English name: winter thorn tree, apple ring acacia
Scientific name:Faidherbia albida (Acacia albida)
Country of origin: Africa, West Asia (Yemen, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan)
Description
The height is 4–30 m and the diameter of the trunk reaches 2 m (sometimes 6 m). It can live approximately 80–100 years or longer. The leaves fall at the start of the rainy season. The color of the trunk is brown and dark gray. Flowers bloom at the beginning of the dry season with yellowish white spike inflorescence. It has strong xerotolerance and is cultivated in areas with annual precipitation of 250–1,800 mm. Soil adaptation range is wide, and it has slight tolerance to seasonal flooding and salt, but it is sensitive to frost. Propagation is performed by seeding.
In agroforestry, it is intercropped with annual crops (e.g., pearl millet, peanuts) for soil improvement. It is important as livestock feed as it has protein-rich leaves during the dry season.
References
Bonkoungou, E. G. 1985. Acacia albida Del. – A multipurpose tree for arid and semi-arid zones. Forest Genetic Resources. Information No. 13. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome, Italy. (http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/r3812e/R3812E00.htm#TOC)
Brenan, J.P.M. 1983. Manual on Taxonomy of Acacia Species. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome,
Italy. (http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/q2934e/Q2934E00.htm#TOC)
Hines, D.A. ad Eckman, K. 1993. Indigenous multipurpose trees of Tanzania:
Uses and economic benefits for people. Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5327e/x5327e00.htm#Contents)
Miehe, S. 1986. Acacia albida and other multipurpose trees on the fur farmlands in the Jebel Marra highlands,
Western Darfur, Sudan. Agroforestry Systems 4: 89-119.
Spicer, N., Barnes, R. and Timberlake, J. (eds) 2004. Acacia Handbook: Growing and Managing Acacias in South Central Africa, CBC Publishing, Zimbabwe.