Gum arabic, also known as gum sudani, acacia gum, Arabic gum, gum acacia, acacia, Senegal gum, Indian gum, and by other names, is a natural gum consisting of the hardened sap of two species of the acacia tree, Acacia senegal and Vachellia (Acacia) seyal. The term "gum arabic" does not indicate a particular botanical source. In a few cases, the so-called "gum arabic" may not even have been collected from acacia species, but may originate from Combretum, Albizia, or some other genus. The gum is harvested commercially from wild trees, mostly in Sudan (80%) and throughout the Sahel, from Senegal to Somalia. The name "gum Arabic" was used in the Middle East at least as early as the 9th century. Gum arabic first found its way to Europe via Arabic ports, so retained its name. Gum arabic is a complex mixture of glycoproteins and polysaccharides predominantly consisting of arabinose and galactose. It is soluble in water, edible, and used primarily in the food industry and soft-drink industry as a stabilizer, with E number E414. Gum arabic is a key ingredient in traditional lithography and is used in printing, paint production, glue, cosmetics, and various industrial applications, including viscosity control in inks and in textile industries, though less expensive materials compete with it for many of these roles.
Senegalia senegal is a small thorny deciduous tree from the genus Senegalia, which is known by several common names, including gum acacia, gum arabic tree, Sudan gum and Sudan gum arabic. In parts of India, it is known as Kher or Khor. It is native to semi-desert regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as Oman, Pakistan, west coastal India. It grows to a height of 5–12 metres (16-40'), with a trunk up to 30 cm (1') in diameter. Sudan is the source of the world's highest quality gum arabic, known locally as hashab gum in contrast to the related, but inferior, gum arabic from Red acacia or talah gum.
The Catocalini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae. Adults of many species in the tribe are called underwing moths due to their vividly colored hindwings that are often covered by contrastingly dark, drab forewings.
Hypotacha is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae.
Hypotacha nigristria is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in South Africa.
Pericyma atrifusa is a moth of the family Erebidae.
Hypotacha alba is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania.
Hypotacha austera is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in Botswana and Namibia.
Hypotacha bubo is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in Kenya and Somalia.
Hypotacha glaucata is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in Ethiopia and Kenya.
Hypotacha indecisa is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It lives in Somalia, Yemen, India and Pakistan.
Hypotacha ochribasalis is a species of moth in the family Erebidae first described by George Hampson in 1896. It is found in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen and Iraq.
Hypotacha parva is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in Namibia.
Hypotacha pulla is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in Namibia.
Hypotacha raffaldii is a species of moth in the family Erebidae described by Emilio Berio in 1939. It is found in Eritrea, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen.
Hypotacha retracta is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa and Uganda.
Crypsotidia mesosema is a moth of the family Erebidae first described by George Hampson in 1913. It is found in Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan.
Crypsotidia remanei is a moth of the family Erebidae first described by Wiltshire in 1977. It is found in Cape Verde, Ghana, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan.
