Cha-om
Acacia pennata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. The leaves are used in medicine. Also as Mimosaceae. It can be invasive.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in moister places. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Sahel, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, West Africa

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked as a vegetable. They are also used for flavouring. They are boiled with egg. They are used in soup. The bark is chewed.

Leaves are sold in local markets. It is a popular vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, shoots, pods, vegetable,bark

How it is grown

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Aila, Akar chuis, Akar kepah, Arari, Aroi garut, Cha om, Chili, Hai, Hpak-ha-awn, Ktaura, Kamo, Kareencha, Khangkhu, Khang muk, Khembra, Mchoo som bour, Miao tei, Nam ke ret, Nam-ki-ret, Pa ge da, Pala, Phak kan kong, Phak kha, Poswiidaw, Rigot, Seengai, Seenga keerai, Shembi, Singaya akulu, Suboke-gyi, Suji, Suyit, Tao pu, Thembra, Tuo bo ji niu, Tuopou-weiniu

Synonyms

The correct name may now be Senegalia pennata Acacia canescens (Kurz) Gamble; Acacia hainanensis Hayata; Acacia pendata (L.) Willd.[Spelling variant]; Acacia pseudo-intsia Ridley; ? Albizia tenerrima deVriese; Mimosa pennata L.; and others