208 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



and flat, twisted pods. The tough bark forms an emergency tie-tie, 

 and its long vast fibres furnish strong cordage, which is its chief use 

 in Northern Nigeria. The bark and leaves, containing tannin, have 

 astringent uses. 



Acacia Sieberiana, DC. Fara kaya, or " White Thorn Acacia." 



A very widely distributed species in the deciduous zone, not usually 

 gregarious and occasionally flat-topped. It is easily recognized by 

 its generally dark foliage and pale bark, the flowers not yellow, but 

 in small, creamy-white balls, and by the long white thorns. It yields 

 a soluble gum, which is perhaps not of the best quality. 



Acacia Arabica, Willd. Bagaruwa ; Indian " Babool." 



One of the commonest species, especially in the northern Hausa 

 States and Bornu, and a source of gum arable. The flowers are in 

 bright yellow balls and the foliage is a good camel food. The jointed 

 pods are " Sant " or " Gambia " pods, used all over the Soudan for 

 tanning. 



Acacia Senegahnsis, Willd. Dakwora. 



Usually only a shrub, not often over 10 feet, sometimes gregarious, 

 and characteristic of the thin bush savannahs ; it has grey bark, 

 flowers in white spikes, and three sharp recurved stipular hooks at 

 the base of each leaf. 



This species yields probably the best gum from Senegal to Somali, 

 and the root-bark affords a very tough fibre. 



Acacia albida, Del., var. saccharata, Benth. Gawo. 



A fair-sized tree, confined to the open dry country in the North, 

 extending into French territory, and an important camel food, but not 

 a gum yielder. The flowers are in creamy-white spikes and the pods 

 are yellow and twisted. It is peculiarly deciduous in the wet season, 

 and bursts into foliage just at the cessation of the rains. 



Acacia Seyal, Del. Dussa ; " Talh of the Soudan." 



A rather small tree, not often over 20 feet, but gregarious and 

 very abundant in North-east Hausaland and Bornu, less common, 

 but local, in Sokoto, etc. It has a yellow or ochrey bark, white 

 thorns and brilliant yellow balls of flowers, and the pods are narrow, 

 sickle-curved and constricted between the seeds. The gum is of good 

 quality, but not equal to that of A. Senegal. 



Acacia campylacantha, Hochst. " Farichin shafu " (=Falcon's claw). 

 A fairly tall tree with white flower-spikes and strongly curved 

 spines suggesting the native name. It is sometimes gregarious in 

 limited forest patches, and the gum is said to be good in colour, 

 cleanliness, etc. 



