Acacia confusa

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Acacia confusa
File:Acacia confusa-01.jpg
Scientific classification
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A. confusa
Binomial name
Acacia confusa
File:Acacia-confusa-range-map.png
Range of Acacia confusa
Synonyms

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Acacia confusa is a perennial tree native to South-East Asia. Some common names for it are acacia petit feuille, small Philippine acacia, Formosa acacia (Taiwan acacia) and Formosan koa. It grows to a height of 15m. The tree has become very common in many tropical Pacific areas, including Hawaii, where the species is considered invasive.[3]

Uses

Its uses include chemical products, environmental management and food and drink. The bark may be ground into a powder and saturated into water to create a tea, or may be spread onto various foods as a spice and taste enhancer. The wood has a density of about 0.75 g/cm³.[4] In Taiwan, its wood is used to make support beams for underground mines. The wood is also converted to charcoal for family use. The plant is used in traditional medicine[5] and is available from herbal medicine shops (草藥店) in Taiwan, but there has been no clinical study to support its effectiveness. It is also frequently used as a durable flooring material.

Acacia confusa habit
File:Starr 061224-2814 Acacia confusa.jpg
Acacia confusa leaves and pods
File:Acacia confusa seeds.jpg
Acacia confusa seeds

Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals found in Acacia confusa:

Root bark

Seeds

Stems

  • N-methyltryptamine, 0.04%[6]
  • N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 0.01%[6]

Phyllodes

No alkaloids are found in the phyllodes (leaf-like structures).[6][dubious ]

Varieties

See also

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS)
  3. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
  4. FAO Appendix 1
  5. Li, Thomas S. C. Taiwanese Native Medicinal Plants: Phytopharmacology and Therapeutic Values, CRC Press (2006), ISBN 0-8493-9249-7, p.2. online GoogleBooks preview
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Lycaeum

External links