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 déciduous 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 arabic. 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 Senegalensis, 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 hco at 
the base of each leaf. 
This species yields probably the best gum from Senegal to &y 
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. 
