Schleinitzia novoguineensis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree from 4.5 to 20 m tall. It has spreading branches and a feathery crown. The young stems and leaf stalk are densely hairy. The leaves are sensitive. The leaflets are in 17-24 pairs each with 40-50 pairs of leaflets. These are 2-5 mm long and 0.5-1 mm wide. The flower heads are 1 cm across. The fruit or pods are red brown and straight. They are 4 to 8 cm long and 1.4 to 2 cm wide. They have 15-20 seeds. The seeds are black and shiny.

Also as Mimosaceae. It is used as a tree legume to restore soils.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They are common on beach edges and coastal plains but one variety can grow up to 1800 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Probably not edible.

How it is grown

It is often a short lived tree.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Schleinitzia microphylla Warb.; Prosopis insularum (Guill.) Bret var. novo-guineensis (Warb.) Bret.; Piptadenia novo-guineensis Warb.