Smooth-bark flat-crown
Albizia gummifera

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A large spreading tree. It grows 30 m high. It is flat-topped. There are 2 varieties and it can form hybrids. It usually has smooth bark. The branches have fine hairs. The leaves are twice divided with 5-7 pairs of leaflet stalks and 9-16 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are only hairy underneath along the midrib. The flowers are in half round heads. They are white. The fruit is a pod which is pale brown or reddish.

There are 145-150 Albizia species. They grow in the tropics and subtropics. Also as Mimosaceae. The leaves can be used to assist ripening of bananas.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in high altitude forests. In Malawi it grows between 900-2,000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Fresh seeds grow easily but stored seeds need to be put into hot water and allowed to cool before sowing to break the hard seed coat. Seeds can be collected direct from the tree.

Its other names

Local names

Djele, Goane, Mucherenje, Mupambangoma, Nipovera, Red nongo, Umusebeya

Synonyms

Albizia ealaensis De Wild.; Albizia laevicorticata Zimm.; Sassa gummifera J. F. Gmel.;