acacias

acacia \a*ca"cia\ ([.a]*k[=a]"sh[.a] or [.a]*k[=a]"sh[i^]*[.a]),
   n.; pl. E. {acacias} ([.a]*k[=a]"sh[.a]z), L. {acaciae}
   ([.a]*k[=a]"sh[i^]*[=e]). [L. from Gr. 'akaki`a; orig. the
   name of a thorny tree found in Egypt; prob. fr. the root ak
   to be sharp. See {Acute}.]
   1. [capitalized] A genus of leguminous trees and shrubs.
      Nearly 300 species are Australian or Polynesian, and have
      terete or vertically compressed leaf stalks, instead of
      the bipinnate leaves of the much fewer species of America,
      Africa, etc. Very few are found in temperate climates.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Med.) The inspissated juice of several species of acacia;
      -- called also {gum acacia}, and {gum arabic}. AS
      [1913 Webster] Acacin