Sudan Gum Arabic
Senegalia senegal
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub. It grows to 3-12 m high and 3 m across. The stem is erect. It is spiny and densely branched. The bark is waxy and smooth but then peels in yellow strips of a red base. The thorns are in threes. The central one is hooked and the two sides ones curve up and are brown to black. The leaves (phyllodes) occur one after the other along the branch and they are divided twice. The stalk is 7 cm long and it carries 3-6 pairs of side main leaflets. The flowers are yellow balls or spikes. They occur in stalked clusters in the angles where leaves join. The have a sweet smell. The pods are 10 cm long and 3 cm wide. They are thin and flat. They are yellow to light brown and papery. The veins are clear. They have few seeds.
There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Also as Mimosaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It occurs naturally in tropical Africa. It grows in the Sahel. It prefers deep sandy soils. It requires an open sunny position. It is drought and frost resistant. It grows in semi arid zones. It is very drought tolerant and can survive long dry seasons. It can grow in arid places. Its extensive side roots help bind the soil. In equatorial regions it grows from 600-1700 m altitude. It grows in areas with a rainfall of 25 to 35 mm. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Iran, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The gum is eaten. It is highly nutritious. People eating 200 g a day can survive for several days. Gum arabic has the important use in food products that it enables oil and water to mix. The gum has little taste. It is used in confectionary and chewing gum. The soft inner bark is also chewed. The seeds are eaten as a vegetable. They can be dried and stored.
It is a significant food in some places. It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Seeds, bark, gum, vegetable
How it is grown
It is grown from seed. The seed need treatment to break the hard seed coat. This is by putting the seeds in water and soaking overnight then planting the seeds immediately. Dry seed can be stored if kept cool, dry and insect free.
It is slow growing. It can be pruned. Gum production is excellent when growing on poor soils. The gum can be collected by cutting the bark. It is collected about one month after cutting the bark. It produces the most gum in the dry season. Highest yields are obtained from trees over 6 years old.
Its other names
Local names
AdadCadaad, Addado, Cadaad-geri, Cape Gum, Dakwara, Danga, Ekonoit, Gombier blanc, Goradio-babul, Hidhaadhoo, Jaleefan, Kher, Khor, Kikwata, Kinyua, Kisewa, Kordofan gum, Kumata, Kumbat, Kumbatiyo, Kumta, Kumut, mu -Nyua, Muyumu, Mzasa, Olibilie, Pohitata, Qutad, Saphansa adi, Senegal gum, Sepensa dima, Sepesa, Sneta khadira, Three thorned acacia
Synonyms
Acacia circummarginata Chiov.; Acacia cufodontii Chiov.; Acacia glaucophylla sensu Brenan; Acacia kinionge sensu Brenan; Acacia oxyosprion Chiov.; Acacia rupestris Boiss.; Acacia senegal (L.) Willd.; Acacia senegal subsp. modesta (Wallich) Roberty; Acacia senegal subsp. senegalensis Roberty; Acacia somalensis Brenan; Acacia spinosa Marloth & Engl.; Acacia thomasii Brenan; Acacia verek Guill. & Perr.; Acacia volkii Suesseng.; Mimosa senegal L.;