shittimwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• shittimwood
• talh
• thirtythorn
• whistlingtree
• Thirsty Thorn

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acacia seyal

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, it is specifically situated in the family Fabaceae. Its taxonomic identity is further refined within the genus Vachellia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical range spanning across several distinct regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented within the territories of Algeria and Egypt. Moving toward the western part of the continent, it is found throughout West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its distribution includes the nations of Benin and Burkina Faso. Additionally, the plant can be located within the borders of the Gambia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Vachellia seyal is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground, a structural adaptation that defines its primary life form. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout much of its life cycle rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vachellia seyal is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, functioning as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or vine. It is an independent organism, neither a parasite nor an epiphyte, and maintains a strictly terrestrial habitat. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, reaching a mean height of approximately 10 m, with maximum recorded heights extending up to 12.19214826 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12.19214826 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vachellia seyal is characterized by a specific metabolic framework designed to optimize energy production and nutrient acquisition within its ecological niche. This species utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process where carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the Calvin cycle, which is typical for many woody perennial plants in temperate and subtropical environments. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a specialized capacity for nutrient cycling as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it possesses the physiological mechanisms necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, thereby enhancing its growth and survival in nitrogen-limited soils.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vachellia seyal is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, relying on living organisms to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Specifically, the plant utilizes insect-mediated pollination, with bees playing a significant role in this biological process. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds that exhibit notable variability in size. The seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.02329 g to a maximum of 0.06553 g, with the average seed mass recorded at 0.039571 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.06553 g

Seed mass mean:

0.039571 g

Seed mass min:

0.02329 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vachellia seyal has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed.

Leaf

1. Fitoterapia

Seed

1. Bioresources and bioprocessing

Chemicals

Vachellia seyal has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CADMIUM, CAMPESTEROL, CATECHIN, Clionasterol, Epicatechin.

CADMIUM

1. Biological trace element research

CAMPESTEROL

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CATECHIN

1. Bioresources and bioprocessing

Clionasterol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Epicatechin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Fitoterapia

Gallic acid

1. Bioresources and bioprocessing

Lupeol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

MANGANESE

1. Biological trace element research

METHYL GALLATE

1. Bioresources and bioprocessing

Activities

Vachellia seyal has 5 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antineoplastic, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Bioresources and bioprocessing

Antimicrobial

1. Bioresources and bioprocessing

Antineoplastic

1. Bioresources and bioprocessing

Antioxidant

1. Bioresources and bioprocessing

Preparations

Vachellia seyal has 7 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Water extract of Acacia seyal bark, honey, honeys, leaf methanolic extracts, methanol crude extract.

Water extract of acacia seyal bark

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Honey

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Honeys

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Leaf methanolic extracts

1. Fitoterapia

Methanol crude extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanolic crude extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Water and methanolic extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)