Forest long-pod albizia
Albizia schimperiana

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 30-40 m high. It loses its leaves for a month. The trunk is straight. The flat crown can be 30 m across. Three varieties are recognised. The bark may be poisonous. The leaves have 4-7 pairs of leaflet stalks with 6-22 pairs of leaflets. They are unevenly oblong. They are often hairy and more pale underneath. The flowers are in loose heads. They are creamy-white. The fruit are flattened pods up to 34 cm long. They are brown.

Probably edible. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It is often in gullies in high altitude rainforests. It suits humid locations. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The resin is picked off the bark and eaten. Caution: It can possibly cause diarrhoea.

Edible parts

Resin, gum

How it is grown

It can be grown by seeds.

The resin is only available in some years.

Its other names

Local names

Endrona, Mugerenje, Salwa mucha, Sessa, Tawla mucha

Synonyms

Albizia amaniensis Baker. f.; Albizia maranguensis Taub. & Engl.;