Albizia grandibracteata (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
| Albizia grandibracteata (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Albizia grandibracteata, Fabaceae, indigenous
habit
leaf
flowers, leaf
flowers
Common names
- English: Large-leaved albizia
- Gimirigna: Sat, Serri
- Oromugna: Shawo, Kofale, Alele, Halele, Emela, Elele
Ecology
Grows in rain forest and riverine forest. Prefers Moist and Wet Kolla and Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones in Ilubabor, Kefa, Wolega, Shoa, and Sidamo regions, 1,200–1,700 m. Uses Firewood, farm tools, medicine (infusion from the roots), bee forage, ornamental, mulch, nitrogen fixation, soap (bark).
Description
A medium-sized deciduous tree with a straight trunk to 20 m and a flattened or layered crown.
- BARK: Fairly smooth, pale grey-brown.
- LEAVES: Compound, on a stalk to 9 cm with only 2–3 pairs of pinnae and 3–6 pairs of leaflets, pink-red when young. The smallest leaflets at the base, the longest at the tip reach 7 cm, rather curved and pointed. At the base of young leaves are rounded pink-green leafy stipules, to 2 cm long.
- FLOWERS: In colourful hemispherical heads, mostly pink with dark red anthers seen well beyond the petals.
- FRUIT: Flat, pale brown pods, narrow, to 15 cm with a small pointed tip. Dense papery bunches can be seen on bare trees, 5–8 seeds are set free when the pods split open.
Propagation
Seedlings, wildings.
Seed
- Treatment: Not necessary for fresh seed, soaking in hot or cold water may enhance germination of stored seed.
- Storage: Can be stored if insect attack is prevented.
Management
Fast growing on well-watered forest soils, produces root suckers from exposed surface roots.
Remarks
A striking tree when in flower. The pale wood, although easily worked, is not very durable and is attacked by insects. In other properties it is similar to A. gummifera. The name “grandibracteata” refers to the “large bracts” of the young leaves.
