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Species
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn.
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Dichrostachys cinerea, known as sicklebush, Bell mimosa, Chinese lantern tree or Kalahari Christmas tree (South Africa), is a legume of the genus Dichrostachys in the Fabaceae family.[1]
Other common names include acacia Saint Domingue (French), el marabu (Cuba), Kalahari-Weihnachtsbaum (German of former South West Africa), kéké or mimosa clochette (Réunion).
Etymology[edit]
The generic name Dichrostachys means 'two-colored spike', referring to its two-colored inflorescence, from the Ancient Greek δί- (di-, 'twice'), χροός (khroos, 'color'), and στάχυς (stakhus, 'ear of grain'). The specific name cinerea refers to the greyish hairs of the typical subspecies, from the Latin cinereus ('ashes').
Distribution[edit]
It is native to Africa but has been introduced to India, the Caribbean and parts of Southeast Asia. In Ethiopia, the species is common in the Nechisar National Park.[2]
The tree was brought to the Caribbean in the 19th century.[3] In Cuba, where it is known as El Marabú or Marabou weed, it has become a serious invasive species problem, occupying close to five million acres (20,000 km²) of agricultural land. Plans are underway to exploit it as a source of biomass for renewable power generation.[4][5]
Description and ecology[edit]
Dichrostachys cinerea is a semi-deciduous to deciduous tree characterized by bark on young branches, dark grey-brown fissures on older branches and stems and smooth on the spines. They typically grow up to 7 metres (23 ft) in height and have strong alternate thorns, generally up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long. Flowers of the Dichrostachys cinerea are characteristically in bicoloured cylindrical spikes that resemble Chinese lanterns and are 6–8 cm long and fragrant.[6] Upper flowers of a hanging spike are sterile, and are of a lilac or pale purple. Pods are usually a mustard brown and are generally twisted or spiralled and may be up to 100 × 15 mm. The species has can be subcategorized with two slight variations that have been recognised: D. cinerea ssp. africana and D. cinerea ssp. nyassana, the latter which is typically larger and less hairy in its foliage.[1]
The species tends to grow in rainforest zones that are clearly defined and in altitudes up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). It often occurs in areas with a strong seasonal climate with a wide ranging mean annual temperature and with a mean annual rainfall ranging from 200 to 400 mm. It occurs in brushwood, thickets, hedges, teak forest and grassland and generally takes to poorer quality clay soils or deep and sandy soils with a wide ph scale range.[1]
In India, it can occur in dry deciduous forest.
In southern Africa, Dichrostachys cinerea generally flowers from October to February with fruiting from May to September. In Indonesia, however, the species has been found flowering from September to June and fruiting from March to May. The tree generally grows at a medium to slow rate, 6–8 cm per year.
Uses[edit]
Fruit and seeds that grow on Dichrostachys cinerea are edible. Cattle, camels and game such as giraffe, buffalo, kudu, hartebeest, nyala, red forest duiker and Damara dik-dik feed on the juicy pods that fall to the ground. Such animals also feed on the immature twigs and leaves of the tree which are rich in protein (11–15%) and minerals. The flowers can be a valuable source of honey. The wood is of a dense nature and burns slowly with no toxicity, so it is often used for fuelwood. The species yields a medium to heavy, durable hardwood and is often used in smaller domestic items as walking sticks, handles, spears and tool handles, particularly in central Africa.
In traditional medicine, the bark is used for headache, toothache, dysentery, elephantiasis[disambiguation needed], root infusions are used for leprosy, syphilis, coughs, as an anthelmintic, purgative and strong diuretic, leaves are used for epilepsy and also as a diuretic and laxative, and a powdered form is massaged on limbs with bone fractures.[1] The roots are also sometimes used for bites or stings.[citation needed] In Siddha medicine of the Tamils in southern India, Dichrostachys cinerea is called vidathther and used for gonorrhea, syphilis and eczema.[7]
As they are rich in nutrients, the plants are often used as fertiliser, particularly in the Sahel region of Africa along riverbanks.[8] The plant is widely used for soil conservation, particularly in India, for shallow soils, and in arid western and subhumid alluvial plains.
It is also cultivated as an indoor bonsai specimen.[9]
Despite its various uses, it is generally regarded a threat to agricultural production and is listed on the Global Invasive Species Database.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d World Agroforestry Centre, Retrieved on June 22, 2008
- ^ Nechisar National Park, Realethiopia.com, January 4, 2006, Retrieved on June 22, 2008
- ^ a b Global Invasive Species Database, Retrieved on June 22, 2008
- ^ A Weed that Could Bring Cuba Power by Fernando Ravsberg, HavanaTimes.org, June 24, 2010
- ^ Cuba looks to marabu weed for fresh power
- ^ Guide to the Tree Species of Southern Africa:Dichrostachys cinerea - Sickle Bush, Eco Travel Africa, Retrieved on June 22, 2008
- ^ Dr. J. Raamachandran, HERBS OF SIDDHA MEDICINES-The First 3D Book on Herbs, pp. 76
- ^ Vogt K., (1995), A field guide to the identification, propagation and uses of common trees and shrubs of dryland Sudan, SOS Sahel International (UK), Retrieved on June 22, 2008
- ^ [1]
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dichrostachys_cinerea&oldid=632839614 |
"
Flower
In solitary or paired spikes; bicoloured, upper flowers fertile, yellow, lower ones sterile, pink. Flowering April-July.
Fruit
A flat, linear pod, coiled, indehiscent, opening from apex; seeds 4-6, ovoid, compressed. Fruiting throughout the year.
Field tips
Bark grey or light brown. Rachis with stipitate glands, opposite to pinnae.
Leaf Arrangement
Alternate-spiral
Leaf Type
Bipinnate
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Leaf Apex
Acute
Leaf Base
Obtuse
Leaf Margin
Entire
"
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Keystone Foundation, India Biodiversity Portal |
Source | http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/229560 |
Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked
Perennial, Trees, Shrubs, Woody throughout, Stems erect or ascending, Stems or branches arching, spreading or decumbent, Stems greater than 2 m tall, Trunk or stems armed with thorns, spines or prickles, Stems solid, Stems or young twigs glabrous or sparsely glabrate, Leaves alternate, Leaves petiolate, Extrafloral nectary glands on petiole, Stipules inconspicuous, absent, or caducous, Leaves compound, Leaves bipinnate, Leaf or leaflet margins entire, Leaflets opposite, Leaflets 10-many, Leaves glabrous or nearl y so, Inflorescences spikes or spike-like, Inflorescence axillary, Inflorescence or flowers lax, declined or pendulous, Bracts very small, absent or caducous, Flowers sessile or nearly so, Flowers actinomorphic or somewhat irregular, Calyx 5-lobed, Calyx glabrous, Petals united, valvate, Petals white, Petals pinkish to rose, Imperfect flowers present, dioecious or polygamodioecious, Stamens 9-10, Stamens completely free, separate, Stamens long exserted, Filaments glabrous, Filaments pink or red, Style terete, Fruit a legume, Fruit unilocular, Fruit indehiscent, Fruit elongate, straight, Fruit oblong or ellipsoidal, Fruit twisted, Fruit or valves persistent on stem, Fruit coriaceous or becoming woody, Fruit exserted from calyx, Fruit glabrous or glabrate, Fruit 3-10 seeded, Seed with elliptical line or depression, pleurogram, Seeds ovoid to rounded in outline, Seed surface smooth, Seeds olive, brown, or black.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Compiled from several sources by Dr. David Bogler, Missouri Botanical Garden in collaboration with the USDA NRCS NPDC |
Source | http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DICI2 |
Population
Population Trend
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/164134 |
A shrub, branches usually hairy when young. The larger leaf with 7-19 pairs of pinnae, glands present on the rachis may be sessile or stipitate, pinnae 1-2 cm long, leaflets 7-19 pairs, 2-5 mm, sometimes up to 9 mm long, obtuse, subacute or acute at the apex, margins hairy. Inflorescence fascicled spike, pedun¬cles hairy. Pod 8-11 mm, sometimes up to 14 mm wide, coiled.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200012116 |
Major Threats
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/164134 |
"Habit: A small thorny tree, upto 6m."
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Keystone Foundation, India Biodiversity Portal |
Source | http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/229560 |
Conservation Actions
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/164134 |
"Small thorny trees; to 6 m high spines axillary, straight, often leaf bearing; bark grey or brownish, with vertical fissures, peeling off in thin flake; branchlets densely pubescent, spine-tipped. Leaves bipinnate, alternate, stipulate; stipules 2, minute, lateral; rachis 30-65 mm, slender, pulvinate, pubescent; pinnae 5-15 pairs, 1.5-2 cm, opposite, even pinnate, slender, pulvinate, pubescent, with a gland between each pairs; leaflets 24-50, opposite, sessile, estipellate; lamina 0.2-0.3 x 0.1 cm, oblong, base obtuse, apex acute, margin entire, ciliate, tomentose, chartaceous; nerves obscure. Flowers polygamous, 2 mm across, in solitary or axillary paired spikes; upper flowers bisexual, yellow; lower ones neutar, pink or purple; bracts oblong; calyx tube campanulate, lobes 5; petals 5, lanceolate connate below, pubescent, valvate; stamens 10, free, exserted, anthers ending in stalked glands; ovary 0.5 mm, subssessile, pubescent; style 3 mm; stigma terminal, truncate. Fruit a pod, linear, flat, coiled, continuous within, indehiscent or opening from apex; seeds 4-6, ovoid, compressed."