Albizia
Albizia | |
---|---|
Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), foliage and blossoms | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
Genus: | Albizia Durazz. (1772) |
Diversity | |
About 150 species | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Albizia is a genus of more than 160 species of mostly fast-growing subtropical and tropical trees and shrubs in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae. The genus is pantropical, occurring in Asia, Africa, Madagascar, America and Australia, but mostly in the Old World tropics. In some locations, some species are considered weeds.
They are commonly called silk plants, silk trees, or sirises. The obsolete spelling of the generic name – with double 'z' – is still common, so the plants may be called albizzias. The generic name honors the Italian nobleman Filippo degli Albizzi, who introduced Albizia julibrissin to Europe in the mid-18th century.[2] Some species are commonly called mimosa, which more accurately refers to plants of genus Mimosa. Species from southeast Asia used for timber are sometime termed East Indian walnut.
Description
They are usually small trees or shrubs with a short lifespan, though the famous Samán del Guère near
Unlike those of Mimosa, Albizia flowers have many more than 10 stamens. Albizia can also be told apart from another large related genus, Acacia, by its stamens, which are joined at the bases instead of separate.[4]
Taxonomy
Numerous species placed in Albizia by early authors were eventually moved to other genera, most notably
The delimitation of Falcataria and Pithecellobium, close relatives of Albizia, is notoriously complex, with species having been moved between the genera time and again, and this will likely continue. These include Falcataria falcata (the Moluccan albizia, formerly named Albizia moluccana), a common shade tree on tea plantations. Other closely related genera like Chloroleucon and Samanea are often merged with Albizia entirely.[5]
Uses
Albizias are important
Some species are used as food plants by the larvae of moths in the genus Endoclita, including E. damor, E. malabaricus, and E. sericeus.
Invasiveness
Molucca albizia (
See also
References
- ^ Albizia Durazz. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ Albizia adianthifolia. South African National Biodiversity Institute.
- ^ Lowry, J.B. 2008. Trees for Wood and Animal Production in Northern Australia. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. Indooroopilly, Queensland.
- ISBN 1-57808-351-6.
- ^ a b ILDIS (2005)
- ^ Lowry, J.B.; Prinsen, J.H. & Burrows, D.M. (1994): 2.5 Albizia lebbeck – a Promising Forage Tree for Semiarid Regions. In: Gutteridge, Ross C. & Shelton, H. Max (eds.): Forage Tree Legumes in Tropical Agriculture. CAB Intemational. HTML fulltext Archived 2007-04-05 at the Wayback Machine
- S2CID 11823016.
- ^ "Albizia julibrissin". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced)- Molucca albizia - CTAHR UH Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Albizia (Falcataria moluccana) – BIISC Archived 2012-10-30 at the Wayback Machine.
External links
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Albizia". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.