Part 14
Khartoum Prov.; Blue Nile Prov., and most parts of the Northern Sudan.
The leaves are occasionally mixed with those of the true Senna.
=C. holosericea= _Fresen._
Shrubby and velvety. Leaflets 5-8 pairs, ovate to oblong, 1 in. long. Racemes shorter than the leaves. Pod 1½ in. long, broadly falcate.
Red Sea Prov. (Khor Seterri, South of Suakin); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
=C. didymobotrya= _Fres._
Shrub, 10 ft. high. Leaflets 8-16 pairs, oval-oblong, apex rounded, mucronate, base obliquely rounded. Racemes 5-12 in. long, from upper axils, flowers packed at first in imbricate, caducous bracts. Pod linear-oblong, 3-4 in. long.
Bahr El Jebel (Madi).
=C. acutifolia= _Del._ SENNA or SENNA EL RIF (N. Kordn.) & SENNA MEKKA—Arab.
Undershrub. The flat pod has no crest on its side. Leaflets 4-5 pairs, oval to lanceolate, acute. Racemes from axils of upper leaves, much longer than the leaves; pods broadly oblong, slightly curved, without crest on the sides, ab. 2 in. long.
North Sudan; Red Sea Prov.; Khartoum Prov.; Blue Nile, Darfur & Kordofan Provinces.
The pods and leaves constitute the true Alexandrian Senna of commerce.
=C. Absus= _Linn._ HABBAT EL AIN (N. Kordn.) & HAB EL AIN (Port Sudan)—Arab.
Erect annual, 1-2 ft. high, covered with bristly glandular hair. Leaves small; rachis swollen at the base and with a gland between every one of the 4 pairs of leaflets, which are broadly oval or obovate-oval; pod 1-2 in., hairy, linear, ab. ¼ in. broad.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov.; Upper White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
The seeds are used for ophthalmia and the ringworm.
=C. mimosoides= _Linn._
Shrubby. Leaflets very small, linear, unequal sided, usually 10-80 pair; flowers yellow; pod linear, ab. 2 in. long, slightly pilose.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov. (El Obeid & Tekele); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Shambé); Darfur Prov. (Kulme).
=C. nigricans= _Vahl._ SURIB (N. Kordn.)—Arab.
Erect herb, up to 5 ft. high, somewhat similar to above. Leaflets small, 8-18 pair; flowers very small. Pod linear, ab. 2 in. long.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Khartoum Prov.; Fung Prov. (Harun); Kordofan Prov. (near Rahad); Nuba Mts. Prov. (J. Eliri); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Addai, Niamniam-land); Mongalla Prov.
=C. goratensis= _Fresen._
Shrub or small tree. Leaflets 7-9 pairs, oblong to obovate-elliptic, rounded both ends, pubescent, 1½ in. long, with inter-petiolular glands. Flowers corymbose, crowded at ends of branches; petals yellow, large, unequal. Pods constricted, up to 4 in. long.
Blue Nile Prov. (Upper); White Nile Prov.; Nuba Mts. Prov.; Mongalla Prov. (near Gigging).
270 =Bauhinia fassoglensis= _Kotschy._ KARAUERAU—Arab; PAJ (Bahr El Ghazal)—Dinka & Jur; USIN—Golo; KORA—Hameg.
Scandent shrub. Leaves bilobed, like a camel’s foot, up to 4½ in. broad. Flowers in leaf-opposed or terminal racemes, 1 ft. long; calyx strongly keeled; cor. white; stamens 10, of which usually only 2 perfect.
Kassala & Blue Nile Provinces (Sennar to Gallabat); Fung Prov.; Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Sabbi).
=B. rufescens= _Lam._ KULKUL—Arab; TARWARA (Dilling)—Nuba.
Small tree, with smooth, white bark. Leaves bilobed, small, usually under 1 in. diam. Flowers white, small, fragrant, in terminal racemes or corymbs; calyx spathaceous; stamens 10, perfect. Pod linear, coriaceous, curved, up to 3½ in. long.
Kordofan, Nuba Mts. & Darfur Provinces.
Wood hard, homogeneous, close and fine grained, density 0.713, light brown in colour, used in carpentry. The bark is employed for making ropes, and also for tanning leather. As with other species of this genus various parts are used in native medicine.
=B. reticulata= _DC._ ABU KHAMEIRA, TAMBAREIB & KHARUB—Arab; KUBUY (Dilling); KIRKONGAW (J. Eliri), BĀSIGSI (Kadugli) & KADAWDO (Rashad- Talodi)—Nuba; POFFEH—Bari; PAI (Renk) & PAJ (Bahr El Ghazal)—Dinka; PAJ—Jur; KWIELIA or USIN—Golo; MUGGAL—Hameg; DANG & NGWAIN—Nuer; FOICHA—Burun; DAGPA—Zande.
Small tree; young parts rufous. Leaves large, bilobed. Flowers numerous; calyx rufous; petals white. Pod long, flat, somewhat twisted, glossy, dark brown, up to 1 ft. long and 3 in. broad.
South of Lat. 13° N.
Wood rather hard, light brown in colour, density 0.707, homogeneous, works easily, but is seldom of useful size, it makes poor fuel. Ropes and clothes are made from the bast fibre by Golo-women. The seeds are eaten. A decoction of leaves is used as a gargle for toothache. From the roots a mahogany-coloured pigment is obtained.
=B. variegata= _Linn._ Camel-foot tree.
Moderate-sized tree, with bilobed leaves and axillary racemes of purple and cream-coloured flowers. Pod 6-18 in. long, linear, flat.
Introduced. Grown in gardens.
271 =Isoberlinia sp.= KOBBO—Bongo.
Leaflets, 4 pairs, ovate, oblique, 5-6 in. long, 3 in. broad, reticulate. Flowers paniculate. Sepals velvety. Bracts small, deciduous. Fruits woody. Seeds orbicular, flat.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land).
272 =Berlinia acuminata= _Solander._ ERIANGA & KOBA—Dinka; KA & AKKA—Golo; KOBA—Jur; KAWBAW—Bongo.
Large tree with rough, exfoliating bark; occasionally forms pure crops. Leaves large, abruptly pinnate; leaflets 3-6 pair, 3-9 in. long. Pods up to 15 in. long and 3 in. broad, flat, olive green, velvety, curling up spirally after dehiscing. Bahr El Ghazal & Mongalla Provinces.
Wood fibrous, density 0.649, light brownish yellow in colour, works well, but is readily attacked by insects. Useful for small furniture, boats, carts, etc.
273 =Pahudia (Afzelia) africana= _Smith._ RIANG—Dinka; PO—Golo; BEI—Jur; PAWE—Zande.
Very large tree. Leaves paripinnate; leaflets 6-10, glossy, alternate. Pods up to 9 in. long and 3 in. wide, thick, woody, splitting into two flat, boat-shaped halves; seeds black, surmounted by orange-coloured aril at the base.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov.; Mongalla Prov. (near Mongalla).
Timber reddish, resembling Mahogany, strong, somewhat coarse-grained.
274 =Daniellia thurifera= _Bennett._ KELA—Bongo; BELIN & SHANDA—Dinka; BU or BINDA—Golo; SHANDA—Jur; BOVOTODE—Zande.
Very large tree, with a clean bole, up to 50 ft. before branching; bark smooth, light grey. Leaves abruptly pinnate. Leaflets 5-9 pairs, coriaceous, 2-7 in. long. Pods flat, broad-falcate, 1-seeded, the seed being attached by a long, thread-like process to a membrane, which acts as a parachute in disseminating the seed.
Bahr El Ghazal & Mongalla Provinces.
Timber light, streaky brown, moderately hard, light, density 0.505, coarse-grained, works easily, but readily attacked by insect pests; useful for light furniture, packing cases, knife handles. Good firewood. The tree yields a Frankincense (the Ogea gum of Sierra Leone) which exudes from holes made by boring insects or by tapping, and is collected and sold for body perfume. Bee-hives are made from strips of the bark.
275 =Tamarindus indica= _Linn._ ARDEIB—Arab; SHEKERE (Dilling), KUASHI (J. Eliri) & DANUFI (Kadugli)—Nuba; BASHA & PATTA & (fruit), KITTEH—Bari; SHOWI (Renk & Bahr El Ghazal), SHWAI (Mongalla), TCHUWOI (Goz El Siada) & SHWAYAI (Kaka)—Dinka; SHWAH—Shilluk; KUAR & KWAT—Nuer; YENNO—Burun; SHOWI—Jur; ARUB or WASSA—Golo; MALAT—Hameg; MAHA—Bongo; ABANZA—Zande.
Large tree with dark-coloured, fissured bark. Leaves abruptly pinnate, 3-6 in. long; leaflets small, 10-15 pair. Pod pendulous, 3-8 in. long, 1 in. broad, the inner pericarp consisting of a red, acid pulp; seeds brown, hard.
Southern Sudan; Blue Nile Prov. (Upper); Kordofan Prov.; Red Sea Prov. (Has Has).
Fruit called TAMR HINDI by Arabs, used for cooling drinks, also medicinally as laxative. The bark is said to have astringent and tonic properties. The seed yields an oil which may be used for varnish. The seed rubbed on a roughstone, with water, is a specific for carbuncular boils. The wood is hard, fibrous and heavy, density 0.777. It is rather difficult to work, but is very suitable for cabinet work as the heart- wood is beautifully mottled black and brown. It is resistant to insect pests, and is useful for carpentry, ship-building, carts, pestles and mortars.
276 =Detarium microcarpum= _Guill._ & _Perr._ ABU LEILA—Arab; GUDI (Bahr El Ghazal)—Dinka; LOYO, LOIGO or MPORO or M’BOLO—Golo; AKUTI—Jur; MALAGUTU—Bongo.
Small to middle-sized tree. Leaves pari-pinnate; leaflets 6-12, alternate or opposite, undulate-crenate. Pod disc-shaped, 1½ in. in diameter, ½ in. thick; the inner pericarp is a sweet pulp, traversed by fibrous processes from the bony endocarp.
Nuba Mts. Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land & Jur-land).
The sweet pulp is eaten as a substitute for sugar. The tree grows to a large size in Nigeria; its timber is one of these exported under the name of “African Mahogany.” It is grey in colour, with a fine and regular grain, density 0.779. It is hard but works well. It is very resistant to pests and lasts long under water. Very suitable for carpentry, piles, fences, joinery, etc. It exudes a fragrant resin.
277 =Burkea africana= _Hook. f._
Small tree, 25 ft. high. Leaves bipinnate, up to 3 ft. long, collected towards ends of branches; pinnæ ab. 3 pairs; leaflets 6-12 per pinna. Flowers spicate, white, at end of branches. Pod up to 2½ in. long, oblong or elliptical, flat, coriaceous.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).
Wood clear brown in colour with a fine close grain, density 0.677. It splits easily and is suited to light carpentry and furniture. Not very resistant to insect pests.
278 =Erythrophlæum guineense= _Don._ KURU (Wau) & THIEPAGOK (Rumbek)—Dinka; BANGI or BEI—Golo; KOLU—Jur; IRRIK & GARO—Zande. The Red Water tree or Sass wood.
Very large tree. Leaves abruptly bipinnate; pinnæ 2-4 pairs; leaflets 6-11 per pinna. Flowers in dense spiciform panicles, small, white or pale yellow. Pod 3½ in. long and 1¾ in. broad, black, woody.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (near Khors).
Wood reddish brown, very heavy and hard to work, density 0.821. Close grained, fibres twisted. Suited to joinery and cabinet making. Very resistant to pests. The seeds, pods and bark are poisonous. The seeds are used by Dinkas as a test of a person’s guilt when accused of causing death by witchcraft or poison. The accused has to swallow some four of the seeds with water after these have been cut in two. If he dies he is guilty, but innocent if he is only sick.
=MIMOSACEÆ.=
279 =Parkia biglobosa= _Benth._
Tree, 50 ft. high. Leaves 9-18 in. long, bipinnate; pinnæ 14-30 pairs, with sessile glands at the base of 1 or 2 last pairs; leaflets 1-nerved, 50-70 pairs. Flowers red, in pendulous globose heads. Pods several in a bunch, 8-12 in. long, depressed between the seeds.
Upper White Nile.
Wood whitish, soft, density 0.699, medium grained, very flexible. Easily worked and suited to carpentry. The dry pulp of the pods furnishes a reddish flour containing 60 per cent. of sugar which is eaten with rice and meat; it is also used in the preparation of a fermented liquor. The bark and pods are used as a fish poison.
=P. filicoidea= _Welw._ UMRASHAD or MUDUS—Arab; AKON—Dinka; KOFO, LU or ULU—Golo; NWANA—Jur; RU—Bongo; ABONGBA—Zande.
Large tree with dark outer bark. Leaves abruptly bipinnate; pinnæ 6-9 pairs; leaflets 16-24 pairs, triplinerved. Flowers in dense pendulous, globose heads, ab. 1½ in. across, scarlet. Pods usually several together, flat, 8-12 in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov.
Timber white, coarse, not durable. The mealy pulp in which the seeds are embedded is eaten. The bark is used for tanning.
280 =Entada Wahlbergii= _Harv._
Slender, unarmed climber. Leaves bipinnate; pinnæ 2-4-jugate; leaflets 4-18 pairs, linear-oblong up to 1 in. long. Spikes solitary or panicled; cor. reddish-brown. Pod flat, arcuate, the chord 4-6 in. long, with up to 13 articulate divisions, sutures thick, persistent after fall of the articles.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land).
=E. sudanica= _Schwfth._ SESABAN (Fung), UMKASHO (Baggara) & LAYUK (Jongol’s Post)—Arab; DEZA—Hameg.
Small tree with bipinnate leaves and large pods, the woody margins of which persist after the joints containing seeds have fallen out. Pinnæ 5-8-jugate; leaflets 14-20 pairs per pinna.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Fung Prov.; Nuba Mts. Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land); Mongalla Prov.
=E. abyssinica= _Steud._
Small tree. Differs from the above by the greater number (14-18 pairs) of pinnæ and also (25-50 pairs) of leaflets in the pinnæ. Pods hardly constricted, ab. 6-12 in. long.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
281 =Piptadenia africana= _Hook. f._
Tree. Leaves abruptly bipinnate; pinnæ 9-13 pair; leaflets 30-60 pair, small, linear; pod 9 in. long and ¾ in. broad, flat, linear; seed ¾ in. long and ¼ in. broad, narrow oval, furnished with a winged membrane nearly 3 in. long; flowers in cylindrical spikes.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).
=P. sp.=
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River: Batuka).
282 =Prosopis oblonga= _Benth._ ABU SURUG—Arab; AIRI, GALL & GIER—Bongo; JIER (Bahr El Ghazal)—Dinka; IJI, INJI or JI—Golo; KADOL—Jur; DIGRA—Burun; ZANGARE & INGE—Zande.
Moderate to fairly large tree, with rough bark; pinnæ 2-3-jugate, with a sessile gland between each pair; leaflets 5-11-jugate. Leaves abruptly bipinnate. Flowers in spikes, ab. 3 in. long, white. Pod smooth, oval in cross section. Seeds dark brown.
Nuba Mts. Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov.; Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla); Upper White Nile Prov. (Goz El Siada).
Wood hard, very heavy, density 1.44, regular, strong, fine grained, takes good polish, dark reddish-brown in colour, is used by Bongos and Jurs for making charcoal for iron smelting. Good for carpentry, implements, boat building. Bark used for tanning, also as an antiseptic. Pods used for poisoning fish.
283 =Amblygonocarpus Schweinfurthii= _Harms._ BINDI & NGUASSA—Dinka; BINDI—Jur; M’BOSSO & BISHI—Golo; DURA—Krej; GIER—Bongo.
Large tree, 1-3 ft. diam. Leaves bipinnate; leaflets broadly-elliptic, ¾ in. long, ½ in. broad, glabrous. Racemes 4 in. long. Flowers very numerous, dense, about ¼ in. long, anthers much curved. Fruits quadrangular.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land, Golo-land & Dar Fertit).
Wood light, fine grained, easily working, useful for joinery.
284 =Dichrostachys nutans= _Benth._ KADADA—Arab; BARTO (J. Daier), KWĀR (Dilling) & KĒTIER (J. Eliri)—Nuba; RILEH—Bari; KĪR (White Nile), KI (Goz El Siada), KĪR & SHĪR (Mongalla)—Dinka; BAKANGO—Golo; ARBIT—Hameg; KIROH—Shilluk; TILLA or KITCHUN—Burun.
Large armed shrub, the spines being often leaf-bearing. Leaves abruptly bipinnate; pinnæ 5-10-jugate, with a stipitate gland between each pair; leaflets 12-22 pairs. Flowers in dense pink and yellow cylindrical heads; pods much twisted.
Kordofan Prov. & Southern Sudan.
Wood hard, compact, density 0.620, yellow ochre colour, good for cabinet making.
285 =Neptunia oleracea= _Lour._
Aquatic herb, often floating. Leaves bipinnate; pinnæ 2-3 pair, opposite; leaflets 8-20 pair. Flowers in an oblong head, ½-1 in. long, yellow; stamens 10. Pod 1 in. long by ¼ in. wide, long-stalked.
White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov.; Mongalla Prov.
Eaten as a pot-herb.
286 =Mimosa asperata= _Linn._ HAB BITA EL AIN (Baggara), SHAGAR EL FAS & HABBAS—Arab; MOSAGHANI—Hameg; M’BASE—Golo.
Straggling, prickly shrub. Leaves bipinnate, sensitive; pinnæ 7-16 pair; leaflets 25-40-jugate. Flower heads globose, pinkish, on ab. 1 in. long axillary peduncles. Pod very hairy, compressed, linear-oblong, 1 in. long.
Southern Sudan (Edges of watercourses).
The fruit is used as medicine for the eyes in Kordofan.
287 =Acacia Sieberiana= _DC._
Moderate-sized tree, sometimes large. Stipular thorns straight, usually short on flowering shoots. Leaves bipinnate, as in other Sudan species; pinnæ 10-30 pair, with a large gland near base of rachis; leaflets 20-40 pair. Flower-heads globose, on 1-2 in. peduncles, which are solitary below and fascicled above. Pod 6-7 in. long, 2-valved, straight or slightly curved, compressed, ¾ in. broad.
Darfur Prov.: Bahr El Jebel (Madi woods).
Wood hard, yellow ochre colour, density 0.946 heartwood, 0.851 sapwood, readily attacked by insects (white ants, etc.); useful for packing cases, light furniture, mortars, implements. A decoction of the root acts as a vermifuge.
=A. spirocarpa= _Hochst._ SAYAL—Arab; TAWĀR or TOWAI—Hadendowa; KANDIA (J. Daier)—Nuba; MUTU—Bari.
Large tree with bipinnate leaves and straight stipular spines. Flower- heads globose, greenish-white; pods spirally twisted. Pinnæ 4-10 pairs; leaflets 7-15 pair, very small.
Northern Sudan; Blue Nile, White Nile & Kordofan Provinces.
The bast yields a strong fibre. The pods are called ULLAF—Arab.
=A. tortilis= _Hayne._ SAMR—Arab; SANGANEIP & SANGANĒ—Hadendowa; SAKBE—Rashida.
Obconical, flat-topped, large shrub or small tree, with straight and curved spines. Flower-heads globose, whitish; pods twisted. Pinnæ 2-5 pairs, glands on rachis minute or absent, leaflets 8-12 pairs, linear- oblong.
North Sudan.
Sapwood moderately dark or brown, heartwood small, dark brown. Medullary rays fine. Pores uniform, moderate sized, in concentric lines of flat arcs. Wood fairly hard and heavy, used in the Red Sea Prov. for ribs of boats and for pulleys and blocks. It is liable to attacks of boring insects.
=A. nilotica= _DC._
Characters as in the next species, but pods quite glabrous.
Red Sea Prov. (near Suakin); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Berber Prov.; White Nile Prov. (Wad Shellai).
=A. arabica= _Willd._ SANT, SNUT or SUNT—Arab; ALLWI (Goz El Siada)—Dinka; LENG—Burun; GARAD (Tagele)—Nuba.
Large tree with straight spines, up to 2 in. long. Flower-heads globose, yellow. Pods white, tomentose, much contracted between the seeds. Pinnæ usually 3-12 pairs with or without gland between lowest and, at times, 1 or 2 upper pairs; leaflets 10-30 pairs, linear-oblong.
North Sudan; Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov.; White Nile (from 10° N.L. Northwards, rare South of Jebelein); Kordofan Prov.; Upper White Nile Prov. (Goz El Siada).
=var. A. Adansonii= _Guill._ & _Perr._
Differs from above in the pods, which are not or hardly contracted between the seeds.
Kordofan Prov. (El Obeid).
The young bark yields a fibre. Timber hard, heavy, density 0.945 heartwood and 0.827 sapwood, durable, short fibred and somewhat brittle, resistant to water and white ants, used for construction work and boat building, building, etc. The pods, called GARAD by Arabs, as well as the bark, used for tanning, a decoction is administered in dysentery. The pods are also used as a dye. The gum, although inferior to that of _A. Verek_, is an article of commerce; that from India is known as “Ghatti gum.”
=A. verugera= _Schwfth._ KŪK—Arab; ABELAINY (Dilling), KWEILE (J. Eliri) & KUSSI (Kadugli)—Nuba; SHEBIL—Hameg; PUKULI—Bari; KOG (Kaka), TEP (Mongalla), TIP (Renk) & TIPAGOK (Bahr El Ghazal)—Dinka; TIAP—Shilluk; TEF—Nuer; DAGLIE—Zande.
Very large tree with grey-white bark and with straight, white spines, 1½ in. long. Pinnæ 7-14 pair, leaflets 20-30 pairs. Flowers globose, white, about ¾ in. across. Pod up to 6 in. long, slightly curved, flat, thick, ¾ in. wide, green.
Kassala Prov. (near Kassala); South of Lat. 13° N.
Wood white, not durable. The qualities of the gum have yet to be investigated.
=A. nubica= _Benth._ EL UT or AUD & LAOT—Arab; GAMEROT—Rashida; ANJERA (J. Daier), MAIN (Dilling), UNGUS (Tagele) & MA (J. Ghulfan)—Nuba; ANAN (Renk) & KONYAI (Kaka)—Dinka; AFIAD—Shilluk.
Obconical shrub with spines ab. ½ in. long, somewhat recurved. Pinnæ 3-12 pairs with or without 2-3 minute sessile glands; leaflets 6-15 pairs, small, oblong. Pod linear-oblong, narrowed at each end, almost narrowly-winged, yellowish, 2-3 in. long. Flowers in globose heads on 1-3 axillary peduncles.
Kassala, Red Sea, Blue Nile, White Nile & Kordofan Provinces.
The bark is used for tanning. The bast yields a good fibre.
=A. etbaica= _Schwfth._ ARRAD or GARRAD—Hadendowa and Rashida.
Small tree; extremities at first red-brown; stipular thorns straight, short. Pinnæ 3-6 pairs, without glands; leaflets 14-30 pairs. Peduncles 3-5 in each axil, bearing rather few-flowered globose heads. Pods linear, compressed, almost straight, brown, glabrous up to 3½ in. long.
Red Sea Prov.
The bark is used for tanning.
=A. Seyal= _Del._ TELEH (Baggara), TALH HAMRA or TALHA—Arab; ME (J. Daier), SHALEIH (Dilling), TEILI (J. Eliri) & TIRIGO (Kadugli)—Nuba; KUKATI—Bari; BI (Kaka), RATT (Renk) & TEP (Mongalla)—Dinka; MELA—Hameg; TEIB & LUOR—Nuer; ALLAD—Shilluk.
Small to middle-sized tree, with rufous bark; spines white, straight or nearly so, up to 1½ in. long. Pinnæ 11-12 pairs; leaflets 18-22 pairs. Flowers globose, yellow, about 1 in. diam. Pods ab. 3 in. long, curved, slightly contracted between the seeds.
Throughout the Sudan.
Wood white, not durable, liable to attacks of insects, especially if cut green. The gum is of good quality but inferior to that of _A. Verek_. The bark is used for tanning and the bast yields a fibre. Native women fumigate themselves with the wood smoke.
=A. Seyal= _Del._ =var. Fistula= _Schwfth._ TALH BEID & SOFFAR—Arab; SHALEIH WIWI (Dilling)—Nuba; BAGU—Hameg; KONAIYER (Kaka) & TEP (Mongalla)—Dinka; ASHAR—Shilluk.
South Sudan.
Much like preceding but bark white and the bases of the thorns inflated.
Moister parts of the Sudan.
Has the same qualities as Red Talh.
=A. Ehrenbergiana= _Hayne._ SALLAM—Arab.
Shrub with brown papery bark. Flower-heads globose, golden yellow. Spines slender, straight, also hooked. Pinnæ 1-2 pairs; leaflets 8-10 pairs, oblong. Pod narrow-linear, falcate, constricted between the seeds, up to 4½ in. long.
Northern Sudan, usually in arid tracts.
Yield a gum.
=A. stenocarpa= _Hochst._
Small tree; spines straight, short. Flowers globose, yellow; pods curved as in _A. Seyal_. Pinnæ 4-10 pairs with at least 1 gland, sessile at base of the rachis; leaflets 10-20 pairs, linear oblong.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Jebel (Nyangara); Mongalla Prov.
One of the species affording the Gum-arabic of commerce.
=A. Verek= _Guill._ & _Perr._ HASHAB & SUBAHI (Wad Medani)—Arab; KALIALMO (J. Daier) & TŪT (Dilling)—Nuba; KADOFI—Bari; ATĪYDOK (Kaka) & CHIANDOK (or CHIANDAK) (Mongalla)—Dinka; GARANDAK—MESHIRG—EDIN—Hameg; ADHWAG—Shilluk; BAM—Nuer.
Small to moderate-sized tree; spines 3, stout, sharp, dark brown, short, two straight and one recurved. Pinnæ 3-5 pairs; leaflets 10-15 pairs. Flowers in lax cylindrical spikes, white. Pods thin, straight, papery, 3 in. long.
Southern Nubia; From Berber Province to Mongalla; Fung, Darfur & Kordofan Provinces.
Wood dark, durable. This tree yields the best gum of commerce.
=A. glaucophylla= _Steud._ HASHAB (Kassala & Karora)—Arab.
Large shrub or small tree, glabrous, or extremities puberulous; infra- stipular prickles 2-3, short, straight or slightly recurved, often absent. Pinnæ 3-6-jugate, with small gland at base of rachis; leaflets 12-20 pairs, oblong. Spikes 1-3 in axils; flowers white. Pod linear, flat, narrowed each end, 3-4 in. long.
Between Suakin & Berber (Omareg); Kassala Prov. (J. Kassala); Red Sea Prov. (Karora hills).
=A. mellifera= _Benth._ KITTIR—Arab; KAWTAW (J. Daier) & URŪM (Kadugli)—Nuba; NARAH (Renk)—Dinka.
Small tree or shrub; infra-stipular prickles 2, short, recurved. Pinnæ 2-jugate; leaflets 1 pair per pinna, obovate-oblong or -rotundate. Spikes axillary, fascicled, white. Pod 2 in. long, flat, oblong.
Red Sea Prov. (between Sinkat & Erkowit & Katai Geraite); Around Kassala & Gedaref routes; From Khartoum to Upper Nile Prov.; Blue Nile Prov. (Wad Medani to Sennar); Kordofan & Darfur Provinces.
This tree, which grows gregariously, forms often most impenetrable thorny thickets. The fibre from the liber is largely used in making sacks to hold gum.
=A. læta= _R. Br._
Small tree; prickles short, black, shining. Pinnæ 2-3 pairs; leaflets 3-5 pairs, oblanceolate, oblong. Spikes axillary, solitary or fascicled. Pod 2-3 in. long, flat, oblong, often once or twice constricted, coriaceous.
Red Sea Prov. (J. Waratab, near Suakin); Fung Prov.; White Nile Prov. (Nyemati); Kordofan Prov.
=A. albida= _Del._ HARAZ—Arab; SIRTU (J. Daier), NAGAN (Tagele), URĀD (Dilling & J. Ghulfan) & FORWEK (Kadugli)—Nuba.
The largest of Sudan Acacias; branches whitish; spines short, straight. Flowers white, in spikes, which are axillary, solitary or in pairs. Pinnæ 4-6 pairs, with a gland between each pair; leaflets 7-17 pairs, oblong. Pod 2-5 in. long, flat, curved, often sinuous.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit); From Dongola to Bahr El Ghazal Prov.; Blue Nile, Kordofan, Darfur & Mongalla Provinces.
Wood white, liable to attacks of insects, used for boat-building. Pod fleshy, somewhat twisted, called KHARUMA by Arabs, good cattle fodder.
=A. Suma= _Kurz._ KAKAMŪT & SINEIN—Arab; PANKAJA (Dilling)—Nuba; FIIT (Renk) & PAIT (Kaka)—Dinka; ODU—Hameg; NIARUD—Shilluk; NGWER—Nuer; VURRA—Zande.
Small to moderate-sized tree with dark, fissured bark. Prickles broad- based, sharply recurved. Pinnæ 10-30 pairs, with a gland at the base of each pair and another below the first pair; leaflets 30-50 pairs. Flowers in pale-yellow spikes. Pods 3-4 in. long, crustaceous, brown when ripe.
Fung, White Nile & Kordofan Provinces; Upper White Nile Prov. (Sobat River); Bahr El Ghazal Prov.; Mongalla Prov.
Usually in more or less wet ground. Timber dark coloured, strong, used in making ploughs. The wood probably yields a Catechu.
=A. hecatophylla= _Steud._
Tree, branches hoary-tomentose; prickles short, recurved. Pinnæ 10-30 pairs; leaflets 30-50 pairs, larger than in _A. Suma_, Kurz, oblong, obtuse. Flowering spikes white, solitary or fascicled. Pod oblong, obtuse, coriaceous, 7 in. long.
Bahr El Jebel (Madi).
=A. ataxacantha= _DC._
Small tree or shrub, with short, decurved, scattered prickles. Leaf- rachis with a raised gland near the base; pinnæ 7-15 pairs; leaflets 20-40 pairs, linear-subfalcate. Flower spikes dense, white, solitary or in pairs, axillary. Pod broad-linear, flat, papery.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Sabbi); Darfur Prov. (Kulme).
=A. macrostachya= _Reichenb._