Albizia amara is a tree in the family Fabaceae. Its range includes southern and Eastern Africa, from South Africa to Sudan and Ethiopia. It is also found in India and Sri Lanka.[2]
Albizia amara | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
Genus: | Albizia |
Species: | A. amara
|
Binomial name | |
Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boiv.
| |
Synonyms[1] | |
|
Albizia amara is a mid-sized, deciduous tree which resembles acacia without the thorns.[3] The bark of the tree is grey in color and is grainy and scaly.[3] The leaves consist of up to 15 pairs of side stalks and the leaflets are tiny and can consist of about 15–35 pairs.[3] The flowers are whitish-yellow powder puffs with long stamens and golden pollen.[3] The pods are flat and are about 20 cm long.[3] The leaves thin out during February–March and are renewed in April.[3] The flowers are present throughout May and the fruits ripen during October and November.[3] It is a host plant for Achaea janata.[4]
Albizia amara is intolerant of shade, and resistant to drought. In Africa it grows mainly in sandy woodlands.[2]
Albizia amara and Hardwickia binata are the dominant canopy trees in the Central Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests ecoregion of India.[5] It is also found in the Anamalai, Palani and Cardamom hills of Western Ghats and the Godavari area, the Javadi Hills of Eastern Ghats in South India.[6]
Medicinal uses
Its wood is used for construction and furniture, and as a firewood. Albizia amara provides many environmental services: control of soil erosion, wind break, shade provider. It is also an ornamental tree in urban areas. Ruminants can feed its leaves.[9]
In colonial times, in India, its "plentiful" wood was extensively used as railway fuel.[10]