From AHPA Botanical Identity References Compendium
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| =Nomenclature= | | =Nomenclature= |
| + | {{nomenclature | binomial= Acacia senegal |
| + | |authority= (L.) Willd. |
| + | |family= Fabaceae |
| + | |scn= gum arabic tree |
| + | |syn= ''Acacia verek'' Guill. & Perr. |
| + | |aka= thorny acacia |
| + | |notes= The standard common name of the dried gummy exudate of stems and branches of ''A. senegal'' is gum arabic. It is also known as acacia gum or Senegal gum.}} |
| =Botanical Voucher Specimen= | | =Botanical Voucher Specimen= |
| =Organoleptic Characteristics= | | =Organoleptic Characteristics= |
Revision as of 03:03, 27 February 2014
Nomenclature
Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. Fabaceae
Syn. Acacia verek Guill. & Perr.
Standardized common name (English): gum arabic tree
Botanical Voucher Specimen
Organoleptic Characteristics
Macroscopic Descriptions
The most important of the gum-yielding Acacias is the official A. Senegal Willd.
This is a small tree rarely exceeding a height of 6 m., with a grayish bark, the inner layers of which are strongly fibrous, bipinnate leaves, dense spikes of small yellow flowers longer than the leaves, and broad pods containing 5 or 6 seeds.
The gum of the acacias exudes spontaneously from the bark, and hardens on exposure; but incisions are sometimes made in order to facilitate the exudation. The gum is said also to be found immediately under the bark, where it is sometimes collected in regular cavities. It is formed within the plant by metamorphosis of the cells of the inner bark. The tissues involved are chiefly those of the sieve and the cambiform cells. While to some extent it is a natural change, yet it is usually looked upon as being in part a pathological production, as gummosus develops more largely upon the wounding of the trees.
Source: United States Dispensatory (1918) [1]
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Microscopic Characteristics
Acacia senecal dried brittle glassy gummy exudation. AKA Gum Arabic.Shows no structure under the microscope. Reduce some of the gum to fine powder and dissolve about five grams in 10 parts water; centrifuge for a short time and examine the sediment for impurities which are usually present, consisting of trace of starch, some dirt and bits of vegetable tissue.
Source: Schneider, A. (1921) The Microanalysis of Powdered Vegetable Drugs, 2nd ed. [2]
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High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic Identification
Other Points of Interest
- ↑ United States Dispensatory (1918)
- ↑ Schneider, A. (1921) The Microanalysis of Powdered Vegetable Drugs, 2nd ed.