Senegalia polyacantha

{{Short description|Species of legume}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Speciesbox |image = 1-Acacia polyacantha 08.JPG |image_caption = ''Senegalia polyacantha'' subsp. ''polyacantha'', Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |genus = Senegalia |species = polyacantha |authority = (Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger |synonyms_ref = <ref name="ildis">[http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb?sciname=Acacia+polyacantha ILDIS LegumeWeb](ILDIS)</ref> |synonyms = * ''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 |subdivision_ranks = Subspecies |subdivision = *''Senegalia polyacantha'' subsp. ''campylacantha'' (Hochst. ex. A.Rich.) Kyal. & Boatwr. *''Senegalia polyacantha'' subsp. ''polyacantha'' (Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger }}

'''''Senegalia polyacantha''''' (syn. ''Acacia polyacantha''), also known as '''white thorn''', is a flowering tree which can grow up to 25 m tall. The species name ''polyacantha'' has the meaning "many thorns" in Latin.<ref name="plantz">[http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/acaciapoly.htm PlantZAfrica.com]</ref> The tree is native to Africa, India, the Indian Ocean and Asia, but it has also been introduced to the Caribbean.<ref name="ildis"/>

==Taxonomy== There are two subspecies:<ref name="POWO">{{cite POWO |title=''Senegalia polyacantha'' (Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger |id=60451312-2 |access-date=2025-07-04}}</ref> *''Senegalia polyacantha'' subsp. ''polyacantha'' — Indian subcontinent. *''Senegalia polyacantha'' subsp. ''campylacantha'' — Africa. Leaves very finely divided bipinnate, with up to 60 pairs of primary pinnae, each with as many as 66 pairs of leaflets.<ref>{{cite journal | last= Brenan | first= J.P.M. | date= 1970 | title= Leguminosae | journal= Flora Zambesiaca | volume= 3 | issue= 1 | page= 71 }}</ref>

==Uses== ===Repellent uses=== The root of ''Senegalia polyacantha'' subsp. ''campylacantha'' emits chemical compounds that repel animals including rats, snakes and crocodiles.<ref name="plantz"/>

===Gum=== The tree's gum is used in the manufacture of candy.<ref name="plantz"/>

===Medicinal purposes=== The roots and perhaps its bark have medicinal uses. The root extract is useful for snakebites<ref name="plantz"/> and is applied to wash the skin of children who are agitated at night time.<ref name="plantz"/> The root is also used for treating gonorrhea,<ref>{{cite book |title=The Biodiversity of African Plants |first1=L. J. G. |last1=van der Maesen |first2=X. M. |last2=van der Burgt |first3=J. M. |last3=van Medenbach de Rooy |publisher=Springer Science+Business Media |year=1996 |isbn=0792340957 |page=254 |accessdate=10 November 2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9VKdjrt8J9wC&q=Acacia+polyacantha+snakebites&pg=PA254}}</ref> venereal diseases,<ref name="encyclopaedia-aethiopica">{{cite book |title=Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: A-C |first=Siegbert |last=Uhlig |publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag |year=2003 |isbn=3447047461 |page=66 |accessdate=10 November 2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nobesFx6E7oC&q=Acacia+polyacantha+snakebites&pg=PA66}}</ref> dysentery<ref name="encyclopaedia-aethiopica" /> and gastrointestinal disorders.<ref name="encyclopaedia-aethiopica" />

===Tannin=== The bark is useful for tanning.<ref name="plantz"/>

===Wood=== The tree's primary use is for wood.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/gbase/data/pf000129.htm|title=Acacia polyacantha|last=Speedy|first=Andrew|website=www.fao.org|access-date=3 August 2017|archive-date=24 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124075517/http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/gbase/data/pf000129.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Senegalia polyacantha}} *{{Wikispecies-inline|Acacia polyacantha|''Senegalia polyacantha''}} {{WestAfricanPlants|Acacia polyacantha}}

polyacantha Category:Trees of Africa