Introductory Agroforestry

ACACIA CATECHU

Botanical name : Acacia catechu Willd.
Common name : Khair, Katha tree, Cutch tree
Family : Leguminosae
Sub Family : Mimosoideae

Plate 12.1(a) Acacia catechu tree

Plate 12.1(b) Leaves and pods

Description

• A moderate sized deciduous tree with light feathery crown with crooked brown bole,
• Bark dark brown and red inside
• Branches are glabrous armed with recurved thorns
• The species is distinguished into three distinct varieties viz. Acacia catechu, variety catechuoides, variety sundra and variety catechu.

Distribution

• It is found throughout India except in humid and temperate region.
• It is widely distributed between 900-1200 m from Jammu to Assam.
• Variety catechu is found in Sikkim, Tarai, West Begal, Assam and upper Mynmar, Shiwalik hills of H.P. and Punjab and Haryana.
  
• Variety sundra is found in Indian Peninsular region and parts of Burma.

Climate

• Temperature - Maximum 40°C -50°C; Minimum 1°C
• Rainfall - 500mm to 2000mm
• Altitude - 1200m

Soil

• Acacia catechu grows on wide variety of soils such as sandy, gravelly alluviam, loam with varying proportions of sand and clay and black cotton soils.
• It is capable of growing on shallow soils with murram or kankar on which few other species can grow.

Phenology

• Leaf-fall - January-February
• Leaf renewal - April-May
• Flowering - April to August
• Fruiting - September-October
• Seed collection – October-November, December

Silvicultural characters

Strong light demander, frost and fire hardy, wind firm, browsed by animals.