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''Albizia'' is a genus of more than 160 species of mostly fast-growing
''Albizia'' is a genus of more than 160 species of mostly fast-growing subtropical
The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...
and tropical trees and shrub
A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...
s in the subfamily Mimosoideae
The Mimosoideae are a traditional subfamily of trees, herbs, lianas, and shrubs in the pea family (Fabaceae) that mostly grow in tropical and subtropical climates. They are typically characterized by having radially symmetric flowers, with petals ...
of the family Fabaceae. The genus is pantropical, occurring in Asia, Africa, Madagascar, America and Australia, but mostly in the Old World
The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...
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. 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 Maracay in Venezuela is a huge '' Albizia saman'' specimen several hundred years old. Theleaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
are pinnately or bipinnately compound. The small flowers are in bundles, with stamen
The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...
s much longer than the petal
Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...
s. The stamens are usually showy, although in some species such as '' A. canescens'' the flowers are inconspicuous.
Unlike those of ''Mimosa'', ''Albizia'' flowers have many more than 10 stamens. ''Albizia'' can also be told apart from another large related genus, ''Acacia
''Acacia'', commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa and Australasia. The genus na ...
'', by its stamens, which are joined at the bases instead of separate.
Taxonomy
Numerous species placed in ''Albizia'' by early authors were eventually moved to other genera, most notably '' Archidendron''. Other genera ofIngeae
The Mimosoideae are a traditional subfamily of trees, herbs, lianas, and shrubs in the pea family ( Fabaceae) that mostly grow in tropical and subtropical climates. They are typically characterized by having radially symmetric flowers, with peta ...
('' Abarema'', ''Archidendropsis
''Archidendropsis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,Blanchetiodendron'', '' Calliandra'', ''
Cathormion
''Cathormion'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae
Caesalpinioideae is a botanical name at the rank of subfamily, placed in the large family Fabaceae or ...
'', ''Enterolobium
''Enterolobium'' is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, native to tropical and warm-temperate regions of the Americas. They are medium-sized to large trees.Germplasm Resources Information Network''Enterolobium''Inter ...
'', ''Havardia
''Havardia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae.
Species
* '' Havardia albicans'' (Kunth) Britton & Rose
* '' Havardia campylacanthus'' (L.Rico & M.Sousa) ...
'', ''Hesperalbizia
''Hesperalbizia'' is a genus of flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, ve ...
'', ''Hydrochorea
''Hydrochorea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It contains a mere 3 species at present:ILDIS (2005)
* '' Hydrochorea corymbosa'' (Rich.) Barneby & J.W.G ...
'', ''Pararchidendron
''Pararchidendron'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae
Caesalpinioideae is a botanical name at the rank of subfamily, placed in the large family Fabaceae ...
'', ''Paraserianthes
''Paraserianthes'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae.
Taxonomy
''Paraserianthes'' includes only one species:
* ''Paraserianthes lophantha'' (Willd.) I.C.Nie ...
'', ''Pseudosamanea
''Pseudosamanea cubana'' is a tree species in the legume family (Fabaceae). It is found only in Cuba.
Presently, this is the only member of the genus ''Pseudosamanea''. ''Pseudosamanea guachapele'' is a junior synonym
The Botanical and Zoolog ...
'' and ''Serianthes
''Serianthes'' is a genus of flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vesse ...
'') have also received their share of former ''Albizia'' species, as have the Mimoseae '' Newtonia'' and ''Schleinitzia
''Schleinitzia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae.
Species include:
*''Schleinitzia fosbergii
''Schleinitzia fosbergii'' is a species of flowering plant ...
''. Some presumed "silk trees" are in fact misidentified members of the not very closely related genus '' Erythrophleum'' from the Caesalpinioideae
Caesalpinioideae is a botanical name at the rank of subfamily, placed in the large family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. Its name is formed from the generic name ''Caesalpinia''. It is known also as the peacock flower subfamily. The Caesalpinioideae ...
and ''Lebeckia
''Lebeckia'' is a genus of plants in the family Fabaceae native to the fynbos ( Cape Floristic Kingdom) of South Africa. Several members of ''Lebeckia'' were recently transferred to other genera (''Calobota'' and '' Wiborgiella''). Members of ''L ...
'' from the Faboideae.
The delimitation of ''Falcataria
''Falcataria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the monophyletic Mimosoideae, Mimosoid clade in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. The genus has three species previously classified in the ''Falcataria'' section of ...
'' 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 moluccana'' (the Moluccan albizia, formerly named ''Albizia moluccana''), a common shade tree on tea plantations. Other closely related genera like ''Chloroleucon
''Chloroleucon'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. Some authorities consider it part of the genus ''Albizia''. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρóς (''chloros''), meaning "green," and λευκός (''leukos' ...
'' and ''Samanea
''Samanea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. The type species is ''Samanea saman'' from South America.
Taxonomy
The name Samanea comes from ''saman'' ...
'' are often merged with ''Albizia'' entirely.
Uses
Albizias are important forage, timber, andmedicinal plants
Medicinal plants, also called medicinal herbs, have been discovered and used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. Plants synthesize hundreds of chemical compounds for various functions, including defense and protection ag ...
, and many are cultivated as ornamentals for their attractive flowers – notably '' Albizia julibrissin''.
Some species are used as food plants by the larvae
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
The ...
of moths in the genus '' Endoclita'', including '' E. damor'', '' E. malabaricus'', and '' E. sericeus''.
Invasiveness
Molucca albizia ('' Falcataria moluccana'' (synonyms: ''Adenanthera falcataria, Albizia falcataria, Paraserianthes falcataria'')) is considered aninvasive species
An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...
in Hawaii and on many other Pacific Islands. The tree grows very rapidly and can quickly colonize disturbed areas in wet environments. It tends to shed large branches, damaging power lines, houses, and other infrastructure in Hawaii.
See also
* List of ''Albizia'' speciesFootnotes
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q664945 Forages Pantropical flora Fabaceae genera zh:合欢