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gum arabic tree
Scientific Name: Acacia nilotica
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Tree, Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Gum Arabic: A Versatile Natural Gum
Gum arabic, also known as acacia gum, chaar gund, char goond, or meska, is a natural gum derived from the hardened sap of various species of the acacia tree.
Considerations for Pets
- Gum arabic is a hardened sap.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Acacia senegal (primary source of gum arabic), Acacia nilotica (also yields gum arabic, sometimes referred to as Indian Gum)
- Common Names: Gum arabic, acacia gum, chaar gund, char goond, meska, gum arabic tree, Indian Gum (when derived from A. arabica, a synonym of A. nilotica)
- Family: Fabaceae (implied as Acacia belongs to this family)
- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Synonyms/Alternative Scientific Names: Acacia arabica (synonym for Acacia nilotica), Acacia circummarginata, Acacia cufodontii, Acacia glaucophylla, Acacia kinionge, Acacia oxyosprion, Mimosa arabica, Mimosa nilotica
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the Middle East, parts of Western Asia, and a swath of arid lands extending from Senegal on the west coast of Africa.
- Specifically mentioned: Sudan (Darfur region), Northern Kenya, low-rainfall savannas.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- The bark of Acacia senegal is yellow to brown and smooth in young trees.
- Acacia trees can range from shrubs to trees.
- They are often thorny, especially those found in savanna ecosystems.
Ecological Role
- Acacia trees, particularly A. senegal, dominate low-rainfall savannas.
Uses and Applications
- Gum arabic has been used for at least 4000 years in food preparation.
- It's a natural emulsifier, used to keep substances together.
- It is used in the preparation of food, soft drinks, medicines, cosmetics, inks, and pharmaceuticals.
- It is used to make chewing gum and candy.
- Historically, young leaves and pods were used as an astringent.
- The bark has been used as a substitute for oak.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- The text mentions defoliation of gum arabic trees by pests can result in yield loss.
Quirky Facts
- Marshmallows wouldn't be the same without acacia sap.
- In Sudan's conflict states, tapping gum arabic is seen as a gift, "manna from heaven."
Further Information
- WebMD (for medical information)
- ARKive (for photos and facts)
- Tree-Nation.com
- Sigma-Aldrich (product specific information)
- Gum Arabic Research Centre