Albizia chinensis

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Albizia chinensis

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Description

Tree to 30(-43) m high, d.b.h. to 70(-140) cm. Branchlets slightly angular in the distal parts, terete, puberulous to tomentose, glabrescent. Leaves: Stipules auriculate, c. 1-1.5 by 0.6-3 cm, usually visible in young branches and inflorescence, caducous. Inflorescences consisting of pedunculate glomerules aggregated into terminal yellowish-green tomentose to hirsute panicles; Flowers dimorphic, bisexual, pentamerous. Stamens white at base, yellowish green at top, c. 20 mm, tube as long as to slightly longer than the corolla tube. Ovary glabrous, c. 3 mm, sessile. Seeds elliptic, flattened, c. 7 by 4-5 by 0.5-1 mm;

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; India present; Jawa (Jawa present); Lesser Sunda Is. present (Bali present); Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present); Sumatera (Sumatera present), Burma present, Ceylon present, Flores present, Larger part of mainland SE Asia with seasonal climate present, Lombok present, S China present, Sumba present, Sumbawa present, Timor present
Larger part of mainland SE Asia with seasonal climate: Ceylon, India, Burma, Indo-China, S China; in Malesia: Java, Lesser Sunda Islands (Bali, Lombok, Sumba, Sumbawa, Flores, Timor); not in the Malay Peninsula, in Sumatra and Borneo possibly only cultivated.

Uses

Commonly cultivated in areas with a seasonal climate; shade-tree in coffee and tea plantations; used in reforestation. Wood light, useful for light furniture and planking.

Notes

The Malesian collections do not differ from the ones from mainland SE Asia. The greatest variation can be observed in India. The Philippine specimens formerly referred to this species by Merrill (1910) have been referred to A. philippinensis Nielsen.

Citation

Merr. 1981: p. 84. – In: Fl. Camb. Laos Vietnam: pl. 15: 1-6
Benth. 1844 – In: Lond. J. Bot.: 92
Verdc. 1979: Manual New Guin. Legum.: 181
Merr. 1985: p. 188. – In: Fl. Thailand: f. 46: 1-6
Hassk. 1844: Cat. Hort. Bog.: 291
Cockb. 1976 – In: Trees Sabah: 187
Merr. 1985 – In: Opera Bot.: 40
Nielsen 1979 – In: Adansonia: 221
Merr. 1923 – In: Enum. Philipp.: 246