Senegalia senegal
Senegalia senegal, commonly known as gum arabic tree, is a vital medicinal and economic plant native to arid African regions. Renowned for its drought resistance, it produces valuable exudates used in diverse industries. Traditionally, its bark and pods are utilized in herbal remedies to treat inflammation and digestive issues.
- Scientific name: Senegalia senegal
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, it is a member of the Fabaceae family. Its taxonomic identity is further defined by its placement within the genus Senegalia, specifically the species Senegalia senegal.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Senegalia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Senegalia senegal, is recognized by various common names depending on the linguistic context. In Chinese, it is referred to as 海滨合欢 (zh) or 阿拉伯胶树 (zh), with the simplified form 阿拉伯胶树 (zh-cn) and the traditional form 阿拉伯膠樹 (zh-tw) being used to denote its significance in producing gum arabic.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 阿拉伯胶树 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 阿拉伯胶树 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 阿拉伯膠樹 | Wikidata |
| zh | 海滨合欢 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its presence can be documented within the borders of Benin. It is also found throughout various parts of Burkina Faso. Furthermore, the species grows in the territories of Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its geographical range extends into the Ivory Coast.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Niger | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Senegalia senegal, is highly valued for its various therapeutic components, particularly its unique exudates and dried leaves. The gum exudates, commonly known as gum Arabic, are harvested from the bark of the tree and are widely utilized in both medicinal and industrial applications due to their stabilizing properties. Additionally, the dried leaves are frequently employed in traditional medicine, where they are prepared for decoctions or infusions to treat various ailments.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| exudates | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dried leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Senegalia senegal has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |