Vachellia oerfota is a shrub or tree native to Africa and West Asia.[2]
| Vachellia oerfota | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
| Genus: | Vachellia |
| Species: | V. oerfota
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| Binomial name | |
| Vachellia oerfota | |
| |
| Range of Vachellia oerfota | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
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Botanical description
editIt is a somewhat obconical shrub which grows up to about 5 metres high.[4] The branches often radiate from the base in all directions. The branchlets tend to be straight and are grey-white, with grey-white spines with brown tips, 0.5 to 1.5 cm long. The pinnae are in 3 to 12 pairs, with leaflets in 5 to 15 pairs, about 0.3 cm long.[5] The flowers are off-white in globose heads, and are very fragrant Pods are 5 to 10 cm long, 1.25 cm broad and pale yellow, pointed at both ends. The seeds are olive-green, with five to ten in a pod.[6] It has an offensive smell when bruised or cut.
Distribution
editVachellia oerfota occurs mainly on alluvial silt soils. It is found in north-east Africa from Egypt to Kenya, and also in Iraq and Iran.
Uses
editIt is an important legume tree commonly browsed by goats and camels in Africa. It is valued as a fodder by pastoralists.[7] The leaves and pods are high in calcium, and the leaves are a good source of phosphorus.[8]
The bark extract is said to have medicinal value amongst the Borana of Ethiopia, where it is boiled amongst other things for colds.[9] Amongst the Samburu of Kenya is used for "women's stomach pain, hetpatitis, fever and gonorrhoea".[10] It is used in making beverages.[11] The bark is peeled, soaked in water and drunk as tea.
References
edit- ^ Kyalangalilwa B, Boatwright JS, Daru BH, Maurin O, van der Bank M (2013). "Phylogenetic position and revised classification of Acacia s.l. (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) in Africa, including new combinations in Vachellia and Senegalia". Bot J Linn Soc. 172 (4): 500–523. doi:10.1111/boj.12047. hdl:10566/3454.
- ^ a b "Vachellia oerfota (Forssk.) Kyal. & Boatwr". Plants of the World Online. Kew Science. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
- ^ "Vachellia oerfota var. oerfota". Plants of the World Online. Kew Science. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
- ^ J. P. M. Brenan: Flora of Tropical East Africa, 1959
- ^ "Species description". Archived from the original on 2001-02-10.
- ^ Andrews F.W. 1952. Flowering plants of the Sudan. Vol. II Sterculiaceae-Dipsacaceae. T. Buncle & Co. publ., Arbroath, Scotland.
- ^ Heuzé V., Thiollet H., Tran G., Lebas F., 2018. Orfot (Vachellia oerfota). Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/344
- ^ Dougall, H.W. & Bodgan, A.V. 1958. Browse plants of Kenya – with special reference to those occurring in South Barino. E. Afr. Agric. J., 23: 236-245.
- ^ Coppock, D. Layne, The Borana Plateau of Southern Ethiopia: Synthesis of pastoral research, development and change, 1980-91. ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1994
- ^ Fratkin, Elliot: Traditional Medicine and Concepts of Healing among Samburu Pastoralists of Kenya in Journal of Ethnobiology 16(1) Summer 1996
- ^ "Vachellia oerfota". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
References
edit
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