Senegalia senegal aka Senegal Gum

Senegalia senegal is a thorny shrub or small tree. It belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. Its home range runs from tropical and southern Africa to India. It is native to the Arabian Peninsula too. Gum arabic tree and Sudan gum arabic are common names. Acacia senegal is an older name for the same species. It grows in dry scrub and grassland with scattered trees.

This plant grows slowly and sheds its leaves. Its crown has a round shape. A listed height is about 20 feet [6 metres]. Larger trees can reach about 49 feet [15 metres]. The short trunk has branches close to the ground. Short black prickles often grow in groups of three. The middle one bends down. Bees and other insects carry pollen between the flowers. The source text gives no flower colour or bloom season. It gives no detailed account of the fruit either.

This tree suits hot, dry tropical sites, but frost harms it. One source gives about 15°C as the lowest heat it tolerates. Once settled, plants cope with long droughts and high daytime heat. They do best with about 300–400 millimetres of rain each year. They can live with just 100 millimetres and long dry spells. Moist soil that drains well gives the best growth. Neutral to acid soil suits it. Reports give a pH range of 5–8 that it tolerates. Poor soil can help boost gum yields. Plants cope with coppicing, or cutting stems to the ground. They also cope with pollarding, which cuts back upper branches.

The trunk yields gum arabic for food and other goods. Food makers use it to blend ingredients and keep mixes stable. It helps slow the growth of sugar crystals in sweets. People cook the dried seeds for their protein. In folk medicine, people use gum to soothe sore tissues. Uses on record include treating sore throats and coughs. These uses do not prove that the treatments work. The evidence gives no firm toxicity rating for this species.

People grow this tree with crops to protect and improve soil. They also use its gum in inks, printing and fabric work. Root fibres make strong rope and material for fishing nets. Seed oil goes into soap, and seeds supply dye. Growers raise plants from seed or semi-ripe side shoots. Soaking seeds in warm water for a day can help them sprout. Deep pots give the taproot room to grow. Young plants dislike having their roots disturbed. Planting them early helps avoid this. The source text names no specific pest or disease problems.