Senegalia polyacantha

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Caesalpinioideae
Tribus: Acacieae
Genus: Senegalia
Species: Senegalia polyacantha
Subspecies: S. p. subsp. campylacantha – S. p. subsp. polyacantha
Name

Senegalia polyacantha (Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger, 2009
Synonyms

Basionym
Acacia polyacantha Willd. (1806)
Heterotypic
Mimosa suma Roxb. (1832)
Acacia suma (Roxb.) Buch.-Ham. ex Voigt (1845)
Acacia suma (Roxb.) Kurz (1874)
Senegalia suma (Roxb.) Britton & Rose (1928)
Acacia catechu subsp. suma (Roxb.) Roberty (1948)
Mimosa suma Roxb. (1814)

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Africa
Regional: Tropical Africa
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Caprivi Strip, Central African Repu, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe
Continental: Asie
Regional: Indian subcontinent
Bangladesh, India
Introduced into:
Jamaica, Leeward Is., Peru, Puerto Rico, Windward Is.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Seigler, D.S. & Ebinger, J.E., 2009. Phytologia 91(1): 28.

Additional references

Kyalangalilwa, B., Boatwright, J.S., Daru, B.H., Maurin, O. & Bank, M. 2013. Phylogenetic position and revised classification of Acacia s.l. (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) in Africa, including new combinations in Vachellia and Senegalia. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 172(4): 500–523. DOI: 10.1111/boj.12047 Open access Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Senegalia polyacantha in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2020 Aug 21. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Senegalia polyacantha. Published online. Accessed: Aug 21 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Senegalia polyacantha. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 21 Aug 2019.
Catalogue of Life: 2021 Annual Checklist
Senegalia polyacantha – Taxon details on World Wide Wattle.

Vernacular names

Senegalia polyacantha, also known as white thorn, is a flowering tree which can grow up to 25m tall. Polyacantha has the meaning "many thorns" in Latin.[2] The tree is native to Africa, India, the Indian Ocean and Asia, but it has also been introduced to the Caribbean.[1]

Uses
Repellent uses

The root of Senegalia polyacantha subsp. campylacantha emits chemical compounds that repel animals including rats, snakes and crocodiles.[2]
Gum

The tree's gum is used in the manufacture of candy.[2]
Medicinal purposes

Senegalia polycantha's roots and perhaps its bark have medicinal uses. The root extract is useful for snakebites[2] and is applied to wash the skin of children who are agitated at night time.[2] The root is also used for treating gonorrhea,[3] venereal diseases,[4] dysentery[4] and gastrointestinal disorders.[4]
Tannin

The bark is useful for tanning.[2]
Wood

The tree's primary use is for wood.[5]
References

ILDIS LegumeWeb(ILDIS)
PlantZAfrica.com
van der Maesen, L. J. G.; van der Burgt, X. M.; van Medenbach de Rooy, J. M. (1996). The Biodiversity of African Plants. Springer Science+Business Media. p. 254. ISBN 0792340957. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
Uhlig, Siegbert (2003). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: A-C. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 66. ISBN 3447047461. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
Speedy, Andrew. "Acacia polyacantha". www.fao.org. Retrieved 3 August 2017.