Acacia concinna
(Willd.) DC
Soap-Pod
(c) Dinesh Valke, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
(c) Dinesh Valke, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
(c) Dinesh Valke, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds, Leaves, Flowers, Vegetable
Young leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, and shoots are all edible. The acid-flavoured young leaves can substitute for tamarinds in chutneys, and are added to soups to create a hot, sour flavour or curried with salted fish and coconut milk. Flowers are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The acid fruit is used in Philippine cooking to add sourness; it can also be roasted and eaten. Seeds are edible after roasting. Young shoots can be made into pickles or cooked as a vegetable.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. In Papua New Guinea it grows from 500-1050 m altitude. It occurs naturally in rainforest and grassland. It is a tropical plant. It needs a frost free location. It requires good drainage. It prefers dry conditions and tolerates drought. It is found in dry forests. It grows in Yunnan in China.
Asia, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam,
How to Identify
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.
How to Grow
It can be grown from seeds. The seedlings can be transplanted.
Propagation: Acacia concinna can be grown from seed, with seedlings transplanted once established. Like most members of this genus, the seed has a hard coat that benefits from scarification before sowing. Pour a small amount of nearly boiling water over the seeds — taking care not to cook them — then soak in warm water for 12–24 hours. Seeds that have swollen have absorbed enough moisture and are ready to sow. If seeds remain unswollen after this period, carefully nick the seedcoat without damaging the embryo and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.
Medicinal Uses
This plant is used medicinally in a number of ways. It is a well-known traditional remedy for dandruff and lice in both humans and animals. It is used to treat parasite-caused diseases such as malaria and visceral leishmaniasis. Chewing the pods is used to address mouth and throat problems including pharyngitis and mouth sores, as well as tooth decay and plaque reduction. The fruit pods or a leaf tea are used to relieve constipation, indigestion, and other digestive complaints. It is considered a natural cleanser, laxative, and diuretic. Recent research has confirmed antidermatophytic properties that combat fungi responsible for skin diseases, along with antimicrobial and antibacterial activity and phytochemicals with potential antioxidant ability.
Other Uses
The bark is a source of tannins, making this plant significant as a tannin crop. The pods are rich in saponins and are widely used in India as a detergent for washing silk and woollen goods, and are very commonly used as a hair wash. They are also effective for cleaning tarnished silver. Yarn washed with the pods before dyeing is said to produce superior results. To prepare the cleansing material, the fruit pods, leaves, and bark are dried, ground into a powder, and made into a paste.
Wikipedia
Evergreen tree reaching 10m tall and wide at medium growth rate. Hardy to UK zone 10 but frost tender. Flowers attract bees, beetles, butterflies, and wasps. Fixes nitrogen in soil. Prefers light sandy or medium loamy, well-drained soil and tolerates nutritionally poor conditions. Grows in neutral pH soils. Requires full sun and cannot tolerate shade. Drought tolerant but not wind resistant. Prefers dry soil.
Production
Plants flower throughout the year. Fruit are on trees from February to March.
Other Information
It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea. It is sold in local markets in Cambodia and Laos.
Notes
There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. The pods of this one are used for soap. Also as Mimosaceae.
Names & Synonyms
Aila, Atouqie, Banritha, Chikaka, Chikakai, Kate-kate kecil, Keo dep, Kin-mon-chin, Kochi, Lahiur, Nemukazura, Phitaogiap, Ritha, Shikai, Shikakai, Shikaya, Sige, Sikakai, Soap-pod tree, Som poi, Song bai
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