Chinese Albizia

Often cultivated as a shade tree; wood is used for planks. In some parts of India and Ceylon this species is used for fodder. The amount of nitrogen in the soil is increased by the presence of symbiotic bacteria on the roots.

A deciduous tree, bark grey, nearly smooth, young parts hairy. Leaves bipin¬nate, stipules c. 2.5 cm long, obliquely cordate, rachis c. 15-30 cm long having a large gland about 2.5 cm from the base, pinnae 7-20 pairs, 5-15 cm long, leaflets 20-45 pairs, more or less sessile, linear-oblong, falcate, subacute at the apex, trun¬cate at the base, c. 1.3-2.6 cm long and c. 2.5 mm broad, glabrous above, pilose on margin and midrib below; midrib close to the upper edge; small glands between the upper pairs of pinnae. Inflorescence peduncled heads, 1-4 together, arranged in small axillary or terminal panicles; peduncle c. 1.75-3 cm long. Flowers yellowish, pedicels very short or absent, bracteate; bracts ovate, acuminate, deciduous, c. 1. 25 cm long. Calyx tubular, 2.5 mm long, teeth acute, corolla c. 5-6 mm long, hairy outside, lobes c. 2.5-3 mm long. Stamens forming a tube at the base, 2.5-3.3 cm long, staminal tube longer than the corolla tube. Pods c. 10-17.5 cm long, c. 1.3-1.8 cm broad, thin, glabrous, light brown, minutely punctate. Seeds 8-12.

Himalaya, India, Ceylon, S.E. Asia, Malaysia, China.

Distribution: W. Pakistan, Lower Kagan, Jhelum, Kishenganga valleys, eastward up to 4000 ft.; India (Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Bombay, Madras; Asam, Sikkim), Ceylon, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Southern China, South East Asia, Philippine, Java.

200-1500 m

Fl. Per. April-June.