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Albizia amara

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Albizia amara
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Albizia
Species:
A. amara
Binomial name
Albizia amara
(Roxb.) Boiv.
Synonyms[1]
  • Acacia wightii Wight & Arn
  • Mimosa amara Roxb.
  • Mimosa pulchella Roxb.
  • Acacia nellyrenza Wight & Arn.
  • Acacia amara Willd.

Albizia amara is a tree in the family Fabaceae. Its range includes southern and Eastern Africa, from South Africa to Sudan and Ethiopia. It is also found in India and Sri Lanka.[2]

Description

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Albizia amara is a mid-sized, deciduous tree which resembles acacia without the thorns.[3] The bark of the tree is grey in color and is grainy and scaly.[3] The leaves consist of up to 15 pairs of side stalks and the leaflets are tiny and can consist of about 15–35 pairs.[3] The flowers are whitish-yellow powder puffs with long stamens and golden pollen.[3] The pods are flat and are about 20 cm long.[3] The leaves thin out during February–March and are renewed in April.[3] The flowers are present throughout May and the fruits ripen during October and November.[3] It is a host plant for Achaea janata.[4]

Ecology

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Albizia amara is intolerant of shade, and resistant to drought. In Africa it grows mainly in sandy woodlands.[2]

Albizia amara and Hardwickia binata are the dominant canopy trees in the Central Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests ecoregion of India.[5] It is also found in the Anamalai, Palani and Cardamom hills of Western Ghats and the Godavari area, the Javadi Hills of Eastern Ghats in South India.[6]

Uses

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Albizia amara with flowers and pods

Medicinal uses

  • The leaves and flowers are used for treatment of boils and ulcers. The leaf is also used for treatment of erysipelas.[7]
  • Paste of leaf and rootbark is used to cure both skin diseases and poisonous bites.[8] [This journal is probably a predatory journal].
  • The seeds are regarded as astringent and used in the treatment of piles, diarrhea and gonorrhea.[8]
  • The flowers are used as a remedy for cough, ulcers, dandruff and malaria.[8]
  • The pharmaceutical compounds of seeds and leaves has potential broad spectrum of anticancer activity.[8]

Its wood is used for construction and furniture, and as a firewood. Albizia amara provides many environmental services: control of soil erosion, wind break, shade provider. It is also an ornamental tree in urban areas. Ruminants can feed its leaves.[9]

In colonial times, in India, its "plentiful" wood was extensively used as railway fuel.[10]

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References

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  1. ^ "Albizia amara (Roxb.)B.Boivin". Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Orwa C, A Mutua, Kindt R, Jamnadass R, S Anthony. 2009 Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0 (http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sites/treedbs/treedatabases.asp Archived 2009-01-16 at the Wayback Machine). Accessed 18 July 2014 [1]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Krishen, Pradip (2006). Trees of Delhi: A Field Guide. Penguin Books India. ISBN 9780144000708.
  4. ^ Sen-Sarma, P. K. (2012). Forest Entomology. APH Publishing. ISBN 9788131303320.
  5. ^ Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Island Press; Washington, DC. pp. 324–326
  6. ^ Mani, M.S (December 2012). Ecology and Biogeography in India. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9789401023313. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  7. ^ Khare, C.P. (22 April 2008). Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 29, 30. ISBN 9780387706375.
  8. ^ a b c d "Albizia amara – A Potential Medicinal Plant: A Review" (PDF). International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). 5.
  9. ^ Heuzé V., Thiollet H., Tran G., Lebas F., 2016. Albizia (Albizia amara). Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/337
  10. ^ Cox, Arthur F., 1895. Madras District Manuals: North Arcot (North Arcot District Gazetteer). Madras: Government Press. p. 25.
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