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Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica facts for kids

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Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Clade: Mimosoideae
Genus: Vachellia
Species:
Subspecies:
V. n. subsp. indica
Trinomial name
Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica
(Benth.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
Synonyms
  • Acacia arabica sensu auct.
  • Acacia arabica var. indica Benth.
  • Acacia nilotica var. indica (Benth.) A.F.Hill
  • Acacia nilotica var. indica (Benth.) Brenan

The Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica is a type of tree that lives for many years. It is originally from countries like Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. People also grow this tree in places such as Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.

This tree has many common names. Some people call it babul, kikar, or prickly acacia. It is very useful for many things. People use it for making chemical products and managing the environment. It also provides fiber, food, drinks, and animal feed. The tree is also used in medicine and for its wood.

What the Babul Tree is Used For

The babul tree is very helpful in many ways. Its different parts can be used for various purposes.

Tannin from the Babul Tree

The bark of the Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica tree contains a lot of something called tannin. Tannin is a natural substance that can be used to make leather. It helps to preserve animal skins so they don't rot. The bark of this tree has more than 20% tannin.

The pods of the tree, which are like seed cases, also have tannin. If you take out the seeds, the pods can have about 18% to 27% tannin. This makes the babul tree a good source for this useful material.

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