Albizia
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Authority
Isley, Duane. 1973. Leguminosae of the United States: I. Subfamily. Mimosoideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (1): 1-152.
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Family
Mimosaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Unarmed trees or shrubs. Leaves bipinnate, leafstalk with a petiole gland with or without rachis glands; pinnae and leaflets few to numerous; leaflets strongly asymmetric to nearly symmetric. Stipules herbaceous, early deciduous. Peduncles axillary or fasciculate-racemose in corymb-like compound inflorescences; flowers in pink to ochroleucous or yellow-green umbellate heads or spikes. Calyx lobes very short, corolla tubular-funnelform, lobes much shorter than tube; stamens numerous, basally fused into a tube, strongly exserted. Legumes sessile to stipitate, indehiscent to slowly dehiscent, oblong, straight, strongly compressed, not septate; valves membranous to coriaceous, neither twisting nor curving.
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Discussion
CBN x= 13. Literature: Isely (1970b). As most genera of the Ingeae (numerous fused stamens), the delimitation of Albizia is ambiguous (Kostermans, 1952; Fosberg, 1965; Mohlenbrock, 1963a; Hutchison, 1964). There is no problem, however, in the United States. The species are all cultivated and are distinctive among our Ingeae in the indehiscent, usually membranous, flat, straight legumes. Pithecellobium pattens (native of southern Texas) has pods of similar aspect, but these are dehiscent, and the plant is usually armed. Lacking fruit, the proximal petiolar position of the gland (or lowermost gland) of Albizia is diagnostic. In other Ingeae that bear leaf glands, the lower gland is situated between or immediately adjacent to the lowermost pinnae, or, if distinctly petiolar (distal), stipules are usually evident on young growth (Lysiloma). Pithecellobium saman has a medial or distal petiolar gland but enormous leaves, unlike those of any Albizia.
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Distribution
Tropics of both hemispheres but mostly Old World. Perhaps 100-120 species. Ours all introduced ornamentals.