Classification of the genus Acacia (in the wider sense) has been subject to considerable debate. It is generally agreed that there are valid reasons for breaking it up into several distinct genera, but there has been disagreement over the way this should be done. As of 2017, it is widely (but not completely) accepted that the section that includes the majority of the Australian species should retain the name Acacia, whilst other sections of the genus should be transferred to other genera. This species is transferred to Senegalia[].

Common Name:

General Information

Senegalia galpinii is a deciduous tree with a spreading crown that can grow from 8 - 30 metres or more tall. The bole, which is usually straight and branches from quite high up, is up to 60cm in diameter, occasionally to 150cm[, ]. The branchlets are glabrous to shortly hairy, with pairs of hooked, blackish prickles up to 1cm long just below the nodes[].
Acacia galpinii is cultivated as a timber crop in southern Africa, and is occasionally planted as ornamental or roadside tree.[, ]

Known Hazards

Especially in times of drought, many Acacia species can concentrate high levels of the toxin Hydrogen cyanide in their foliage, making them dangerous for herbivores to eat.

Botanical References

Range

Southern and eastern Africa - Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe.

Habitat

Riverine woodland, but it can also be found scattered on termite mounts and in open woodland, at elevations from 350 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Wasps
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Older trees can tolerate some frost, though harsher frosts can cause die-back[, ].
Requires a sunny position[]. The plant is most common on loamy or clayey soils in the wild[, ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Young trees grow fast. In Zimbabwe the average heights of planted trees under conditions of frequent drought were 3 metres after 3 years and 5 metres after 9 years, with average bole diameters of 10cm after 3 years and 16cm after 9 years[]. In 2 locations in Madagascar, at 770 metres elevation with a mean temperature of 21°c and an annual rainfall of 1,150 mm, and at 100 metres elevation with a mean temperature of 27°c and an annual rainfall of 1,600 mm, 35-years-old planted trees had a mean bole diameter of 26cm and 32cm, respectively (maximum 74 cm), and a mean height of 25 metres (maximum 30 metres)[].
Trees coppice well, especially when young[].
The tree is comparatively long-lived[].
The root system is fairly extensive and so the tree should not be planted too close to buildings[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark of all Acacia species contains greater or lesser quantities of tannins and are astringent. Astringents are often used medicinally - taken internally, for example. they are used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery, and can also be helpful in cases of internal bleeding. Applied externally, often as a wash, they are used to treat wounds and other skin problems, haemorrhoids, perspiring feet, some eye problems, as a mouth wash etc[, ].
Many Acacia trees also yield greater or lesser quantities of a gum from the trunk and stems. This is sometimes taken internally in the treatment of diarrhoea and haemorrhoids[].

Agroforestry Uses:

When in leaf the tree provides dappled shade allowing some sunlight to penetrate[].
The tree can be used as a pioneer species to establish woodland in areas with a habitat similar to its native range[].
The tree is seen as an indicator of good grassland that retains its nutritional value in the cool season[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is reddish brown to dark brown and distinctly demarcated from the creamy sapwood. The grain is often irregular, texture moderately coarse. Although the wood is tough and resilient, it works well with sharp tools, but sawing requires considerable strength. A good finish can be obtained with waxes and oil. The wood has good natural durability, being fairly resistant to decay and termite attack, but the sapwood is susceptible to attack by Lyctus borers and blue stain fungi[]. It is used for interior and exterior joinery, fences, wagons, railway sleepers and as mining timber. It is suitable for flooring, shipbuilding, sporting goods and implements[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.

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