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Useful Tropical Plants

Vachellia hockii

(De Wild.) 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 atacorensis Aubrév. & Pellegr.

Acacia boboensis Aubrév.

Acacia chariensis A.Chev.

Acacia flava atacorensis (Aubrév. & Pellegr.) Aubrév.

Acacia flava chariensis (A.Chev.) Roberty

Acacia hockii De Wild.

Acacia holstii Taub.

Acacia seyal multijuga Schweinf. ex Baker f.

Acacia stenocarpa boboensis Aubrév.

Acacia stenocarpa chariensis (A.Chev.) Aubrév.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Vachellia hockii is a multi-stemmed shrub growing 2 - 4 metres tall, or sometimes a small tree with an open crown, growing 6 - 7 metres tall and occasionally 9 metres wide[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
The plant has a wide range of mainly traditional uses, as a food, medicine and source of materials.
Vachellia hockii is a widespread species found in moist savannah landscapes of sub-Saharan Africa. In East Africa particularly, it is one of the most common small Acacia species, and was noted as invasive in parts of Uganda in the middle of the 20th century. It appears to be a typical native invader, increasing in plant density dramatically following certain changes to land management such as altering the fire regime or grazing system and/or changing climates. There are no records of intentional or accidental introduction of the plant to other countries, though there is a risk of invasion in other parts of its native range[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
]

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

Tropical Africa - Guinea to Eritrea, south to Angola, Zimbabwe and Mozambique; Arabian Peninsula

Habitat

Found in a diverse range of habitats, including deciduous woodland, wooded grassland, thicket; scrub; deciduous and semi-evergreen bushland; on sandstone hills[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitShrub
Height3.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Vachellia hockii is a tropical species, preferring moist savannah regions with a mean annual rainfall within the range 430 - 860mm, and so is generally absent in the true Sahelian zone and other drier savannahs where other Acacia species generally dominate. It can tolerate very high temperatures but is intolerant of frost[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Succeeds in a wide range of soils, including saline soils, and is tolerant of poor soils[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
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 inside of the bark is edible as a famine food. Inner bark fibre is also chewed for its juice, which has a sweet taste, and the Maasai chew the white inner bark to slake thirst[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
,
1304
Title
Traditional Food Plants of Kenya
Publication
 
Author
Patrick M Maundu
Publisher
Kenya Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge, National Museums
Year
1999
ISBN
9966986146
Description
A concise guide to the edible plants of Kenya
].

An edible, translucent, reddish exudate gum is obtained from the plant[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
,
1304
Title
Traditional Food Plants of Kenya
Publication
 
Author
Patrick M Maundu
Publisher
Kenya Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge, National Museums
Year
1999
ISBN
9966986146
Description
A concise guide to the edible plants of Kenya
].

Medicinal

The plant (part not specified) is used to treat malaria, and is applied topically to treat abscesses[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

The boiled bark is given to children as a treatment for fever[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

The root is analgesic, febrifuge, stomachic, vermifuge[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. A decoction is used as a remedy for hookworm, and also for the treatment of tuberculosis and related ailments[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

The leaves and young shoots are diuretic, vermifuge. They are used to treat dropsy, gout, oedema and swellings[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are sweet scented and are a good source of bee forage[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Other Uses

A fibre obtained from the bark is used for rope making and basketry[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

The tree is a good source of tannins[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

A translucent, reddish exudate gum is obtained from the trunk. It has been marketed as African gum arabic, but is inferior to true gum arabic (from Acacia senegal). It can be used as an adhesive[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

The wood is hard and straight grained, but is susceptible to termites and decay. In addition, its usually small bole size, and availability of other species, means that it is mainly only used for traditional purposes such as in the construction of homes and shade housing for cattle[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
Where common, the wood is often used as a source of firewood, and also for making a good quality charcoal[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. Stored seed should be scarified, pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then sown. The seed germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 25°c[
133
Title
Growing from Seed. Volume 1.
Publication
 
Author
Rice. G. (Editor)
Publisher
Thompson and Morgan.
Year
1987
ISBN
-
Description
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
]. Plants quickly produce a long taproot and are resentful of 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.
].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel in a frame[
78
Title
Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
Publication
 
Author
Sheat. W. G.
Publisher
MacMillan and Co
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
]. Fair percentage[
78
Title
Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
Publication
 
Author
Sheat. W. G.
Publisher
MacMillan and Co
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-05. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Vachellia+hockii>

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