Umukinga (Flood Plain Acacia)
Vachellia kirkii
A multi-stemmed shrub or tree (2.5-15m) with a spreading, flat-topped crown typical of savanna acacias, and dark, aromatic, peeling bark. Strongly tied to seasonally-flooded ground near rivers and lakes.
- Kinyarwanda name
- Umukinga
- English name
- Flood Plain Acacia
- Scientific name
- Vachellia kirkii
- Family
- Fabaceae
Habitat
Seasonally-flooded woodland, wooded grassland and mixed scrub on floodplains, riverbanks and lake margins, on nutrient-rich alluvial/clay soils, sea level to about 1,980m.
Distribution
Tropical Africa from Guinea and Mali east to DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe; confirmed present in Rwanda.
Uses
The bark is used to brew an aromatic tea; the roots treat stomach complaints and internal ailments and fix nitrogen in the soil. Firewood.
Ecological importance
Nitrogen-fixing root nodules enrich soil for itself and neighbouring plants; as a floodplain species it helps stabilise riparian and floodplain soils.
Ibisobanuro
Mu bishishwa batekamo icyayi. Imizi ishyira mu butaka ifumbire (Nitrogene). Imizi ivura mu Gifu.