The Senegal acacia is considered a plant with an interesting use. The properties of this tree are widely used for many things. We will see below some interesting characteristics of the Senegal acacia, as well as its habitat and other things.
It must be taken into account that this plant grows in various parts of the world, and that it resists heat very well; therefore, it is capable of surviving in arid regions. So let’s learn a little more about the Senegal acacia and all the benefits it brings.
As it belongs to the acacia genus, it is related to the caven acacia. Both belong to the Fabaceae family, and for this reason, they are considered to be in the same family.
Description of the acacia senegal
He senegal acacia tree It measures between five and twelve meters in height. In fact, most acacias average this height range, although there are some that reach a little higher.
The Senegal acacia bark It is brown with a yellow hue. However, in old specimens, the color turns black. So this is an interesting feature to distinguish the younger specimens from the older specimens.
The leaves of this plant are bipinnate. That is, the leaf grows on both sides of its axis or stem and in pairs. This is a curious characteristic of this plant, since the difference with others is that its leaves are not pointed. In this case, the leaflets that make up each leaf are distributed in pairs of seven to twenty-five; In addition, the shape they acquire goes from a linear to an elliptical shape.
Another interesting characteristic of the Senegal acacia is that, unlike the other species, whose leaves are perennial, or long-lasting, those of this tree are deciduous. This means that they fall during a period or time of the year. For this reason, the Senegal acacia is classified within the deciduous plants; that is, among those plants that lose their leaves in a certain season or season of the year.
As we can see, it is a slightly different plant from the others, since it differs in some characteristics with the other species of acacias. However, other interesting aspects of the Senegal acacia must be taken into account.
Habitat and distribution
Like the African acacia, the Senegal acacia is found in the African territory, as well as in different parts of Asia, especially in the Near East. For this reason, it covers countries like Senegal, Egypt, Sudan, Oman and even India.
In these cases, this plant represents an important source of income due to the derivatives obtained from it, as we will see later. It must be taken into account, on the other hand, that the Senegal acacia grows in arid and semi-arid sites. It can be found most often in the sub-Saharan region.
It can withstand very hot climates and can survive with little water. On the other hand, it is not resistant to cold climates, although it can tolerate winters that are not so cold. The most appreciated part, as we will see below, is the crust.
Uses and properties
This tree provides an important source of resources in the pharmacological field. And it is that a very important liquid known as gum arabic is obtained from this tree. This gum has a widespread use that goes from the field of traditional medicine to the manufacture of cosmetics.
in the field of use of Senegal acacia In traditional medicine, gum arabic is used to cure or relieve skin irritation, as well as pharyngitis and gingivitis. In the case of the bark, it is used to treat eczema; on the other hand, its leaf is used to treat diarrhea as well as cases of conjunctivitis. Its flowers are used to create an infusion that helps control or calm hysteria, since it works as a natural tranquilizer or sedative.
It must be taken into account that in traditional medicine there are recipes that require precise doses of each component of the senegal acacia tree. For this reason, you have to be very careful with these recipes, as abuse can cause side effects.
On the other hand, also gum arabic, as well as the bark, leaves and flowers are used for pharmacological purposes. In this way, they create treatments to help cure various ailments, apart from those already mentioned. It is also used to prevent some diseases, as already mentioned.
