Doon Siris (Albizia procera) pod at Jayanti, Duars, West Bengal W Picture 215

''Albizia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of more than 160

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

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 The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

s 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 Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Fabaceae. The genus is

pantropical A pantropical ("all tropics") distribution is one which covers Tropics, tropical regions of both hemispheres. Examples of species include caecilians, modern sirenians and the plant genera ''Acacia'' and ''Bacopa''. ''Neotropical'' is a zoogeogra ...

, 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

weed A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place", or a plant growing where it is not wanted.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. ...

s. 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 ''Albizia julibrissin'', the Persian silk tree, pink silk tree, or mimosa tree, is a species of tree in the family Fabaceae, native to southwestern Asia and eastern Asia. The genus is named after the Italian nobleman Filippo degli Albizzi, who i ...

'' to Europe in the mid-18th century. Some species are commonly called mimosa, which more accurately refers to plants of genus ''

Mimosa ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 590 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word (''mimos''), an "actor" or "mime", and the feminine suffix -''osa'', "resembl ...

''. 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 ) , image_skyline = , image_caption =Top:Maracay Municipal Garden and Las Delicias area, Second:Sindoni Tower, Los Tamarindo residential area and overview to Maracay, Third:Maestranza Cesar Giron Bullring Stadium, Girardot Square and Maracay ...

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

is a huge ''

Albizia saman ''Samanea saman'', also sometimes known as the rain tree, is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, now in the Mimosoid clade and is native to Central and South America. Its range extends from Mexico south to Peru and Brazil, ...

'' specimen several hundred years old. The

leaves 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

pinnate Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, and in ...

ly or bipinnately compound. The small

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s 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 ''Archidendron'' is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. Image:Archidendron lucyii foliage.jpg, ''Archidendron lucyii'' leaves Image:Pithecellobium jiringa.JPG, ''Archidendron pauciflorum'' fruits Image:Archidendron lucyii f ...

''. Other genera of

Ingeae 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 ''Abarema'' is a neotropical genus of large trees in the family ( Fabaceae). They grow from Mexico ('' Abarema idiopoda'') to Bolivia. Most of the species can be found in the Amazon Basin and the Guyana Highlands. They have a deep-green fernli ...

'', ''

Archidendropsis ''Archidendropsis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,Blanchetiodendron ''Blanchetiodendron'' 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 Fabace ...

'', ''

Calliandra ''Calliandra'' is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, in the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It contains about 140 species that are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Description T ...

'', '' Cathormion'', ''

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'', ''

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'', '' Pararchidendron'', ''

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'' 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 Caesalpinioideae is a botanical name at the rank of subfamily, placed in the large family Fabaceae or ...

''. Some presumed "silk trees" are in fact misidentified members of the not very closely related genus ''

Erythrophleum ''Erythrophleum'' is a genus of legume in the family Fabaceae. A partial list of species includes: * ''Erythrophleum africanum'' * ''Erythrophleum chlorostachys'' * ''Erythrophleum couminga'' Baill.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 Faboideae are a subfamily of the flowering plant family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. An acceptable alternative name for the subfamily is Papilionoideae, or Papilionaceae when this group of plants is treated as a family. This subfamily is wide ...

. 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 ''Pithecellobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek words πίθηκος (''pithêkos''), meaning "ape" or "monkey," and ἐλλόβιον (''ellobion''), meaning "earring," which r ...

'', 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 ''Falcataria falcata'' (syns. ''Albizia falcata'', ''Falcataria moluccana'' and ''Paraserianthes falcataria''), commonly known as the Moluccan albizia, is a species of fast-growing tree in the family Fabaceae. It is native to the Maluku Islands, ...

'' (the Moluccan albizia, formerly named ''Albizia moluccana''), a common shade tree on

tea Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh leaves of '' Camellia sinensis'', an evergreen shrub native to East Asia which probably originated in the borderlands of southwestern China and northe ...

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 Forage is a plant material (mainly plant leaves and stems) eaten by grazing livestock. Historically, the term ''forage'' has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used m ...

timber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, wi ...

, and

medicinal 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 Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...

for their attractive flowers – notably ''

''. 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 ...

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

s in the genus ''

Endoclita ''Endoclita'' is a genus of moths of the family Hepialidae. There are 60 described species found in eastern and southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Species *'' Endoclita aboe'' – India *'' Endoclita absurdus'' – China *'' Endoclit ...

'', including '' E. damor'', '' E. malabaricus'', and '' E. sericeus''.

Invasiveness

Molucca albizia (''

'' (synonyms: ''Adenanthera falcataria, Albizia falcataria, Paraserianthes falcataria'')) is considered an

invasive 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 ...

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

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.

Footnotes

External links