Gum Arabic Tree

Vachellia nilotica

Physical Characteristics

Vachellia nilotica is an evergreen Tree growing to 10 m (32ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

Drier areas of Africa, Arabian Peninsula, western Asia to northern India.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Inner bark Leaves Seed Seedpod Shoots Edible Uses: Coffee Condiment Drink Gum The young pods, young leaves and shoots are used as vegetables[269 , 301 , 303 ]. The sprouted seeds are consumed as a vegetable[303 ]. The seeds can be mixed with dates and then fermented into an alcoholic beverage[301 ]. The flowers are made into fritters[301 ]. The well-roasted seeds are ground into a powder and used as an adulterant mixed with coffee[303 ]. The roasted seeds are used as a condiment[301 ]. The gum obtained from the stems is eaten mixed with sesame seeds, fried in ghee, or used in the preparation of sweetmeats and candied flowers[301 ]. A type of wine, known as 'sak', is made from the bark[301 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antidiarrhoeal Antihaemorrhoidal Antitumor Antitussive Astringent Cancer Dysentery Febrifuge Leprosy Ophthalmic Poultice Stimulant The bark, gum, leaves and pods are used in various traditional medicines[303 ]. The bark, leaves and pods are rich in tannins and so are astringent[269 ]. Extracts of the plant have been shown to be inhibitory to at least four species of pathogenic fungi[269 ]. The bark is used to treat a wide variety of ailments in traditional medicine, both internally in the form of a decoction, and externally as a wash[269 ]. In particular, its astringency makes it an excellent treatment for diarrhoea and dysentery, whilst it is also used as a nerve stimulant and in treating conditions such as leprosy, coughs, and intestinal pains[269 ]. Both the gum and the bark have been used for treating cancers and/or tumours (of ear, eye, or testicles); chest problems including colds, congestion, coughs and tuberculosis; indurations of liver and spleen; fevers, gallbladder problems, haemorrhage, haemorrhoids, leucorrhoea, ophthalmia, sclerosis and smallpox[269 ]. The root has been used to treat tuberculosis and is also said to cure impotence[269 ]. The bruised leaves are used as a poultice on ulcers[269 ]. The wood has been used to treat smallpox[269 ].

Known Hazards

None known