Albizia amara

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]
Acacia wightii Wight & Arn Mimosa amara Roxb. Mimosa pulchella Roxb. Acacia nellyrenza Wight & Arn. Acacia amara Willd.

Description

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]

Ecology

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]

Uses

Albizia amara with flowers and pods

Medicinal uses

• The leaves and flowers are used for treatment of boils and ulcers. The leaf is also used for treatment of erysipelas.^[7]
• Paste of leaf and rootbark is used to cure both skin diseases and poisonous bites.^[8] [This journal is probably a predatory journal].
• The seeds are regarded as astringent and used in the treatment of piles, diarrhea and gonorrhea.^[8]
• The flowers are used as a remedy for cough, ulcers, dandruff and malaria.^[8]
• The pharmaceutical compounds of seeds and leaves has potential broad spectrum of anticancer activity.^[8]

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]

Gallery

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