia.com/nature/national-parks/nechisar-national-park.html |title=Nechisar National Park |access-date=2008-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609040218/http://realethiopia.com/nature/national-parks/nechisar-national-park.html |archive-date=2008-06-09 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
The tree was brought to the Caribbean in the 19th century.<ref name="Global Invasive Species Database">{{Cite web |title=Dichrostachys cinerea |last=Fournet |first=J. |work=Global Invasive Species Database |date=13 April 2005 |access-date=27 August 2018 |url= http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=161 }}</ref> In various countries, such as Namibia, it is considered a dominant species of woody plant encroachment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sicklebush (Dichrostachys cinerea) {{!}} Feedipedia |url=https://www.feedipedia.org/node/298 |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=www.feedipedia.org |language=en}}</ref> In Cuba, where it is known as El Marabú or Marabou weed, it has become a serious invasive species problem, occupying about {{convert|20000|km2|acre|order=flip}} of agricultural land. Plans are underway to exploit it as a source of biomass for renewable power generation.<ref name="Ravsberg2010">{{Cite web |title=A Weed that Could Bring Cuba Power |last=Ravsberg |first=Fernando |work=Havana Times |date=24 June 2010 |access-date=27 August 2018 |url= https://www.havanatimes.org/?p=25541 }}</ref><ref name="BBC2012">{{Cite web |title=Cuba looks to weed for fresh power |last=Rainsford |first=Sarah |work=BBC News |date=7 December 2012 |access-date=27 August 2018 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-latin-america-20640977 }}</ref>
This tree is appearing in peninsular Florida. It is as yet uncertain if it was introduced by humans or birds.
==Description and ecology== thumb|left|Inflorescence They typically grow up to {{convert|7|m|ft}} in height and have strong alternate thorns, generally up to {{convert|8|cm|in|abbr=on}} long. The bipinnately compound leaves are up to {{convert|15|cm}} long. Flowers of the ''Dichrostachys cinerea'' are characteristically arranged in bicoloured cylindrical spikes that resemble Chinese lanterns, {{convert|6|to|8|cm}} long and fragrant.<ref name="EcoTravAf">{{Cite web |title=Dichrostachys cinerea - Sickle Bush |work=Guide to the tree species of Southern Africa |date=n.d. |access-date=27 August 2018 |url=http://home.intekom.com/ecotravel/plant-kingdom/trees/dichrostachys-cinerea-sicklebush.htm |publisher=Eco Travel Africa |archive-date=6 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606041059/http://home.intekom.com/ecotravel/plant-kingdom/trees/dichrostachys-cinerea-sicklebush.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Upper flowers of a hanging spike are sterile, and are of a lilac or pale purple colour with the bottom half of the spikes displaying yellow flowers. Pods are usually a mustard-brown and are generally twisted or spiralled and may be up to {{convert|100|×|15|mm}}. The species can be subcategorized with two slight variations that have been recognised: ''D. cinerea'' ssp. ''africana'' and ''D. cinerea'' ssp. ''nyassana'', the latter which is typically larger and less hairy in its foliage.<ref name="World Agroforestry Centre"/>
The species tends to grow in drier forests and woodlands at altitudes of up to {{convert|2000|m|ft}}. It often occurs in areas with a strong seasonal climate with a wide-ranging mean annual temperature and with a mean annual rainfall ranging from {{convert|200 |to| 400|mm}}. It occurs in brushwood, thickets, hedges, teak forest and grassland and generally takes to poorer quality clay soils or deep and sandy soils with a wide pH range.<ref name="World Agroforestry Centre"/>
In India, it occurs in dry deciduous forest. [[File:Dichrostachys cinerea in Bhopal (1).jpg|thumb|''Dichrostachys cinerea'' inflorescence (Bhopal, India)]] In southern Africa, ''Dichrostachys cinerea'' generally flowers from October to February with fruiting from May to September. The tree generally grows at a medium to slow rate, {{convert|6|to|8|cm}} per year.
==Uses== thumb|left|The pods are rich in nutrients thumb|''Dichrostachys cinerea'' infructescence, fruit and seeds thumb|right|''Dichrostachys cinerea'' seeds Fruit and seeds that grow on ''Dichrostachys cinerea'' are edible. Cattle, camels and game such as giraffe, buffalo, kudu, hartebeest, nyala, red forest duiker and Damara dik-dik feed on the juicy pods that fall to the ground. Such animals also feed on the immature twigs and leaves of the tree which are rich in protein (11–15%) and minerals. The flowers can be a valuable source of nectar for honey production. The wood is of a dense nature and burns slowly with no toxicity, so it is often used for fuelwood. The species yields a medium to heavy, durable hardwood and is often used in smaller domestic items as walking sticks, handles, spears and tool handles, particularly in central Africa.
Although there are currently limited to no evidence that can support these claims, the bark is used in traditional medicine for headache, toothache, dysentery and elephantiasis, while root infusions are used for leprosy, syphilis, coughs, as an anthelmintic, purgative and strong diuretic. Leaves are used for treating epilepsy<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-28 |title=Sicklebush facts and health benefits |url=https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/sicklebush/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sickle Bush |url=https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/11369782 |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Project Noah}}</ref> and also as a diuretic and laxative. A powdered form is massaged on limbs with bone fractures.<ref name="World Agroforestry Centre"/> The roots are also sometimes used for bites or stings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sickle bush - Trees - South Africa |url=https://southafrica.co.za/sickle-bush.html |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=southafrica.co.za}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dichrostachys cinerea Marabou Thorn, Sickle Bush PFAF Plant Database |url=https://pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Dichrostachys+cinerea |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=pfaf.org}}</ref> In Siddha medicine of the Tamils in southern India, ''Dichrostachys cinerea'' is called ''vidathther'' and used for treatment of gonorrhea, syphilis and eczema.<ref name="Raamachandran2008">{{cite book|first=J.|last= Raamachandran|title=Herbs of Siddha Medicine/The First 3D Book On Herbs|isbn=978-8190612302|date=2008|publisher=Murugan Patthipagam|location=Chennai|pages= 76–}}</ref>
As they are rich in nutrients, the plants are often used as fertiliser, particularly in the Sahel region of Africa along riverbanks.<ref name="Vogt1995">{{cite book|last=Vogt|first=K. |date=1995|title=A field guide to the identification, propagation and uses of common trees and shrubs of dryland Sudan|publisher= SOS Sahel International (UK)|isbn=1901459152}}</ref> The plant is widely used for soil conservation, particularly in India, for shallow soils, and in arid western and subhumid alluvial plains.
It is popularly cultivated as an indoor bonsai specimen.<ref name="bons_Flow">{{Cite web |title=Flowering Princess Earrings Bonsai Tree - Small(dichrostachys cinerea) |work=Bonsai Boy Catalog |access-date=27 August 2018 |url= http://www.bonsaiboy.com/catalog/product5334.html }}</ref>
Despite its various uses, it is generally regarded a threat to agricultural production and is listed on the Global Invasive Species Database.<ref name="Global Invasive Species Database"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{WestAfricanPlants|Dichrostachys cinerea}} *{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q311432}}
cinerea Category:Flora of Africa Category:Flora of tropical Asia Category:Flora of Australia Category:Plants used in traditional African medicine Category:Taxa named by George Arnott Walker Arnott Category:Taxa named by Robert Wight Category:Plants with compound leaves