Acacia confusa
Acacia confusa | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Genus: | Acacia |
Species: | A. confusa |
Binomial name | |
Acacia confusa Merr. | |
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Range of Acacia confusa | |
Synonyms | |
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.
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Phytochemicals
Phytochemicals found in Acacia confusa:
Root bark
- N-methyltryptamine, 1.43%[6]
- N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 1.15%[6]
Seeds
- Neurolathryogen (α-amino-β-oxalylaminopropionic acid), which can cause neurological damage, paralysis and death.[6]
Stems
Phyllodes
No alkaloids are found in the phyllodes (leaf-like structures).[6]
Varieties
- Acacia confusa var. inamurai Hayata
See also
References
- ↑ World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Acacia richii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS)
- ↑ Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
- ↑ FAO Appendix 1
- ↑ 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
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lycaeum
External links
- Acacia Confusa Global Distributor based in the U.S.
- Acacia confusa on DMT-Nexus Wiki
- Erowid Acacia vault
- Acacia confusa Merr. Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) (traditional Chinese) (English)
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