Albizia lebbeck, Mimosa lebbeck
Womans tongue, Siris-tree, Rain tree, East Indian walnut, Kokko, Soros-tree, Raom treeFamily: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Mimosoideae
Origin: India, Burma and the Andaman Island
Albizia lebbeck, Mimosa lebbeck is a fast-growing tree, that is susceptible to wind damage. A moderate to large, deciduous tree can grow up to 100 feet high in rain forests. The tree develops a straight trunk when it is grown in dense forests, but is spreading and low branching in the open. Unless trimmed frequently, the trees will annually produce an abundance of seed from papery pods about 8" long and 1" wide (author). Common names such as "woman's tongue" and "rattle pod" derive from the noise of pods shaking in the wind. The foliage is pale green when young and gray-green at maturity. Flowers are cream colored, hemispheric pom-poms. Seeds germinate well without scarification.
The tree is used as a folk remedy for many ailments. Another common use is as an avenue tree, and sometimes it is used to shade coffee and tea. Saponins and tannins in the bark can be used for making soap and in tanning, respectively. Bee keepers like the species for the light-colored honey its nectar provides, and the tree hosts the lac insect.
Similar plants:
- Albizia julibrissin (Silk Tree)
- Albizia sp. (Albizia)
- Paraserianthes lophantha, Albizia lophantha (Cape Leeuwin Wattle, Crested Wattle)
- Samanea saman, Albizia saman, Pithecellobium saman (Monkeypod, Rain Tree, Cenizaro, Cow Tamarind)
- Acacia cavenia, Mimosa caven (Espino Cavan, Roman Cassie)
- Dichrostachys cinerea, Cailliea glomerata, Dichrostachys glomerata, Dichrostachys nutans, Mimosa cinerea (West African Sickle Bush, Marabou Thorn, Aroma, Kalahari Christmas tree, Chinese lantern tree, Marabou-thorn, Princess Earrings)
- Enterolobium contortisiliquum, Mimosa contortisiliqua (Earpod Tree, Orelha-de-macaco)
- Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena glauca, Mimosa leucocephala, Acacia leucocephala (Wild Tamarind, Lead Tree)
- Lysiloma latisiliquum, Acacia bahamensis, Acacia formosa, Acacia latisiliqua, Leucaena latisiliqua, Lysiloma bahamensis, Lysiloma latisiliqua, Mimosa latisiliqua (Bahamas Lysiloma, Candelon, False Tamarind, Wild Tamarind)
- Mimosa albida (Mimosa)
