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The Herb Acacia
Acacia
(kash) , any plant of the large leguminous genus Acacia, often
thorny shrubs and trees of the family Leguminosae (pulse
family). Chiefly of the tropics and subtropics, they are
cultivated for decorative and economic purposes. Acacias are
characteristic of savanna vegetation and are especially numerous
in the South African bushveld. The foliage often appears
feathery because of the many small leaflets, but in some species
leaflike flattened stems contain chlorophyll and take the place
of leaves. Various Old World species (especially A. arabica and
A. senegal ) yield gum arabic; other species, chiefly A.
catechu, yield the dye catechu. Blackwood (A. melanoxylon) is
valued in Australia for its hardwood timber. Other members of
the genus are valuable for lac, for perfume and essential oils,
and for tannins; some are used as ornamentals. The Australian
acacias are commonly called wattlestheir pliable branches were
woven into the structure of the early wattle houses and fences
and Wattle Day celebrates the national flower at blossoming
time. Many wattles are cultivated elsewhere, particularly in
California, as ornamentals for their characteristic spherical,
dense flowers. The Central American bullhorn acacias (e.g., A.
sphaerocephala) have large hollow thorns inhabited by ants that
are said to feed upon a sweet secretion of the plant and in turn
guard it against leaf-eating insects. The most common acacia
indigenous to the United States is the cat's-claw (A. gregii) of
the arid Southwest. The biblical shittim wood is thought to have
come from an acacia. Various species of locust are sometimes
called acacia, and acacias may be called mimosa; all are of the
same family. Acacia is classified in the division Magnoliophyta,
class Magnoliopsida, order Rosales, family Leguminosae.
Common names, Cape gum, Egyptian thorn, Gum Arabic tree, Gum
acacia, Gum Arabic,India gum tree,Bablah pods, Acacia bambolah.
Acacia is a small, spiny, leguminous tree or shrub. After the
rainy season ends, the stem begins to exude gum, which is
collected from December to June for marketing as gum Arabic. The
acacia has alternate, bipinnate leaves and axillary racemes of
yellow flowers arranged in globose heads. The fruit is an oblong
pod.
Grows in sandy soil, mostly in tropical Africa
Acacia was a sacred wood for the ancient Hebrews. Moses used
acacia wood in building the Ark of the Covenant and the sacred
Tabernacle (see Exodus, chapters 25-40).
According to Near-Eastern Christian legend, a thorny species of
acacia was used for Christ's crown of thorns.
Moapa Paiute name for acacia is "Pah oh pimb." Used for
inflammation of the eyes, due to dust; vaqueros and travelers
One Of Satans Tricks When I think about the original St. Nicholas and what kind of man he might have been, I ..... habitually carry acacia seeds and put 4 in each eye on retiring.
Gum Arabic's main effect is to form a protective, soothing
coating over inflammations in the respiratory, alimentary, and
urinary tracts. It is helpful for coughs, sore throat, and
catarrh, eyewash, diarrhea, and dysentery. Sweetened, it is
sometimes used for typhoid fever.
Acacia greggii Taxonomy: Magnoliophyta (angiosperm),
Magnoliopsida (dicot), Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae)
Common names: catclaw, Gregg cat claw, cat's claw acacia, tear
blanket, devils claw, paradise flower, long-flowered catclaw,
Texas mimosa, ua de gato.
Acacia greggii is a member of the Fabaceae family; it is native
to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Catclaw
occurs primarily in semi-desert grasslands and brushy range
lands largely confined to washes. It is often found on the upper
slopes of a bajada (Spanish for downhill) where moisture is more
available than middle or lower bajada situations. Catclaw has
the highest water requirements of several species of desert
shrubs tested, partially explaining why although it is found in
arid regions, is often confined to dry washes or stream bottoms
with relatively shallow water tables.
Catsclaw a perennial, is characterized as being a 3 to 10 foot
tall shrub but may develop into an upright tree 25 to 30 feet
tall. It is often thicket forming and has numerous spreading,
slender thorny branches. The brown, stout, "claw like" thorns
are about 0.25 inch long. The bark is gray to black. Numerous
creamy-yellow flowers occur in 1.25 to 2.5 inch long spikes. The
stiff and papery gray-brown legume-type fruits are 2 to 5.5
inches long, 0.5 to 0.75 inch wide, curved or contorted,
flattened and constricted between the seeds.
Propagation:
Catsclaw acacia reproduces sexually by producing an abundance of
seeds. Vegetative regeneration (sprouting) occurs following
damage to the above-ground portion of the plant. Catclaw acacia
flowers are pollinated by insects and begin to produce seed
between 4 to six years of age. It has shown varying success when
transplanted. Seedlings can be nursery grown in tall containers
to accommodate the deep root systems. In California, seed
collected in the field exhibited good germination without any
special treatment in fall or spring.
Catsclaw acacia has flowers in yellow, cylindrical spikes. The
flowers and leaves of this plant resemble mesquite, but cats
claw thorns are like rose thorns, broad at the base and curved
backward while mesquite thorns are straight. The seed pods of
the catsclaw split upon maturing mesquite pods do not. Photos
provided by and copyrighted to: NatureSongs
Preparation:
Gather the pods when still green and dry the leaves and branches
over a paper as the leaves often fall off while hanging. The
longer distal roots, chopped into small segments while moist.
The gum is gathered the same way as mesquite gum and the flowers
are dried. The green leaves, stems, and pods are powdered for
tea (standard infusion) or for topical application; the roots
are best used as a cold standard infusion, warmed for drinking
and gargling.
Medicinal Uses: Pods are used for conjunctivitis in the same
manner as mesquite pods and the gum, although catsclaw is harder
to harvest it is used in the same way as mesquite gum. The
powdered pods and leaves make an excellent infused tea (2-4
ounces of the standard infusion every three hours) for diarrhea
and dysentery, as well as a strongly astringent hemostatic and
antimicrobial wash. The straight powder will stop superficial
bleeding and can also be dusted into moist, chafed body folds
and dusted on infants for diaper rash. The flowers and leaves as
a simple tea are good anti-inflammatory for the stomach and
esophagus in nausea, vomiting, and hangovers. It is distinctly
sedative. The root is thick and mucilaginous as a tea and is
good for sore throat and mouth inflammations as well as dry
raspy coughing.
People who have used this plant: Catsclaw has been used by
Native Americans for treating the sore backs and flanks of their
horses. There has been no specific information on cultural
practices concerning catsclaw. Most sources indicate that the
plant has been used by many groups in the southwestern United
States.
Bibliography Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss; pgs., 204-205.
Indian Uses of Native Plants, by Edith Van Allen Murphey, pg.,
39. The Herb Book, by John Lust, pgs., 87, 543, 575-576.
Webster's New World Dictionary Third College Edition, Victoria
Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, pg., 6.
About the author:
About the Author: Judi Singleton is the publisher of Jassmine's
Journal Goddess Gospel edition you can subscribe at
http://www.motherearthpublishing.com
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