Acacia
Acacia
Acacia
tropical to warm-temperate regions of both hemispheres, including Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and the Americas.
Classification
Acacia greggii
Scientific classification Kingdom: Division: Class: Order: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Plantae Magnoliophyta Magnoliopsida Fabales Fabaceae Mimosoideae Acacieae Acacia
Miller
Acacia berlandieri
Acacia (pronounced /ke/)is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus in 1773. The plants tend to be thorny and pod-bearing. The name derives from (akis) which is Greek for a sharp point, due to the thorns in the type-species Acacia nilotica ("Nile Acacia") from Egypt. [1] Acacias are also known as thorntrees or wattles, including the yellow-fever acacia and umbrella acacias. There are roughly 1300 species of Acacia worldwide, about 960 of them native to Australia, with the remainder spread around the
Acacia pycnantha
Acacia
Geography
Acacia retinodes
Acacia smallii The southernmost species in the genus are Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle), Acacia longifolia (Coast Wattle or Sydney Golden Wattle), Acacia mearnsii (Black Wattle), and Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood), reaching 4330 S in Tasmania, Australia, while Acacia caven (Espinillo Negro) reaches nearly as far south in northeastern Chubut Province of Argentina. Australian species are usually called wattles, while African and American species tend to be known as acacias. Acacia albida, Acacia tortilis and Acacia iraqensis can be found growing wild in the Sinai desert and the Jordan valley. It is found in the savanna vegetation of the tropical continental climate.
Acacia dealbata and the leaf-stalks (petioles) become vertically flattened, and serve the purpose of leaves. These are known as phyllodes. The vertical orientation of the phyllodes protects them from intense sunlight, as with their edges towards the sky and earth they do not intercept light so fully as horizontally placed leaves. A few species (such as Acacia glaucoptera) lack leaves or phyllodes altogether, but possess instead cladodes, modified leaflike photosynthetic stems functioning as leaves. The small flowers have five very small petals, almost hidden by the long stamens, and are arranged in dense globular or cylindrical clusters; they are yellow or creamcolored in most species, whitish in some, even purple (Acacia purpureapetala) or red (Acacia leprosa Scarlet Blaze). Acacia flowers can be distinguished from those of a large related genus, Albizia, by their stamens which are not joined at the base. Also, unlike individual Mimosa flowers, those of Acacia have more than 10 stamens.[2].
Description
The leaves of acacias are compound pinnate in general. In some species, however, more especially in the Australian and Pacific islands species, the leaflets are suppressed,
Acacia
Symbiosis
Acacia tree near the end of its range in the Negev Desert of southern Israel. malabaricus and Turnip Moth. The leaf-mining larvae of some bucculatricid moths also feed on Acacia: Bucculatrix agilis feeds exclusively on Acacia horrida and Bucculatrix flexuosa feeds exclusively on Acacia nilotica. Acacias contain a number of organic compounds that defend them from pests and grazing animals.[4]
Acacia collinsii Thorns In the Central American Acacia sphaerocephala, Acacia cornigera, and Acacia collinsii (collectively known as the bullthorn acacias), the large thorn-like stipules are hollow and afford shelter for ants, which feed on a secretion of sap on the leaf-stalk and small, lipidrich food-bodies at the tips of the leaflets called Beltian bodies; in return they add protection to the plant against herbivores.[3] Some species of ants will also fight off competing plants around the acacia, cutting off the offending plants leaves with their jaws and ultimately killing it, while other ant species will do nothing to benefit their host. Similar mutualisms occur on Acacia trees in Africa. The Acacias provide nectar in extrafloral nectaries for their symbiotic ants. The ants protect the plant by attacking large mammalian herbivores and stem-boring beetles that damage the plant.
Uses
Food uses
Acacia seeds are often used for food and a variety of other products. In Burma, Laos and Thailand, the feathery shoots of Acacia pennata (common name chaom, ???? and su pout ywet in Burmese) are used in soups, curries, omelettes, and stirfries. Honey made by bees using the acacia flower as forage is considered a delicacy, appreciated for its mild flowery taste, soft running texture and glass-like appearance. Acacia honey is one of the few honeys which does not crystallize.[5] In Mexico the seeds are known as Guajes: Guajes or huajes are the flat, green pods of an acacia tree. The pods are sometimes light green or deep red in colorboth taste the same. Guaje seeds are about the size of a small lima bean and are eaten raw with guacamole, sometimes cooked and made into a sauce. They can also be made into fritters. The ground seeds are used to impart a slightly garlicy flavor to a mole called guaxmole (huaxmole). The dried seeds may be toasted and salted and eaten as a snack referred to as "cacalas". Purchase whole long
Pests
In Australia, Acacia species are sometimes used as food plants by the larvae of hepialid moths of the genus Aenetus including A. ligniveren. These burrow horizontally into the trunk then vertically down. Other Lepidoptera larvae which have been recorded feeding on Acacia include Brown-tail, Endoclita
Acacia
famous in Africa, the Acacia Tree. The Acacia tree is famous for its marvelous leaves.
Ornamental uses
A few species are widely grown as ornamentals in gardens; the most popular perhaps is Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle), with its attractive glaucous to silvery leaves and bright yellow flowers; it is erroneously known as "mimosa" in some areas where it is cultivated, through confusion with the related genus Mimosa. Another ornamental acacia is Acacia xanthophloea (Fever Tree). Southern European florists use Acacia baileyana, Acacia dealbata, Acacia pycnantha and Acacia retinodes as cut flowers and the common name there for them is mimosa.[9] Ornamental species of acacia are also used by homeowners and landscape architects for home security. The sharp thorns of some species deter unauthorized persons from entering private properties, and may prevent break-ins if planted under windows and near drainpipes. The aesthetic characteristics of acacia plants, in conjunction with their home security qualities, makes them a considerable alternative to artificial fences and walls.
Gum
Various species of acacia yield gum. True gum arabic is the product of Acacia senegal, abundant in dry tropical West Africa from Senegal to northern Nigeria. Acacia arabica is the gum-Arabic tree of India, but yields a gum inferior to the true gum-Arabic.
Acacia covenyi
Paints
The ancient Egyptians used Acacia in paints and stuff.[10]
Medicinal uses
Many Acacia species have important uses in traditional medicine. Most all of the uses have been shown to have a scientific basis, since chemical compounds found in the various species have medicinal effects. In Ayurvedic medicine, Acacia nilotica is considered a remedy that is helpful for treating premature ejaculation. A 19th century Ethiopian medical text describes a potion made from an Ethiopian species of Acacia (known as grar) mixed with the root of the tacha, then boiled, as a cure for rabies.[7] An astringent medicine, called catechu or cutch, is procured from several species, but more especially from Acacia catechu, by boiling down the wood and evaporating the solution so as to get an extract.[8]
Perfume
Acacia farnesiana Acacia farnesiana is used in the perfume industry due to its strong fragrance. The use of Acacia as a fragrance dates back centuries.
Dietary consumption
The most well known visitor to the Acacia is the known giraffe. Giraffes eat the most
Acacia
23%[15]
In the Bible, burning of acacia wood as a form of incense is mentioned several times.
Tannin
A bottle of tannic acid. The bark of various Australian species, known as wattles, is very rich in tannin and forms an important article of export; important species include Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle), Acacia decurrens (Tan Wattle), Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle) and Acacia mearnsii (Black Wattle). *Inner bark
Acacia
1025[18]
Wood
wood is used for furniture, and takes a high polish; and Acacia omalophylla (Myall Wood, also Australian), which yields a fragrant timber used for ornaments. Acacia seyal is thought to be the Shittah-tree of the Bible, which supplied shittim-wood. According to the Book of Exodus, this was used in the construction of the Ark of the Covenant. Acacia koa from the Hawaiian Islands and Acacia heterophylla from Runion island are both excellent timber trees. Depending on abundance and regional culture, some Acacia species (eg. Acacia fumosa), are traditionally used locally as firewoods.[16]
Acacia koa Wood Some Acacia species are valuable as timber, such as Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood) from Australia, which attains a great size; its
Acacia
In Indonesia (mainly in Sumatra) and in Malaysia (mainly in Sarawak) plantations of Acacia mangium are being established to supply pulpwood to the paper industry.
Phytochemistry of Acacia
Alkaloids
Cyanogenic glycosides
Nineteen different species of Acacia in the Americas contain cyanogenic glycosides, which, if exposed to an enzyme which specifically splits glycosides, can release hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in the acacia "leaves."[60] This sometimes results in the poisoning death of livestock. If fresh plant material spontaneously produces 200 ppm or more HCN, then it is potentially toxic. This corresponds to about 7.5 mol HCN per gram of fresh plant material. It turns out that, if acacia "leaves" lack the specific glycoside-splitting enzyme, then they may be less toxic than otherwise, even those containing significant quantities of cyanic glycosides.[31] Some Acacia species containing cyanogens: Acacia erioloba Acacia cunninghamii Acacia obtusifolia Acacia sieberiana Acacia sieberiana var. woodii[61]
Egyptian goddess Isis As mentioned previously, Acacias contain a number of organic compounds that defend them from pests and grazing animals.[4] Many of these compounds are psychoactive in humans. The alkaloids found in Acacias include dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxydimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) and Nmethyltryptamine (NMT). The plant leaves, stems and/or roots are sometimes made into a brew together with some MAOI-containing plant and consumed orally for healing, ceremonial or religious uses. Egyptian mythology has associated the acacia tree with characteristics of the tree of life (see the article on the Myth of Osiris and Isis). List of acacia species having little or no alkaloids in the material sampled:[31] 0% C Alkaloids [%] 0.02%, C...Concentration of
Species
There are over 1,300 species of Acacia. See List of Acacia species for a more complete listing.
Famous acacia
Perhaps the most famous acacia is the Arbre du Tnr in Niger. The reason for the trees fame is that it used to be the most isolated tree in the world, approximately 400 km from
Acacia
Acacia alpina Ash used in Pituri.[23] Ether extracts about 2-6% of the dried leaf mass.[24] Not known if psychoactive per se.
Acacia
Acacia caven Acacia chundra DMT and other tryptamines in leaf, bark Acacia colei Acacia complanata DMT[35] 0.3% alkaloids in leaf and stem, almost all N-methyl-tetrahydroharman, with traces of tetrahydroharman, some of tryptamine[36][37][38] Nicotine[39]
Acacia concinna
Acacia
DMT & NMT in leaf, stem & bark 0.04% NMT and 0.02% DMT in stem. [22] Also N,N-dimethyltryptamine N-oxide[40]
Acacia constricta Acacia coriacea Ash used in Pituri.[23][41] Not known if psychoactive. Psychoactive,[41] Tryptamines[11]
Acacia cornigera Tryptamine, in the leaf, stem[22] and seeds.[28] Phenethylamine in leaf and seeds[28]
Acacia delibrata Psychoactive[32] Psychoactive,[32] but less than 0.02% alkaloids[31] Traces of 5-MeO-DMT[42] in fruit. -methyl-phenethylamine, flower.[43] Ether extracts about 2-6% of the dried leaf mass.[24] Alkaloids are present in the bark[44] and leaves.[45] Amphetamines and mescaline also found in tree.[11] Acacia farnesiana Acacia filiciana Added to Pulque, but not known if psychoactive[41] Acacia floribunda Tryptamine, phenethylamine,[46] in flowers[28] other tryptamines,[47] phenethylamines[48]
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Acacia
Acacia greggii Acacia harpophylla Acacia holoserica Phenethylamine, hordenine at a ratio of 2:3 in dried leaves, 0.6% total[21] Hordenine, 1.2% in bark[21] Psychoactive[41]
Acacia karroo Acacia kempeana Acacia kettlewelliae Acacia laeta Used in Pituri, but not known if psychoactive.[41] 1.5[21]-1.88%[50] alkaloids, 92% consisting of phenylethylamine.[21] 0.9% Nmethyl-2phenylethylamine found a different time.[21] DMT, in the leaf[22] 0.2% tryptamine in bark, leaves, some in flowers, phenylethylamine in flowers,[46] 0.2% DMT in plant.[51] Histamine alkaloids.[31]
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Acacia
Tryptamine[28] 0.6% NMT and DMT in about a 2:3 ratio in the stem bark, both present in leaves[22]
Acacia mangium DMT, in the bark and leaf,[52] but less than 0.02% total alkaloids[31]
Acacia nilotica
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Acacia
Tryptamine,[47] DMT, NMT, other tryptamines,[53] 0.4-0.5% in dried bark, 0.07% in branch tips.[54] Less than 0.1% DMT in leaf,[30][55] NMT Psychoactive[32] 0.3% DMT in leaf, NMT[22]
Acacia phlebophylla Tryptamine in the leaf,[22] 0.5% to 2% DMT in fresh bark, phenethylamine, trace amounts[46]
Acacia polyacantha Acacia Less than 0.2% DMT in leaf, NMT; DMT and other tryptamines in leaf, polyacantha bark[56] ssp. campylacantha Acacia prominens Acacia pruinocarpa Phenylethylamine, -methyl-phenethylamine[21][46] Ash used in Pituri.[23][41] Not known if psychoactive. Ash used in Pituri,[41] but less than 0.02% total alkaloids.[31] Not known if psychoactive.
Acacia pycnantha
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Acacia
DMT, NMT,[57] nicotine,[11] but less than 0.02% total alkaloids found[31]
Acacia retinodes DMT, NMT, tryptamine, amphetamines, mescaline, nicotine and others [58]
Acacia salicina Acacia sassa Psychoactive[41] -methyl-phenethylamine, Phenethylamine[4] Amphetamines and mescaline also found.[11]
Acacia schaffneri Acacia schottii -methyl-phenethylamine[25] Less than 0.1% DMT in leaf,[22] NMT, other tryptamines. DMT in plant,[43] DMT in bark.[28]
Acacia senegal
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Acacia
DMT, in the leaf.[22] Ether extracts about 1-7% of the dried leaf mass.[24]
Acacia sieberiana DMT and NMT, in the leaf, stem and trunk bark, 0.81% DMT in bark, MMT[22][59]
Acacia simplex Acacia taxensis -methyl-phenethylamine[25] DMT, NMT, and other tryptamines[53]
Acacia tortilis Acacia vestita Tryptamine, in the leaf and stem,[22] but less than 0.02% total alkaloids[31] Acacia victoriae Tryptamines,[47] 5-MeO-alkyltryptamine[28] any other tree. The tree was knocked down by a truck driver in 1973.
Identification gallery
Flowers
Acacia confusa
Acacia baileyana
Acacia erio- Acacia fimloba Sossus- briata Australian Navlei, tional Namibia
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Acacia
Acacia heterophylla
Acacia longifolia
Acacia penAcacia tetra- nata in gonophylla Talakona Geelong Botan- forest, in ic Gardens, Chittoor Victoria, District of Australia Andhra Pradesh, India
Bark
Acacia dealbata Acacia confusa Bark, Hawaii, USA Acacia Acacia gregestrophiolata gii Bark Bark Acacia decurrens
Acacia erioloba
Acacia Acacia heterophylla pennata Bark trunk in Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India.
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Acacia
Foliage
Acacia Acacia karroo leprosa Acacia penFoliage Foliage nata in Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India.
Seed pods
Acacia cyclops
Acacia decurrens
Acacia aneura
Acacia constricta
Acacia greggii
Acacia longifolia
Acacia mearnsii
Acacia melanoxylon
Acacia pycnantha
Acacia rigidula
Acacia tortuosa
Acacia dealbata
Thorns
Acacia Acacia heterophylla melanoxylon Acacia cornigera Acacia horrida Acacia collinsii
Seeds
Acacia catechu Acacia Acacia baileyana berlandieri Acacia dealbata Acacia confusa Acacia constricta Acacia farnesiana
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Acacia
[2] Singh, Gurcharan (2004). Plant Systematics: An Integrated Approach. Science Publishers. pp. 445. ISBN 1578083516. http://books.google.com/ books?id=In_Lv8iMt24C. [3] "Evolutionary change from induced to constitutive expression of an indirect plant resistance : Abstract : Nature". www.nature.com. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/ v430/n6996/abs/nature02703.html. Retrieved on 2008-04-20. [4] ^ Chemistry of Acacias from South Texas [5] "Seggiano Honeys". www.seggiano.co.uk. http://seggiano.co.uk/products/10honey/ honey.html. Retrieved on 2008-05-05. [6] [1] [7] Richard Pankhurst, An Introduction to the Medical History of Ethiopia (Trenton: Red Sea Press, 1990), p. 97 [8] An OCRd version of the US Dispensatory by Remington and Wood, 1918. [9] World Wide Wattle [10] Excerpt from A Consumers Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients: Fifth Edition (Paperback) Amazon.com [11] ^ Naturheilpraxis Fachforum (German) [12] Eastons Bible Dictionary: Bush [13] ^ Purdue University [14] ^ Google Books Select Extra-tropical Plants Readily Eligible for Industrial Culture Or Naturalization By Ferdinand von Mueller [15] ^ Plants for a Future Database [16] Maugh, T.H.II. (2009-04-24). "New species of tree identified in Ethiopia". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/ nationworld/nation/la-scitree25-2009apr25,0,402549.story. Retrieved on 2008-04-24. [17] Aussie Fantom [18] ^ The timber properties of Acacia species and their uses [19] ^ FAO [20] Lycaeum [21] ^ Fitzgerald, J.S. Alkaloids of the Australian Legumuminosae -- The Occurrence of Phenylethylame Derivatives in Acacia Species, Aust. J . Chem., 1964, 17, 160-2. [22] ^ Shaman Australis [23] ^ Duboisia hopwoodii - Pituri Bush Solanaceae - Central America
Tree
Acacia aneura Acacia berlandieri Acacia confusa
Acacia constricta
Acacia dealbata
Acacia heterophylla
Acacia koa
Acacia leprosa
Wood
Acacia koa
Acacia schaffneri
Acacia heterophylla
See also
List of Acacia species Plant defense against herbivory Psychedelic plants
Notes
[1] http://allafrica.com/stories/ 200712130315.html. Accessed 9/16/2008
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Acacia
[24] ^ Wattle Seed Workshop Proceedings 12 [44] www.bpi.da.gov.ph March 2002, Canberra March 2003 [45] Purdue University RIRDC Publication No 03/024, RIRDC [46] ^ Hegnauer, Robert (1994). Project No WS012-06 Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen. Springer. [25] ^ Glasby, John Stephen (1991). pp. 500. ISBN 3764329793. Dictionary of Plants Containing http://books.google.com/ Secondary Metabolites. CRC Press. books?id=9fDv1RYqIRkC&dq=chemotaxonomie+der pp. 2. ISBN 0850664233. [47] ^ www.bluelight.ru http://books.google.com/ [48] Lycaeum (Acacia floribunda) books?id=te53VV5u8YMC&pg=RA1-PA2&ots=e5Swnj0FN9&dq=acacia+alkaloids&sig=ph1WfGlPnw [49] wiki.magiskamolekyler.org (Swedish) [26] English Title: Nutritive value assessment [50] Acacia kettlewelliae of the tropical shrub legume Acacia [51] Lycaeum Acacia longifolia angustissima: anti-nutritional compounds [52] extentech.sheetster.com and in vitro digestibility. Personal [53] ^ wiki.magiskamolekyler.org (Swedish) Authors: McSweeney, C. S., Krause, D. [54] Acacia obtusifolia Phytochemical Studies O., Palmer, B., Gough, J., Conlan, L. L., [55] Plants Containing DMT (German) Hegarty, M. P. Author Affiliation: CSIRO [56] Hortipedia Livestock Industries, Long Pocket [57] Pflanzentabelle APB (German) Laboratories, 120 Meiers Road, [58] Magiska Molekylers wiki Indooroopilly, Qld 4068, Australia. [59] Arbeitsstelle fr praktische Biologie Document Title: Animal Feed Science (APB) and Technology, 2005 (Vol. 121) (No. [60] Cyanogenic Glycosides in Ant-Acacias of 1/2) 175-190 Mexico and Central America David S. [27] Maya Ethnobotanicals Seigler, John E. Ebinger The [28] ^ Acacia (Polish) Southwestern Naturalist, Vol. 32, No. 4 [29] Lycaeum (December 9, 1987), pp. 499-503 [30] ^ www.serendipity.com doi:10.2307/3671484 [31] ^ Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen By [61] FAO Kamal M. Ibrahim, The current Robert Hegnauer state of knowledge on Prosopis juliflora... [32] ^ www.bushfood.net [33] Ask Dr. Shulgin Online: Acacias and Natural Amphetamine Clement, B.A., Goff, C.M., Forbes, T.D.A. [34] Sacred Elixirs Toxic Amines and Alkaloids from Acacia [35] www.abc.net.au rigidula, Phytochem. 1998, 49(5), 1377. [36] Acacia Complanata Phytochemical Shulgin, Alexander and Ann, TiHKAL the Studies Continuation. Transform Press, 1997. [37] Lycaeum -- Acacias and Entheogens ISBN 0-9630096-9-9 [38] Lycaeum [39] SBEPL [40] NMR spectral assignments of a new chlorotryptamine alkaloid and its World Wide Wattle analogues from Acacia confusa Malcolm Acacia-world S. Buchanan, Anthony R. Carroll, David Waynes Word on "The Unforgettable Pass, Ronald J. Quinn Magnetic Acacias" Resonance in Chemistry Volume 45, The genus Acacia and Entheogenic Issue 4 , Pages359 - 361. John Wiley & Tryptamines, with reference to Australian Sons, Ltd. and related species, by mulga [41] ^ Index of Rtsch, Christian. A description of Acacia from Pomets 1709 Enzyklopdie der psychoaktiven reference book, History of Druggs Pflanzen, Botanik, Ethnopharmakologie www.serendipity.com und Anwendungen, 7. Auflage. AT Dr. Dukes Phytochemical and Verlag, 2004, 941 Seiten. ISBN Ethnobotanical Databases 3855025703 at [2] Flora identification tools from the State [42] Lycaeum Herbarium of South Australia [43] ^ Dr. Dukes Phytochemical and Tannins in Some Interrelated Wattles Ethnobotanical Databases
General references
External links
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Acacia
Vet. Path. ResultsAFIP Wednesday Slide Conference - No. 21 February 24, 1999 Acacia cyanophylla lindl as supplementary feed/for small stock in Libya Description of Acacia Morphology Nitrogen Fixaton in Acacias Acacias with Cyagenic Compounds Acacia Alarm System
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