Kumukokwe - Falcon’s claw acacia (acacia polyacantha)

Derivation of the name: Kumukoko - stem that fell across the river and hence was used as a bridge. The tree grows along stream banks and occasionally falls across the stream.

Natural habitat and distribution in bungoma: Habitat: woodland and wooded grassland, alluvial soil in river valleys.

Distribution: most common Acacia tree, found in wet woodland and wet dense bushland, abundant in plains with impeded water drainage, widely distributed in grazing land.

Description: Bark pale yellowish, flaking, papery beneath, hooked prickles are found scattered on the stem. Leaves very small, 13-40 pairs of pinnae, each bearing 26 - 64 pairs of leaflets, hairy stalk with a large gland before the first pair of pinnae. Flowers in axillary spikes up to 12 cm long, white to cream. Pod flat, 10 - 15 cm long, dark brown, 5 - 9 seeds.

Physical Features: Medium to large sized tree. Crown: somehow layered, flattened on top.  Foliage: feathery, deciduous, not dense.

Biological Featues: Mulch: good mulch quality, not much litter fall.

Tree/crop association: the tree is said to be harmful to any crop but few are found in cultivated fields. Frequently accepted in poorly drained soils.

Biomass Production: fast growing tree.

Other characteristics: host to many insects ( termite, wood borer ), resistant to termite and wood borer attack, the tree contains a resin.

Reproduction: prolific seeder.

Management: pollarding, coppicing.

Ecological benefit: soil reclamation, soil protection in plains and river valleys.

Tree products and use: fuelwood, charcoal, fodder, bee forage, gum ( edible ), raft, salt substitute, ( wood ash ), posts, fencing.

Medicinal Application: Root: abdominal pain, diarrhoea, abdominal swelling in children, repellent against snakes, Bark: neck swelling.

Cultural features: The wood of the tree was used for building rafts called kumwambukhilo and for the construction of swinging bridges.