Albizia lebbeck
Content
Description
Erect, branched, deciduous tree, 30 m high;
Leaves:
Stipules inconspicuous.
Inflorescence consisting of 2 or more pedunculate corymbs in the distal leaf-axils or arranged in a short raceme at the end of branches, peduncle 10 cm, tomentose to sparsely puberulous, with corymbs composed of c. 15- 40 pedicellate dimorphic flowers.
Stamens white to yellow at base, pale green or yellowish green towards the top, 15-30 mm, tube shorter than the corolla tube, 4-5 mm.
Ovary sessile, 3-4 mm, glabrous.
Seeds elliptic(-oblong) in outline, to 10 by 6-7 by 1-1.5 mm, areole c. 5 by 2 mm, pleurogram parallel to the margins, open towards hilum.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Jawa (Jawa); Lesser Sunda Is.; Sulawesi (Sulawesi), E Africa present, Pantropical present, tropical mainland Asia present
Probably native of tropical mainland Asia or E Africa, now pantropical and cultivated; throughout Malesia; naturalized in areas with a seasonal climate: Java, Celebes, Lesser Sunda Islands.
Uses
Planted as a shade tree because of the rather short trunk and wide crown. Bark pounded used for soap in Java; the bark contains tannins. Foliage used for fodder. Wood moderately hard, rather durable; it seasons well and is used for furniture and general construction.
Citation
Wight & Arn. 1834 – In: Prod. p 275
Benth. 1986 – In: Fl. Thailand. p 186
Nielsen 1979 – In: Adansonia. p 220
Hassk. 1842 – In: Flora. p 54
Benth. 1983: p. 46. – In: Fl. Nouv.-Caled. et Depend. pl. 7
Miq. 1855 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat. p 22
Ho 1970 – In: Illus. Fl. S. Vietnam, ed. 2. p 805
Verdc. 1979: Manual New Guin. Legum. p 185
Nielsen 1981: p. 82. – In: Fl. Camb. Laos Vietnam. pl. 14: 9-15
Backer & Bakh. f. 1963 – In: Fl. Java. p 554
Whitm. 1972 – In: Tree Fl. Malaya. p 279
DC. 1825 – In: Prod. p 467
DC. 1825 – In: Prod. p 466
Benth. 1985 – In: Opera Bot. p 30
Kosterm. 1980 – In: Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceyl. p 502
Jacq. 1787 – In: Coll. p 47