Acacia

In broad sense (s.l.), genus Acacia has over 1300 species. However, taxonomists have found out that the genus Acacia is polyphyletic. This discovery has led to the breaking up of Acacia into five genera, although some taxonomists (and other biologists) still continue to use the traditional Acacia sensu lato circumscription of the genus. When the genus is divided, the traditional acacias of Africa are now treated in the genera Vachellia and Senegalia, some of the American species are placed in Acaciella and Mariosousa, and the majority of species still included in the genus Acacia are confined to Australia.

Keywords:

Gum, tannin, ornamental, timber, wood, fuel, essential oil, animal feed, bee forage, nitrogen fixing, soil conservation.