Babul, Bamul
Vachellia jacquemontii

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grow up to 2.5 m high. The twigs zigzag. It has several shoots. The bark is greyish brown. The spines are straight. The leaf stalk can be 5 cm long. There are 1-4 pairs of pinnae. These are 5-15 cm long. These contain 5-10 pairs of leaflets. These are 3-4 mm long. The fruit is a pod 5-7 cm long and about 1 cm wide. It has 5-6 seeds.

There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It is used in Rajasthan, India in Jaisalmer district. It can tolerate drought. It grows in dry sandy soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Iran, Middle East, Pakistan

How it is used for food

The gum is poor quality but is eaten in times of scarcity.

It has a small amount of gum as a famine food.

Edible parts

Gum

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Boan, Boo-banwali, Bouli, Gulli bouli, Kikar, Ratabauli

Synonyms

Acacia jacquemontii Benth.;