Vachellia farnesiana
Sweet acacia ( Vachellia farnesiana )
The Sweet acacia ( Vachellia farnesiana (L.) Wight & Arn, Syn: .. Farnesiana L. Mimosa, Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd, Acacia minuta ( MEJones ) RMBeauch, Acacia pinetorum FJHerm, Acacia smallii. . Isely, Pithecellobium minutum MEJones, Vachellia densiflora Alexander ex Small, called Vachellia peninsularis Small) also Cassia Antilles acacia or sponge tree, is a species of the genus Vachellia in the subfamily of the mimosa family ( Mimosoideae ) within the legume family ( Fabaceae ). This type probably originates from the Neotropics, but is now found in all tropical regions of the world with dry air.
Description
The Sweet acacia grows as a shrub or small tree, reaching occasionally as stature heights of 2 to 3 meters. Its wood is hard, fine-pored and brownish- red to yellow. They are highly branched. The bark of the branches is hairless or nearly hairless. The stipules are modified into 1-5 cm long spines that are quite conspicuous by their white coloration. On the short petiole is a small gland. The small leaves are doppeltgefiedert. The two to six pairs of pinnae first order each consisting of 10 to 25 leaflets pair of second order. The leaflets are linear or linear -oblong with blunt upper end at a length of 3 to 5 mm. They are finely hairy or hairless, the prime rib is located almost centrally.
In the axils stand together several bündelig, on slender, hairy and 2 to 4 cm long Blütenstandsschäften the dense capitula -shaped buds. The hermaphroditic, fragrant flowers measure about 1 cm in diameter and are yellow with a double perianth. The sepals are fused bell-shaped and 1.5 to 1.8 mm long. The crown is about 2.5 mm long.
The two-chamber, dark rust-brown, hairless legume appear swollen and may be straight or curved. Its length is between 4 and 7 cm, the width is 1 cm or more. It is filled with a sweet " flesh ". The many seeds are in two rows in the fruit.
Dissemination
The Sweet acacia is native in tropical America and grows in the southern United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize to San Salvador and Panama, as well as the West Indies and in South America. In many parts of the Old World, it is a neophyte.
Use
The tannic fruit and bark are often used as a coloring agent; the fruits are often used for the production of ink. From the milky juice is an adhesive can be produced. Especially in France, the trees are cultivated to produce from the flowers of a raw material for perfume production, which is known as Cassia.
Swell
- Paul C. Standley, Julian A. Steyermark: Acacia. In: . Flora of Guatemala, Fieldiana Botany, Volume 24, Part V, 1946, pages 3-15.
- Description in the Flora of Pakistan. (English )