White thorn, Mukoka
Senegalia polyacantha

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It can grow 25 m tall. The bark is pale yellow to white and flakes off. It has hooked prickles in pairs on the branches. The leaves have 13-40 pairs of pinnae and 26-65 pairs of leaflets on each. The flowers are in long white spikes. The fruit is a straight long brown pod.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central African Republic, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, India, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The gum is used for candy. The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Gum, seed

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gnuer, Mthethe, Umugu

Synonyms

Acacia catechu Griseb.; Acacia polyacantha Willd.; Acacia suma (Roxb.) Kurz ex Brandis; Mimosa suma Roxb.; Senegalia suma (Roxb.) Britton & Rose;