Acacia catechu syn. Senegalia catechu is a deciduous, thorny tree which grows up to 15 m (50 ft) in height. The plant is called Khair in Hindi, and Kachu in Malay, hence the name was Latinized to "Catechu" in Linnaean taxonomy, as the type-species from which the extracts cutch and catechu are derived. Common names for it include Kher, Catechu, Cachou, Cutchtree, Black cutch, and Black catechu. Senegalia catechu is found in Asia, China, India and the Indian Ocean area.