Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W.Wight

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Tree 4–30 m. high; crown flattened; bark grey to yellowish-brown and rough (rarely smooth in our area).

Morphology Branches

Young branchlets densely, rather coarsely and persistently rusty- to fulvous-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves:pinnae 5–8 pairs (rarely only 3 on occasional reduced leaves), each pinna more or less narrowing upwards; leaflets of 2 distal pairs of pinnae 9–17 pairs, obliquely rhombic-quadrate or -oblong, mostly about 7–17(–20) mm. long and 4–9(–11) mm. wide; proximal margin at base usually more or less rounded into the pulvinus but not auriculate; apex of leaflet usually obtuse and mucronate, sometimes subacute, surface of leaflet thinly pubescent above, rather plentifully pubescent all over beneath, raised venation beneath close.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules and bracts at base of peduncles ovate, about 5–12 mm. long and 3–6(–8) mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Peduncles clothed as the young branchlets; bracteoles variably persistent, linear-spathulate to oblanceolate, 5–8 mm. long, exceeding the flower-buds.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers subsessile; pedicels pubescent, 0.5–1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2.5–4 (rarely only 2) mm. long, pubescent outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 6–11 mm. long, pubescent outside, white or greenish-white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal tube exserted about 1.3–2 cm. beyond corolla, red to wholly greenish or pink.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod oblong, flat or slightly transversely plicate, 9–19 cm. long, 1.9–3.2 (–? 4) cm. wide, more or less densely and persistently pubescent, not glossy, prominently venose, usually pale brown.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 7–9.5 mm. long, 6.5–8.5 mm. wide, flattened.

Figures

Figs. 21/6–9, p. 159, & 22/2, p. 163.

Habitat

Lowland rain-forest, deciduous woodland and wooded grassland, also in upland grassland; 30–1680 m.

Distribution

widespread in tropical and extending to South Africa, from Gambia and Kenya southwards to Angola and Pondoland K7 P T1 T2 T3 T4 T6 T7 T8 U2 U4 Z

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Guinea-Congolia/Zambezia regional transition zone; forest., Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; forest, Guineo-Congolian transition woodland, Lake Victoria regional mosaic; forest., Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; forest

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Tree

Vernacular

Albizzia, Pampena, Sambalahe, Sambalahy, Volomborona, Voulouni-bourou

Leguminosae, J.P.M. Brenan. Flora Zambesiaca 3:1. 1970

Morphology General Habit

Tree (2·5)4-30 m. high; crown flattened; bark grey to yellowish-brown and rough (rarely smooth in our area); young branchlets densely rather coarsely and persistently rusty- to fulvous-pubescent; pubescence sometimes becoming grey as the branchlet ages.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves: pinnae 5-8 pairs (rarely only 3 on occasional reduced leaves), each pinna ± narrowing upwards; leaflets of 2 distal pairs of pinnae (8)9-17 pairs, mostly c. 7-17(24) x 4-9(15) mm., obliquely rhombic-quadrate or -oblong; proximal margin at base usually ± rounded into the pulvinus but not auriculate; apex of leaflet usually obtuse and mucronate, sometimes subacute, surface of leaflet thinly pubescent above, rather plentifully pubescent all over beneath, raised venation beneath close.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules and bracts at base of peduncles c. 5-12 x 3-6(8) mm., ovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Peduncles clothed as the young branchlets; bracteoles variably persistent, 5-8 mm. long, exceeding the flower-buds, linear-spathulate to oblanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers subsessile; pedicels pubescent, 0·5-1(2) mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2·5-5 (rarely only 2) mm. long, pubescent outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 6-11 mm. long, white or greenish-white, pubescent outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal tube exserted c. 1·3-2.5 cm. beyond the corolla, red to wholly greenish or pink.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod dehiscent, 9-19 x 1·9-3·4(4·3) cm., usually pale brown, oblong, flat or slightly transversely plicate, ± densely and persistently pubescent, not glossy, prominently venose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 7-9·5 x 6·5-8·5 mm., flattened.

Kew Species Profiles

General Description

Albizia adianthifolia is an African and Madagascan member of the pea and bean family (Leguminosae/Fabaceae). Like other Albizia species, it readily colonises any clearing and grows rapidly in its early years (about 2 m per year). Flat-crown albizia lives in association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which penetrate its root cells in a mutually beneficial relationship that contributes to the rapid growth of the tree. The roots also have nitrogen-fixing nodules containing Bradyrhizobium bacteria.

Species Profile

Geography and distribution

Found in tropical and southern humid Africa, flat-crown albizia also occurs in eastern Madagascar.

It grows in a wide range of soil types, most often occurring on sandy soils and usually between 250-600 m, though it can occur up to 1,700 m above sea level.

It usually grows in evergreen forest, deciduous woodland, wooded grassland, secondary vegetation, remnant miombo woodland among cultivated fields and along the banks of streams.

Description

Overview: A tree up to 35 m tall, with a slightly buttressed trunk up to 95 cm in diameter. The bark is grey to yellowish-brown and fairly smooth or sometimes roughish (likened by some to crocodile skin).

Leaves: Up to 20 cm long, resembling fronds of the fern genus Adianthum , from which the species takes its name ( adianthifolia ). The stipules (leaf-like appendages) are relatively large, 7.0 mm long and 2.5 mm wide, lanceolate and readily detach from the plant. The petioles (leaf stalks) are densely hairy and have a gland (extra-floral nectary) near the base.

Flowers: Reddish or greenish white, bisexual and almost sessile (lacking a flower stalk), aggregated into stalked heads. The petals are partly fused into a 5-9 mm long tube, which is hairy on the outside. The red to pink or greenish stamens (male parts) are numerous, 3-4 cm long (and thus protrude a long way from the tube formed by the petals), and are united into a tube for most of their length, although the tips are free and presented like an open fan. The long staminal tubes suggest that it is pollinated by butterflies or moths. At least two butterflies - the blue spotted charaxes ( Charaxes cithaeron ) and the satyx charaxes ( C. ethalion ) - have been reported to breed on it in the Natal province of South Africa.

Fruits: A flat pod 9.0-19.0 × 2.0-3.5 cm, covered in dense but fine hairs, with a stipe (stalk) about 5 mm long. The fruit is pale brown when ripe and opens along the margin exposing 7-10 seeds.

Similar species

Albizia adianthifolia is frequently confused with Albizia gummifera , which differs in its almost hairless leaflets and hairless pods. However, almost hairless plants of Albizia adianthifolia have also been recorded, and more research is needed to confirm the separation of the two species. Possible hybrids have been recorded from Malawi and Mozambique.

Threats and conservation

Albizia adianthifolia has been recorded as common in its natural habitat, and although it is used in many different ways, it is not currently threatened by over-exploitation. It is sometimes even considered an aggressive colonizer. There are no known conservation measures specifically for flat-crown albizia, but it occurs in many protected areas. Samples of seeds are stored in Kew's Millennium Seed Bank as an ex situ conservation measure.

Conservation assessments carried out by Kew

Albizia adianthifolia is being monitored as part of the IUCN Sampled Red List Index for Plants project, which aims to produce conservation assessments for a representative sample of the world's plant species. This information will then be used to monitor trends in extinction risk and help focus conservation efforts where they are needed most.

Uses

Albizia adianthifolia is often used for firewood and making charcoal. It is also planted as a shade tree for crops such as cocoa and tea and for soil improvement and conservation, as it produces a deep and expansive rooting system and protects crops from the sun. The leaves are boiled to make a drink, and the bark is cooked with food in Madagascar. Its sweet-smelling gum or resin is used in cosmetics in some African countries.

The roots, bark and young shoots are widely used in traditional medicine. The bark is poisonous but is used medicinally by the Zulu of South Africa who also sometimes make a love charm from the plant. They also prepare an infusion (hot or cold) from the bark and roots to treat skin diseases such as scabies. A cold extract from the roots alone is applied to inflamed eyes. In Mozambique, the bark is used in a remedy for bronchitis. Sap from the fresh bark is used in Congo (Brazzaville) to kill filaria in the eye mucosa and is also administered for conjunctivitis, the latter apparently being a painful treatment.

There are at least 70 local names for the whole plant or fruits, seeds and products made from it.

Millennium Seed Bank: Seed storage

The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life worldwide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault.

Two collections of Albizia adianthifolia seeds are held in Kew's Millennium Seed Bank based at Wakehurst in West Sussex.

Cultivation

Seeds should be collected from pods that are still attached to the tree to reduce damage by bruchids (seed boring beetles) and should be dried immediately after collection. Seeds can be stored for up to 3 months if ash is added to reduce insect damage. Experiments in Ghana have shown that Albizia adianthifolia can be successfully propagated vegetatively by root cuttings. Seedlings require strong light in order to become established in the wild.

This species at Kew

Dried and alcohol-preserved specimens of Albizia adianthifolia are held in Kew's Herbarium where they are available to researchers by appointment. The details of some of these, including some images, can be seen online in Kew's Herbarium Catalogue.

Specimens of bark and wood from flat-crown albizia are held in Kew's Economic Botany Collection, where they are available to researchers, by appointment.

Distribution

Congo-Brazzaville, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa

Ecology

Evergreen forest, deciduous woodland, wooded grassland or in secondary vegetation.

Conservation

Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN Red List criteria.

Hazards

The bark is reported to be poisonous.

Mimosaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

A tree, to 120 ft. high, mainly in regrowth forest

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers greenish-white with reddish staminal tube.

Use

Ornamental, shade tree, medicine, resin, timber, cosmetics, erosion control and soil improvement.