About Senegalia polyacantha (Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger
Senegalia polyacantha, synonymized as Acacia polyacantha and commonly called white thorn, is a flowering tree that can reach up to 25 meters in height. Its specific epithet polyacantha translates to "many thorns" in Latin. This tree is native to Africa, India, Asia, and the Indian Ocean region, and has been introduced to the Caribbean. The root of Senegalia polyacantha subsp. campylacantha releases chemical compounds that repel animals such as rats, snakes, and crocodiles. The roots, and possibly the bark, of this tree have medicinal applications. Root extract is used to treat snakebites, and is also applied as a wash for the skin of children who experience nighttime agitation. The root is additionally used to treat gonorrhea, other venereal diseases, dysentery, and gastrointestinal disorders.
