Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth.

Global description

Albizia lebbeck is a tree, woody, upright, measuring up to 15 m high. It is a tree with a spreading crown, a straight trunk and an orange-beige bark. The leaves are alternate and bipinnate. The petiole has a discoid gland at the base and between the leaflets. The leaves, of dark green color, measure up to 40 cm length. They are composed of 2 to 4 pairs of opposite pinas (4 to 14 cm long), themselves composed and bearing 4 to 9 pairs of opposite, oblong to obovate leaflets, 2 to 5 cm long and 10 to 17 mm wide, with the main vein off center near the upper margin. The apex is rounded and the base asymmetrical, the margin is entire. Both sides are glabrous. The inflorescence is a large axillary glomerule of fragrant white flowers. The white to yellowish stamens, measure 2 to 3,5 cm length and are much longer than the flower. The fruit is a large pod of 13 to 30 cm length and 2,5 to 5 cm broad, oblong, flattened, attenuated at the two ends, clearly bulging at the level of seeds, beige, glabrous and coriaceous papyracée. It contains 7 to 8 seeds of 15 mm of diameter, compressed.

Origin

Albizia lebbeck is native to tropical Asia (Pakistan, India, Burma and the Himalayan foothills).

Worldwide distribution

This species has been introduced in all tropical regions, Central America and northern South America, all tropical Africa, Indian Ocean islands (Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Mayotte, Reunion, Seychelles), Arabian Peninsula, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia and Pacific islands (New Caledonia, French Polynesia).

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