Senegalia senegal

{{short description|Species of deciduous tree}} {{speciesbox |image = Acacia_senegal_-_Köhler–s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-004.jpg |genus = Senegalia |species = senegal |authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) Britton |synonyms_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/ild-596|title=Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. — the Plant List}}</ref> |synonyms = *''Acacia circummarginata'' Chiov. *''Acacia cufodontii'' Chiov. *''Acacia glaucophylla'' ''sensu'' Brenan *''Acacia kinionge'' ''sensu'' Brenan *''Acacia oxyosprion'' Chiov. *''Acacia rupestris'' Boiss. *''Acacia senegal'' (L.) [[Carl Ludwig Willdenow|Willd.]] *''Acacia senegal'' subsp. ''modesta'' (Wall.) Roberty *''Acacia senegal'' subsp. ''senegalensis'' Roberty *''Acacia somalensis'' ''sensu'' Brenan *''Acacia'' sp. 1 F. White *''Acacia spinosa'' Marloth & Engl. *''Acacia thomasii'' ''sensu'' Brenan *''Acacia volkii'' Suess. *''Mimosa senegal'' L. }}

'''''Senegalia senegal''''' (also known as ''Acacia senegal'') is a small [[thorn (botany)|thorny]] deciduous tree from the genus ''[[Senegalia]]'', which is known by several common names, including '''gum acacia''', '''gum arabic tree''', '''Sudan gum''' and '''Sudan gum arabic'''. In parts of India, it is known as '''kher''', '''khor''', or '''kumatiya'''.<ref>{{Cite journal| issn = 0030-9923| volume = 41| issue = 4| last1 = Pervez| first1 = Amjad| last2 = Ahmad| first2 = Syed Muzaffar| last3 = Lathiya| first3 = Shaher Bano| last4 = Khadijah| first4 = Erum| title = Food Habits of the Indian Crested Porcupine, Hystrix indica in Sindh, Pakistan| journal = Pakistan Journal of Zoology| year = 2009|page=321| id = {{ProQuest|992958322}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kumatiya |url=https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/kumatiya/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |website= |publisher=Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity |language=en-US}}</ref> It is native to semi-desert regions of [[Sub-Saharan Africa]], as well as [[Oman]], [[Pakistan]], and west coastal [[India]]. It grows to a height of 5–12 metres (16-40'), with a trunk up to 30 cm (1') in diameter.<ref>[http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/SEA/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=108 World Agroforestry Centre] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515192259/http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/SEA/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=108 |date=2007-05-15 }}</ref> Sudan is the source of the world's highest quality [[gum arabic]], known locally as '''hashab gum''' in contrast to the related, but inferior, gum arabic from [[Vachellia seyal|red acacia]], known as '''talah gum'''.<ref name="Routledge">{{Cite book | last1 = Suliman | first1 = Mohamed Osman | title = The Darfur Conflict : Geography or Institutions | year = 2011 | publisher = Routledge | location = New York | isbn = 978-0-415-88598-0 }}</ref>

== Uses ==

=== Gum arabic === The tree is of great economic importance for the [[gum arabic]] it produces which is used as a [[food additive]], in crafts, and as a [[Cosmetics|cosmetic]]. The gum is drained from cuts in the bark, and an individual tree will yield 200 to 300 grams (7 to 10 oz). Eighty percent of the world's gum arabic is produced in [[Sudan]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5402e/x5402e12.htm |title="Gum arabic in Sudan: production and socio-economic aspects, United Nations Food & Agricultural Organisation" |access-date=2015-03-29 |archive-date=2017-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810061456/http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5402e/X5402e12.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Chauhatan]] area of Barmer district in [[Rajasthan]] is also famous for gum production, this is called कुम्मट<ref>{{cite news |title=हिंदी खबर, Latest News in Hindi, हिंदी समाचार, ताजा खबर |url=https://www.patrika.com/jodhpur-news/kair-sangri-of-marwar-are-costlier-than-dry-fruits-2366705/ |access-date=7 December 2020 |work=[[Rajasthan Patrika|Patrika]] |language=hi}}</ref> (Kummat) in local language there.

=== Forage === New foliage is very useful as [[Fodder|forage]].<ref name="purdue">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Acacia_senegal.html|title=Acacia senegal|website=www.hort.purdue.edu|access-date=2017-08-03}}</ref> Leaves and pods of ''S. senegal'' are browsed by domestic and wild ruminants.<ref name="fao" />

=== Agriculture === Like other legume species, ''S. senegal'' [[Nitrogen fixation|fixes nitrogen]] within ''[[Rhizobia]]'' or nitrogen-fixing bacteria living in [[root nodule]]s.<ref name="Routledge"/> This nitrogen fixation enriches the poor soils where it is grown, allowing for the rotation of other crops in naturally nutrient-poor regions.

=== Traditional uses === It has been reportedly used for its [[astringent]] properties, to treat [[bleeding]], [[bronchitis]], [[cough]], [[diarrhea]], [[dysentery]], [[catarrh]], [[gonorrhea]], [[leprosy]], [[typhoid fever]] and [[upper respiratory tract]] infections.<ref name="purdue"/>{{MEDRS|date=April 2012}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Wren|first=R.C.|title=Potter's Cylopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations|publisher=Potter & Clark|place=London|year=1923|page=2}}</ref>

=== Rope === [[Root]]s near the surface of the ground are quite useful in making all kinds of very strong [[rope]]s and cords. The tree bark is also used to make rope.<ref name="purdue"/>

=== Wood === The wood of ''S. senegal'' can be used to make handles for tools, and parts for weaving looms.<ref name="purdue"/> It is also valued as firewood and can be used to produce charcoal.<ref name=fao>Heuzé V., Thiollet H., Tran G., Hassoun P., Bastianelli D., Lebas F., 2016. Gum arabic tree (''Acacia senegal''). Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/342</ref>

=== Chemistry === ''S. senegal'' contains [[hentriacontane]], a solid, long-chain alkane hydrocarbon. The leaf also contains the psychoactive alkaloid [[dimethyltryptamine]].<ref name="Khalil">Khalil, S.K.W. & Elkheir, Y.M. 1975. “Dimethyltryptamine from the leafs of certain ''Acacia'' species of Northern Sudan.” Lloydia 38(3):176-177.</ref>

{{gallery |title=Senegalia senegal |File:Khair.JPG|A Gum acacia tree photographed at [[Taljai Hills]], [[Pune]] |File:Senegalia senegal (kummat).jpg|Senegalia Senegal (Kummat) tree in [[Jodhpur]], [[Thadiya, Rajasthan|Thadiya]] village |File:Acacia senegal Taub68.png|''Senegalia senegal'' }}

== See also == * [[List of Acacia species known to contain psychoactive alkaloids]] * [[List of psychoactive plants]]

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

== External links == {{Wikispecies|Senegalia senegal}} * [https://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&gbv=1&q=%22Acacia+senegal%22+&btnG=Search+Images ''Senegalia senegal'' Photos (Google Images)] {{WestAfricanPlants|Acacia senegal}} *[http://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Acacia_senegal_(PROTA) PROTA on Pl@ntUse]

[[Category:Senegalia|senegal]] [[Category:Flora of the Arabian Peninsula]] [[Category:Flora of the Indian subcontinent]] [[Category:Trees of Africa]] [[Category:Plants used in traditional African medicine]]