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dichrostachys

Scientific Name: Dichrostachys

Family: Fabaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Dichrostachys cinerea

Dichrostachys cinerea is known by several common names, including sicklebush, Bell mimosa, Chinese lantern tree, and Kalahari Christmas tree (in South Africa). In Hindi, it's known as Kunali, khairi, and Veerataru, and in Marathi as Durangi babool and shembat.

Considerations for Pets

  • Dichrostachys cinerea is a spiny shrub or small tree, and some varieties are thorny, presenting a potential hazard.

Considerations for Children

  • Dichrostachys cinerea is a spiny shrub or small tree, and some varieties are thorny, presenting a potential hazard.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight &amp Arn.
  • Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae or Mimosaceae, Touch-me-not family)
  • Subfamily: Mimosoideae
  • Kingdom: Angiosperms (Flowering plants)
  • Synonyms:
    • Cailliea dichrostachys Guill. et al.
    • Cailliea nutans (Pers.) Skeels
    • Cailliea glomerata
    • Dichrostachys glomerata
    • Dichrostachys nutans
    • Mimosa cinerea
  • Subspecies: Dichrostachys cinerea subsp. africana (and var. africana) and Dichrostachys cinerea subsp. lugardae

Distribution and Habitat

  • Dichrostachys cinerea is widespread and common, distributed from Africa to Australia.
  • It grows in a variety of habitats, including dry forests, woodlands, shrublands, open grassland, river banks, and rocky hillsides.
  • It was first found in West Africa and is still widespread in its native land and has since been introduced in the West Indies.

Ecological Role

  • Dichrostachys cinerea is a fast-growing woody bush or treelet that can invade fields, wasteland, road sides, and other disturbed areas. Anthropogenic alteration of the environment and other disturbance regimes may enable its expansion into new areas.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Dichrostachys cinerea is a spiny, deciduous shrub or small tree, typically up to 7-8 meters high, with a rounded crown approximately 3 meters wide, although often smaller.
  • The bark is rough, yellow to grey-brown, and can have vertical fissures, peeling off in thin flakes.
  • Young branches have green bark and can be densely or sparsely covered.
  • It has Acacia-like leaves that are bi-pinnately compound.
  • Some varieties are thorny. Spines can be axillary, straight, and often leaf-bearing.

Quirky Facts

  • Dichrostachys cinerea is also called Sickle Bush or Chinese Lantern tree, protects liver and kidney from toxins with anti oxidant activity.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • The plant's seeds are subject to animal browsing and seed predation.
  • Its flowers are exploited by Apis mellifera adansonii (African honey bee).

Traditional Uses

  • Dichrostachys cinerea is largely used ethno-medically across Africa, mainly employed for the treatment of asthma in Ivory Coast.

Further Information

  • Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER)
  • Discover Life
  • Witkoppen Wildflower Nursery , South Africa