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 ferruginea is a spiny, deciduous tree; it usually grows up to 12 metres tall. The bole is rarely straight for more than 2 - 3 metres, it can reach 50cm in diameter but is more commonly around 35cm. The slender branches are armed with conical spines; the bole is also armed until it reaches about 15cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood and a gum. It is cultivated as a shade tree and is also grown in plantations for its wood[].
This tree was commonly found in the dry zone of Sri Lanka but it is now very rare. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

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

E. Asia - central and southern India, Sri Lanka.

Habitat

Scrubland and dry forests[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of drier areas in the tropics where it can be found at elevations from 150 - 1,500 metres. It grows in areas where temperatures can be up to 40°c and the mean annual rainfall is within the range 350 - 750mm[].
Requires a sunny position. Prefers loose and friable soils, ranging from heavy black vertisols to light, gravelly alfisols, also surviving in shallow stony soils around boulder outcrops[]. Established plants are very drought resistant[].
Young trees grow slowly in open grazing lands due to browsing, but they grow fast on field bunds and in loose soils of cultivated areas[].
The tree coppices and pollards well up to a moderate age; but less when old[].
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

The bark is steeped in jaggery (cane sugar) and then distilled, yielding an intoxicating liquor[].

Medicinal

A bark decoction, in conjunction with ginger is frequently used as an astringent for the teeth[].

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:

Various arable crops, from ground nuts and sorghum, are grown with the trees. It has been observed that this tree does not interfere with the growth of trees in the farm. In some crops there is even an apparent advantage when grown under the canopies of such trees[].
It is a traditional practice in India to retain the old growth or new growth of Acacia ferruginea in the middle of cultivated land. Tree densities of 50 - 70 per hectare are common[].

Other Uses

A good gum, similar to gum arabic (obtained from Vachellia nilotica) is obtained from the tree[].
Gum arabic has a wide range of uses including as a food additive, medicine and mucilage in inks etc[].

The heartwood is olive-brown, turning darker with age; it is clearly demarcated rom the thick band of yellowish-white sapwood. The texture is very coarse, the grain straight. The wood is very heavy, hard. It can be seasoned well with considerable care. A very fine mahogany-coloured wood, with a hard, close texture - it is equally valuable and comparable in all respects with Spanish mahogany[]. The wood is mostly used in cartwheels, posts, beams and agricultural implements[].

Propagation

Seed - unlike the seed of most members of this genus, the seed of this species germinates freely without any pre-treatment and retains its viability for about 1 year if stored properly in pest-free conditions[].
Acacia seeds that have matured fully on the bush and have been properly dried have a hard seed coat and can be stored in closed containers without deterioration for 5 - 10 years or more in dry conditions at ambient temperatures. It is best to remove the aril, which attracts weevils and can lead to moulds forming. The arils are easilyremoved by placing the seeds in water and rubbing them between the hands, then drying the seeds and winnowing them[].

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