Acacia sieberiana (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
| Acacia sieberiana (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Acacia sieberiana (Fabaceae, indigenous)
habit
branch
flowers, fruits
fruits
Common names
- Guragigna: Deweni‑guna
- Oromugna: Burquqe, Gurha, Lafto, Lafto-adi
- Somaligna: Jerin, Cherin
- Tigrigna: Nefacia, Tseada-chea
- Wolaytgna: Gara, Pulliesa
Ecology
A large tree widespread in Africa with several varieties, usually found in deciduous woodlands and along margins of rivers. In Ethiopia, it is mainly found in Moist, Dry and Wet Weyna Dega and Dry and Moist Kolla agroclimatic zones of Tigray, Gonder, western Welo, Shoa, Wolega, Ilubabor, Kefa and Sidamo regions, 500–2,200 m.
Uses
Firewood, charcoal, timber (local construction), medicine (bark, roots), fodder (leaves, fruit), tool handles, fences (cut branches), gum.
Description
A tree up to 18 m, sometimes with a wide bole, the crown a shady spreading umbrella.
- BARK: Grey-brown, rough or papery; younger branches yellow-brown, flaking or densely covered with pale hairs.
- THORNS: Grey-white, straight to 9 cm, sometimes absent on parts of the tree.
- LEAVES: Hairy or not, 8–35 pairs of pinnae on a stalk to 13 cm, leaflets tiny.
- FLOWERS: Creamwhite in round heads, about 1 cm across, fragrant, hairy or not.
- FRUIT: Large and woody, to 21 x 3 cm, slightly curved. The shiny brown pods dry out and break open on the ground to set free hard flat seeds about 1 cm long.
Propagation
Seedlings.
Seed
About 3,250 seed per kg.
- Treatment: Soak the seed in warm water for 3-4 hours afetr pouring hot water for one minute.
- Storage: Can be stored.
Management
Lopping, pollarding, coppicing.
Remarks
Two varieties are recognized in Ethiopia. The wood is liable to borer attack but used to make farm tools and mills and presses. The gum is clear and of a good quality. The foliage and fruit are good fodder.
