Species

Uses

A. ataxacantha

live hedges and brush fences (zaribas/bomas)

A. drepanolobium

thorny branches used by the Mbeere for livestock pens (zaribas/bomas)

A. erioloba

grown for shade and shelter

A. hockii

thorny branches used by the Mbeere for livestock pens (zaribas/bomas)

A. karroo

thorny branches used by the Mbeere for livestock pens (zaribas/bomas); grown for shade and shelter

A. laeta

brush fences (zaribas/bomas)

A. macrostachya

live hedges and brush fences (zaribas/bomas)

A. mellifera sensu lato

thorny branches used by the Mbeere for livestock pens (zaribas/bomas). Widely grown for stockproof live hedges

A. modesta

much grown for hedges in India

A. nilotica sensu lato

thorny branches used by the Mbeere for livestock pens (zaribas/bomas)

subsp. adstringens

occasionally planted as a shade tree

subsp. nilotica

grown as a street tree in Cairo

subsp. tomentosa

occasionally planted as a shade tree in the Sahel

A. ruficiens

thorny branches used by the Mbeere for livestock pens

subsp. misera

(zaribas/bomas)

A. seyal

subsp. seyal

thorny branches used by the Mbeere for livestock pens (zaribas/bomas). Occasionally planted as a shade tree in the Sahel

A. sieberiana sensu lato

live hedges, brush fences (zaribas/bomas), shade and windbreaks

A. tanganyikensis

grown as a shade tree in Tanzania

A. tortilis sensu lato

subs spirocarpa

live hedges, brush fences (zaribas/bomas) and shade tree thorny branches used by the Mbeere for livestock pens (zaribas/bomas)

A. xanthophloea

grown as live hedges in Tanzania

F. albida

thorny branches used for livestock pens (zaribas/bomas). Grown for live hedges, windbreaks and as a shade tree

Species

Uses

A. erioloba

in the Kalahari the tree rat lives almost entirely on the gum, leaves and seeds. Favoured for the communal nests of the sociable weaver

A. hebeclada

possibly the host of the desert truffle

A. hockii

tree a valuable source of bee food

A. karroo

tree attractive to certain insects and therefore their predator birds, which in turn attract lizards, snakes and mammals

A. mellifera sensu lato

Mbeere Pollard large trees to reduce perching and nesting roots for flocks of the seed-eating crop pests, weaver birds and Sudan dioche. A valuable source of bee food

A. nilotica sensu lato

the often gregarious nature of the trees and the attractiveness of the pods to wildlife aids the Mbeere hunters to locate antelope A valuable source of bee food

A. polyacantha

subsp. campylacantha

host of the large, green, spiny caterpillar or the moth Gynanisa maia and bristly pupa of the moth Gonometa postia, both of which are regarded by the Afriicans of southern Africa as a great delicacy

A. senegal

tree a valuable source of bee food

A. seyal

var. seyal

tree a valuable source of bee food

A. sieberana sensu lato

a valuable source of bee food

A. thomasii

tree a valuable source of bee food; thorns offer protection to the Mbeere's barrel bee hives hanging in the trees against the ravages of the honey badger (rater)

A. tortilis sensu lato

tree a valuable source of bee food

subsp. spirocarpa

tree a valuable source of bee food; thorns offer protection to the Mbeere's barrel bee hives hanging in the trees against the ravages of the honey badger; Mbeere Pollard large trees to reduce perching and nesting roots for flocks of the seed-eating crop pests, weaver birds and Sudan dioche

F. albida

tree a valuable source of bee food

Species

Use

A. caffra

may be grown as an ornamental

A. erioloba

rarely grown in southern Africa as a street tree

A. galpinii

may be grown as an ornamental

A. haematoxylon

may be grown on sandy soils as an ornamental

A. karroo

may be grown as an ornamental

A. montis-usti

graceful tree with potential as an ornamental

A. nilotica

subsp. adstringens

occasionally planted as an amenity and roadside tree in the Sahel

subsp. nilotica

grown as a street tree in Cairo

subsp. tomentosa

occasionally planted as an amenity and riverside tree in the Sahel

A. sieberiana sensu lato

occasionally planted as an amenity tree in the Sahel

A. tanganykensis

planted as a street tree in Tanzania

A. xanthophloea

grown as an ornamental

F. albida

occasionally planted as amenity and roadside tree in the Sahel

Species and distribution

Use

A. ataxacantha (Senegal to Cameroon and eastwards to the Sudan and south to Namibia, South Africa)

Foliage and pods eaten by antelope. The Gourmantch�s of Burkina Faso use the macerated root bark as a gargle for toothache.

A. dudgeoni (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso)

Wood used for handles of agricultural implements; dead wood is used for fuel. Leaves and dried pods greatly appreciated by antelope and horses. A bark decoction used by the Gourmantch�s to treat diarrhoea and dysentery in children. Flowers a source of pollen for bees.

A. ehrenbergiana (Western Sahara, Algeria, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti; Middle East)

Wood utilized by the nomads for fuel, etc. Foliage and pods eagerly eaten by cattle, sheep and camels. The Tamachek use a bark decoction to treat flatulence. Flowers a source of pollen for bees.

A. etbaica

subsp. etbaica (Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia; Saudi Arabia)

bark used in Sudan for tanning

A. goumaensis (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger)

Wood used for implement handles; dead wood used for fuel. Foliage and dry pods eagerly eaten by wild animals, especially elephants. Gourmantch� use a bark decoction to treat jaundice. Flowers a source of pollen and nectar for bees.

A. hockii (Gambia to Nigeria, east to the Sudan and Ethiopia and south to Zimbabwe and Angola)

The leaves remaining after bush fires and the dry pods are eaten by antelope and especially elephants.

A. laeta (Egypt, Mali eastwards Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania; Middle East)

Wood used by the nomads for firewood, charcoal and tent poles. Gum exudate is edible, also harvested in Niger and marketed in Chad to Sudan. Ethiopia, as 'kittir azarack'; regarded as inferior to that from A. Senegal. Foliage and pods are browsed by livestock. May be planted for shelter belts

A. macrostachya (Senegal to Nigeria, Mali. Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Sudan)

The wood is little used for fuel. The raw or cooked seeds are sold in the market and eaten in the Mossi area of Burkina Faso. The dry pods are readily eaten by cattle. The Peuhl of Burkina Faso prescribe a decoction of the leafy branches against flatulence. The Mossi consider the macerated roots taken in water with honey as an aphrodisiac. The flowers are a valuable source of pollen and nectar for bees.

A. mellifera

subsp. melliferan (Egypt, Sudan south through East Africa to South Africa)

Pole timber for bed frames, fuelwood and charcoal. Root fibres for basketry. Grown for live hedges,

A. nilotica

subsp. adstringens (Algeria, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan)

The hard, dense wood is used for construction work, fuel, charcoal and objets d'art. Young bark a source of timbre. The foliage and pods are eaten by camels, sheep and horses. The grilled seeds are pounded and eaten mixed with millet flour. The pods from this subspecies are preferred by shoemakers for tanning leather, also a source of dye. The gum exudate is used for making ink for the local schools. In Burkina Faso the leaves are used against diarrhoea; the grilled and crushed seed for the treatment of haemorrhoids and gingivitis; the powdered bark as a local Hemostatic. A decoction of the pods is regarded as an efficacious remedy for coughs, while wallowing the juice from chewed pods alleviates the rawness of a dry cough. The flowers are a source of pollen and nectar for bees.

Subsp. nilotica (Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia)

Wood used in Sudan for sleepers and water wheels. Uses in Burkina Faso similar to those for subsp. adstringens.

Subsp. tomentosa (Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti)

Uses in Burkina Faso similar to those for subsp. adstringens.

A. erythrocalyx (Togo, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger)

Browsed by cattle and horses. The long branches used to make baskets and beds. A root decoction is used by the Mossi as an aphrodisiac. The flowers a source of pollen for bees.

A. oerfota (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, East Africa; Arabia)

Bark used in Sudan for tanning; roots used for cordage

A. polyacantha

subsp. campylacantha (Senegal to Cameroon, east to Sudan and Ethiopia and south to Zimbabwe and South Africa)

Wood used for agricultural tool handles. The large branches used for charcoal. A decoction of the tannin-rich bark used by the Gourmantch� for dysentery and haemorrhoids. Pods eaten by cattle game animals, especially buffalo and elephant.

A. senegal (Mauritania, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia to Namibia, South Africa; MiddleEast)

Foliage and pods appreciated by sheep and goats. The gum arable marketed commercially in Niger. The dead wood used for fuel. The inner bark of trunk or roots used by the Hausa to treat jaundice. The flowers a source of pollen and nectar for bees.

A. seyal

var. fistula

Uses as for var. seyal

(Sudan, Somalia, East Africa to Malawi and Zambia)

var. seyal (Egypt, Mauritania, Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sudan south to Zambia)

Wood light, used for parking cases. light furniture, mortars and impliments; used by nomads for fuel, saddle frames and tent poles. The bark used for tanning, also furnishes a red dye used to dye clothes; best yields a fibre. Foliage, pods and some bark eaten by animals. Roots used for basketry. Bark used for stuffing saddles. Gum exudate friable, harvested but inferior to that from A. Senegal. Bark decoction used as a purgative by the Peuhl for both man and cattle; root decoction used in Sudan as vermifuge, women also use wood smoke as a fumigant. A good source of bee food.

A. sieberiana (Senegal to Nigeria, east to Sudan, Ethiopia south to Namibia and South Africa)

The wood is easy to work and used for tool handles. Dead wood used for cooking. Foliage browsed by sheep and horses, pods eaten by cattle, buffalo and elephants. Gum harvested for local use. The Mossi use a decoction of the root bark as a vermifuge and for coughs.

A. tortilis

subsp. raddiana (Western Sahara, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan)

Wood used by the nomads for firewood, charcoal and tool handles and tent poles. Bark used for cordage. Folliage and pods eagerly eaten by cattle, horses, sheep and camels. Gum harvested in Niger. Leaf decoction regarded by the Touregs as antimalarial. The scented flowers a source of pollen and nectar for the bees.

Subsp. spirocarpa (Sudan southwards to South Africa; Middle East)

Strong fibre obtained from bast

subsp. tortilis (Sudan, Somalia; Middle East)

Wood used by Red Sea for boat ribs, pulleys and blocks

F. albida (Western Sahara, Algeria, Egypt, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia south to Namibia, South Africa; Near East)

Timber used for bed frames, mortars, platters, saddles. Valued for its beneficial effects on crop yields. Foliage and pods excellent forage for animals. Pods marketed in the Kayal area, Burkina Faso. Powdered, macerated or decoctions of bark administered for colds, gripe, toothache and as a tonic; a bark decoction taken for children's coughs. The wood ash is used for making soap. A valuable source of pollen and nectar for bees. Grown for live hedges in the Nuba Mountains of the Sudan.