Leucaena
Leucaena leucocephala

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small erect tree. It grows to 6-10 m high. It has fine divided leaves. The leaves have 2 rows of leaflets. The leaves are 15 to 25 cm long and the leaflets 8 to 16 cm long. They are a dark dull green on top and dull greyish green underneath. The flowers are white and in round heads. They are in the axils of leaves or on the ends of branches. The pods are flat and 10-15 cm long and 1.8 cm wide with 15-25 seeds inside. It has shiny brown seeds. There are 3 subspecies.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It is introduced and common at low and medium altitudes throughout the tropics. It is widespread from sea level up to about 1700 m altitude in the tropics. It is often used as shade for coffee. It is drought resistant. It grows in the Sahel. It can grow on dry and poor soils. It can tolerate salt. It needs well drained soil and full sun. In Nepal it grows to 1400 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Andamans, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central Africa, Central America, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial-Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, French Guiana, FSM, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hispaniola, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosrae, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rotuma, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Yap, Yemen, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The mature seeds are toasted and ground and used as a coffee substitute. They are also added to stews. The young leaves are sometimes used as a vegetable. The leaves can be eaten in small amounts. The tender pods and shoots are cooked as a vegetable. They are used in curries. CAUTION The leaves contain a chemical (mimosine) which causes hair to fall out.

Leaves and fruit are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, pods, fruit, seeds - coffee, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

It grows easily from seeds. It also regrows from cut stumps and it can be grown from cuttings. Plants are hard to eliminate and can become a weed problem in dry areas.

It grows very quickly. It grows to 8 m in 18 months. It can stand only light frosts.

Its other names

Local names

Ai-kafe, Aseik-pye, Aweya, Bak kased, Bawzagaing, Bochet, Caribbean tamarind, Cassie, Chigonglei angouba, Epil, Fuapepe, Guaje, Guaje verde, Hawaiian wattle, Horse Tamarind, Huajes, Ipil-ipil, 'ip'ipil, Jongta lem, Jumbie bean, Kamalandingan, Kaniti, Kanthumthet, Kased, Katin, Kawl-zawng-tah, Keo dau, Kok ka thin, Kraset, Krathan, Lamtoro seeds, Lasobaval, Lead tree, Liliaque, Lusia, Lusina, Mlusina, Nagarikesari, Nattuccavundal, Pelending, Petai china, Petai jawa, Peuteui selong, Phak kased, Phak ka thin, Pohon lamtoro, Popinac blanc, Ragarai, Rajokasundiri, Riopriop pen kune, Sneaky tree, Subabool, Takaranniram, Tangantangan, Telentund, Thin thai, Toira kadam, Vaivai, Vilayatibaral, White popinac, Wild tamarind, Wonderboom, Yod phak kased, Zongtasialnek

Synonyms

Acacia frondosa Willd.; Acacia glauca (L.) Benth.; Acacia leucocephala (Lam.) Link; Leucaena glabra Benth.; Leucaena glauca Benth.; Leucaena latisiliqua (L.) Gillis; Mimosa glauca L.; Mimosa latisiliqua L.; Mimosa leucocephala Lam.;