Forest Siris, Brown Albizia
Albizia procera

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An erect medium sized tree. They are 10 to 25 m high. The twigs sometimes have hairs. The leaves are about 40 cm long and the pinnae are 6 to 10 in number and 15 to 20 cm long. The leaflets are 12 to 20 cm long. The flower is yellowish white in round heads at the ends of small branches. The pods are oblong, thin, smooth and flattened. They contain 8 to 10 seeds.

There are 145-150 Albizia species. They grow in the tropics and subtropics. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. They are common in forests throughout the Philippines. It grows in Nepal at 300-1100 m altitude. In Java it grows from the lowlands up to 1,200 m above sea level. It is damaged by frost. It suits warm tropical places near the coast. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Caribbean, Central America, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Fiji, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Laos, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sikkim, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are edible cooked. In times of famine the bark is ground into flour and eaten.

The bark is ground and used as a famine food. It is sold on local markets in Laos.

Edible parts

Leaves, pods, vegetable, bark

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. It can also be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Akleng-parang, Bellate, Doon siris, Karo, Karunthagara, Kayun, Kinhai, Konda vagei, Koroi, Mai-tawn, Phak thon, Pu wu, Safed Siris, Seto siris, Sibok, Silver bark rain tree, Sit, Tella chinduga, Thit-pyu, Tram kang, Vang-fek, Weru, White siris, Women’s Tongues

Synonyms

Acacia elata Voigt; Acacia procera (Roxb.) Willd.; Feuilleea procera (Roxb.) Kuntze; Lignum murinum-majus Rumph.; Mimosa coriaria Blanco; Mimosa elata Roxb.; Mimosa procera Roxb.;