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Leguminosae-mim Acacia seyal var. Del. fistula (Schweinf.) Oliv.

Leguminosae-mim Acacia seyal
| | © Chris W. Fagg

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Species information

Interest
Makes good charcoal. Wood is very susceptible to insect attack and is little used. Leaves and flowers browsed by livestock. Bark has been used for tanning in Sudan, and the bast yields fibre (Wickens et al. 1995).

Other Notes
Species characteristics: Usually medium sized trees to 10 m high, they have been recorded to 17 m in Sudan, with a spreading crown. It has distinctive smooth powdery bark, from white to greenish yellow or orange red, with a green layer beneath. In some populations both red and yellow barked individuals can be found. The species is divided into a variety which has inflated pseudo galls (var. fistula) and the type were they are abscent. A widespread species, it is gregarious on dry cracking clay soils along watercourses in woodland and grass savannas, or in woodlands on stony ground with dark clay loams. Like its related species, A. hockii and A. zanzibarica it has falcate pods and bright yellow flowers in a globose inflorescence. Common names: Kenya: Ekoromait, Ekoromat (Turkana), Elereta (Masai), Fulai, Fuljai (Somali), Larai (Samburu), Mugurit (Kipsigis), Wacho, Wacho Adjo, Wajo (Boran), White whistling thorn (English); Malawi: Chiombamlusi (Chichewa); Sudan: Bagu (Hameg), Deshok, Sofar, Soffar, Talh abiad, Talha beida (Arabic), white Thorn (English) , Tip (Dinka); Tanzania: Ilula (Kikerewe), Mgunga (Swahili). Distribution : Ethiopia (Harerge, Shewa, Sidamo, Ilubabor); Kenya (Turkana, Rift valley, Northern Frontier, Central, Masai, South Kavirondo, Kisumu, Narok, Maralal, Samburu, Meru, Moyale, Baringo, North Nyeri, Wajir, Dandu, Marsabit); Malawi (Mulanje, Mangochi, Salima, Ncheu); Mozambique (Cabo Delgado); Somalia (Somaliland); Sudan (Kordofan, Al Istiw'a'iyah, Aali an Nil, Bahr al Ghazal); Tanzania (Central, Korogwe, Southern Highlands, Tanga, Nzega, Lushoto, Mbeya, Mbulu, Musoma, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Masai, Pare, Singida, Karagwe, Dodoma, Mikindani, Ukerewe); Uganda (Mengo, Acholi); Zambia (Lusaka, Southern, Mazabuka). Specimen total: 111 Degree squares: 35 Collection years: 1900-1991 Phenology :Flowering period: Jan(4), Feb(2), Mar(4), Apr(4), May(5), Jun(6), Jul(11), Aug(7), Sep(10), Oct(8), Nov(5), Dec(2); Fruiting period: Jan(4), Feb(2), Mar(3), Apr(1), May(3), Jun(1), Jul(4), Aug(3), Sep(6), Oct(5), Nov(3), Dec(2) Altitude range: 200- (400-1400) -1981m

Specimen information

Collector
Fagg, C. W.

Specimen Number
004