An acacia tree native to North Africa and the Middle East that produces gum arabic, a substance used in adhesives and food additives.
From Arabic al-hashab. The tree is known scientifically as Acacia senegal and has been harvested for thousands of years.
Gum arabic from hashab trees kept medieval book binders in business—it was essential for illuminated manuscripts and is still used today in everything from soda to painting, making it worth serious money.
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