''Albizia zygia'' is a fast growing medium-sized tree species within the Fabaceae family that is commonly found in West and Central Africa.

Description

The species grows up to 30 meters tall. Its branches are ascending and wide spreading forming an open crown, the bark is greyish and fairly smooth. Leaves are pinnately compound, leaflets are obovate in shape with the terminal pairs usually the largest. Flowers are often white to reddish and its fruits are papery and brownish black pods, up to 20 cm long and 3.5 cm wide, seeds are usually produced when plant reaches maturity and are darkish brown.

Distribution and habitat

The species is commonly found largely in secondary high forest and

semi-deciduous Semi-deciduous or semi-evergreen is a botanical term which refers to plants that lose their foliage for a very short period, when old leaves fall off and new foliage growth is starting. This phenomenon occurs in tropical and sub-tropical woody spe ...

forest zones but it also occurs in primary forest and savannahs of West and Central Africa.

Uses

The plant is used as a

shade tree A shade tree is a large tree whose primary role is to provide shade in the surrounding environment due to its spreading canopy and crown, where it may give shelter from sunlight in the heat of the summer for people who seek recreational needs i ...

by Cocoa farmers. Leaves are boiled, dried and used to prepare vegetable soup.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15494310 Flora of West Tropical Africa Taxa named by James Francis Macbride Plants described in 1919 Edible plants

zygia ''Zygia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Selected species * '' Zygia cataractae'' (Kunth) L.Rico * '' Zygia claviflora'' (Spruce ex Benth.) Barneby & J ...