Catechu acacia, Cutch tree
Senegalia catechu

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 5-15 m high. The branches are spiny. The trunk is dark brown with cracks along its length. The leaves are compound with 9-30 pairs of leaflet stalks and 20-50 leaflets along them. These are oblong and have a sharp end. They are 3-4 cm long. The flower spike is 2.5-10 cm long in the axils of leaves. The flowers are 5 mm long. They are white have have a slight smell. The fruit are pods which are thin and have a short beak. They are flat and 5-7.5 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. The seeds are shiny brown and 3-10 occur in each pod.

There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. This one yields catechu used in dyeing. It has anticancer properties. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry open forest in the west of Thailand. They grow in the drier plains of India. In Nepal it grows between 200-1,400 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The wood is boiled to extract the resin. This is rolled into balls and grated and mixed with betel nuts and lime and chewed. The bark is also used to chew with betel nut. Small pieces of wood are put into hot water to make tea.

It is sold in markets.

Edible parts

Wood resin, bark- tea , gum

How it is grown

The tree is grown from seeds. It can be grown from cuttings.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Black catechu, Black cutch, Kachu, Karangalli, Katha, Keo cau, Khadira, Khaia, Khair, Khayar, Khayer, Mung-ting, Nya, Pohon akasia katecu, Sandra, See-siad, Seesiat nuea, Sha, Shaji, Tun-sa-se, Wadalee-Gum tree

Synonyms

Acacia catechu (L.f) Willd.; Acacia catechuoides Benth.; Acacia sandra Bedd.; Mimosa catechu L.f.; Mimosa catechoides Roxburgh;