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Useful Tropical Plants

Vachellia campeachiana

(Mill.) Seigler & Ebinger

Fabaceae


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 Vachellia[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Acacia cochliacantha Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.

Acacia cymbacantha Zucc. ex Benth.

Acacia cymbispina Sprague & L.Riley

Acacia milleriana Standl.

Mimosa campeachiana Mill.

Mimosa cochliacantha (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Poir.

Poponax attenuata Britton & Rose

Poponax campechiana (Mill.) Britton & Rose

Poponax cymbispina (Sprague & L.Riley) Britton & Rose

Poponax houghii Britton & Rose

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Vachellia campeachiana is a deciduous, vase-shaped shrub or a small tree with many straight branches and spines 15 - 50mm long; theplant usually grows around 1.5 - 10 metres tall[
305
Title
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands.
,
411
Title
Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
Publication
Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
Author
Standley P.C.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution; Washington
Year
1926
ISBN
 
Description
Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
],
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is an excellent pioneer plant and has potential for use in phytoremediation projects.
Vachellia campeachiana is a natural pioneer within its native range, but the plant can become an invasive weed elsewhere[
305
Title
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

C. America - Honduras; Caribbean - Cuba; Southern N. America - central and southern Mexico

Habitat

Slopes, valleys, plains, arroyos, and disturbed habitats; thornscrub, tropical deciduous forest, margins of Sonoran desertscrub, and /occasionally in grassland; at elevations from sea leve, usuallyl to around 975metres, occasionally to 1,700 metres[
305
Title
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitTree
Height4.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details



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[
755
Title
Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].

Edible Uses

The seeds are roasted, ground into a powder and eaten in the form of atole (a traditional corn-based hot beverage), or the dried seeds can be ground into a flour and made into tortillas[
1981
Title
Rio Mayo Plants - A study of the flora and vegetation of the valley of the Rio Mayo, Sonora
Publication
 
Author
Gentry H.S.
Publisher
Carnegie Institution of Washington; Washington DC
Year
1942
ISBN
 
Description
One of my favourite authors on native plants, often including their uses. This is an excellent example with lots of information, even though the book is 80 years old.
].(As Acacia cymbispina)
The dark red-brown seedpods are 75 - 170mm long and 8 - 11mm wide with a pulpy mesocarp[[
305
Title
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands.
].

Medicinal

A decoction of the plant is used as a remedy for affections of the bladder[
411
Title
Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
Publication
Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
Author
Standley P.C.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution; Washington
Year
1926
ISBN
 
Description
Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. (As Acacia cochliacantha)
A decoction of the roots is used as a treatment for stomach complaints[
1841
Title
The Warihio Indians of Sonora-Chihuahua; An Ethnographic Survey (Anthropological Papers, No. 65)
Publication
Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 186 pp 61-144
Author
Gentry H.S.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution
Year
1963
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent study
].

Agroforestry Uses:

This species quickly colonizes abandoned milpas and other disturbed areas including bufflegrass pastures in tropical deciduous forest, often forming impenetrable spiny thickets[
305
Title
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands.
]. This behaviour makes it an excellent pioneer species within its native range, but a potential invasive plant elsewhere[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Vachellia campeachiana naturally invades land polluted by heavy metal waste from mining activities and often becomes the dominant species on the site. The plant is able to bioaccumulate non-essential metals in its roots and leaves, and has a high rate of HMs translocation. These qualities make it an excellent candidate for use in phytoremediation projects, especially on soils contaminated with lead, chromium and copper[
1984
Title
Heavy metal bioaccumulation and morphological changes in Vachellia campechiana (Fabaceae) reveal its potential for p
Publication
Environmental science and pollution research international 2020 v.27 no.10 pp. 11260-11276
Author
Santoyo-Martínez M. et al
Website
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07730-7
Publisher
 
Year
2020
ISBN
0944-1344
Description
 
]..

Other Uses

The branches are sometimes used when making violin bows[
1841
Title
The Warihio Indians of Sonora-Chihuahua; An Ethnographic Survey (Anthropological Papers, No. 65)
Publication
Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 186 pp 61-144
Author
Gentry H.S.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution
Year
1963
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent study
].

Propagation

Seed - the hard coat needs to be scarified in order to allow water to enter. It should then be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
]. Seed germinates best at a temperature around 21°c[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
]. Germination rates, even of scarified seed, tends to be quite low, with the seeds sprouting within 30 - 50 days[
625
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2009
ISBN
85-86714-34-4
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. Plants make a deep taproot and resent root disturbance, they should be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
Semi-ripe cuttings of lateral shoots[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Vachellia+campeachiana>

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