Acacia catechu

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Acacia catechu
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Mimosoideae Genus: Acacia Species: A. catechu
Binomial name
Acacia catechu (L.) Willd., Oliv.
Range of Acacia catechu
Synonyms
Acacia catechu (L. f.) Willd. var. catechuoides (Roxb.)Prain Acacia catechuoides (Roxb.) Benth. Acacia sundra (Roxb.) Bedd. Acacia wallichiana DC. Mimosa catechu L. f. Mimosa catechuoides Roxb.[1]

Acacia catechu is a deciduous, thorny tree which grows up to 15m in height.^[2] Common names for it include Catechu, Cachou and Black Cutch. It is found in Asia, China, India and the Indian Ocean area.^[1]

Contents 1 Uses 1.1 Food 1.2 Fodder 1.3 Wood 1.4 Other uses 2 Cultivation 3 Botanical varietie s 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Uses

[edit] Food

The tree's seeds are a good source of protein.^[3]

[edit] Fodder

Branches of the tree are quite often cut for goat fodder and are sometimes fed to cattle.^[3]

[edit] Wood

The tree is often planted for use as firewood and its wood is highly valued for furniture and tools.^[2] The wood has a density of about 0.88 g/cm³.^[4]

[edit] Other uses

Its heartwood extract is used in dyeing, leather tanning, as a preservative for fishing nets, for medicine and as a viscosity regulator for oil drilling.^[2]

[edit] Cultivation

The tree can be propagated by planting its seeds, which are soaked in hot water first. After about six months in a nursery, the seedlings can be planted in the field.^[2]

[edit] Botanical varietie s

• Acacia catechu var. sundra (L.f.) Willd.^[5]

[edit] See also

• Catechu

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS)
2. ^ ^{a b c d} www.fao.org
3. ^ ^{a b} World AgroForestry Database
4. ^ FAO Appendix 1
5. ^ hear.org