Albizia gummifera (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

← Albizia grandibracteata

Bekele-Tesemma, Useful trees and shrubs for Ethiopia, 2007 Albizia gummifera (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Albizia lebbeck →

Albizia gummifera, Fabaceae, indigenous

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  habit
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  leaves
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  flowers
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  fruits

Common names

• English: Peacock flower
• Agewgna: Kansin
• Amargna: Sesa
• Gumuzgna: Tehga
• Oromugna: Ambabessa, Chatto, Gorbe, Karchofe, Mukaarba, Sankile, Vungo, Sasa
• Sahogna: Taga
• Wolaytgna: Chata

Ecology

A forest tree found from West Africa east to Ethiopia and south to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Madagascar. A deciduous forest tree common in Dry, Moist and Wet Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones of Gojam, Wolega, Sidamo, Ilubabor and Kefa regions, 1,400–2500 m.

Uses

Firewood, timber (general purpose), utensils (mortars, water troughs), medicine (roots, bark), fodder (leaves), bee forage, shade, ornamental, nitrogen fixation, soil conservation.

Description

A large tree, branches ascending to a flat top, about 15 m high, trunk up to 75 cm in diameter in old forest trees.

• BARK: Grey and smooth.
• LEAVES: Shiny, dark green leaflets, almost rectangular, midrib diagonal, one outer corner rounded.
• FLOWERS: White‑pink clusters, long stamens hang out, tips crimson.
• FRUIT: Very many papery pods in bundles, shiny brown, flat with raised edges, 20 cm long and up to 3 cm wide, often shorter. The thin pod bulges over 8–14 flat, brown seeds.

Propagation

Seedlings.

Seed

10,000–14,000 seed per kg.

• Treatment: Fresh seed requires no pre‑treatment. Nick or soak stored seed in cold water for 24 hours.
• Storage: Seed can be stored up to a year before losing viability but very susceptible to insect attack. Seed should be collected while still on the tree since the seed are often damaged by insects while still in the pod.

Management

Lopping, coppicing while young. Fairly fast growing.

Remarks

The most widespread albizia in Ethiopia. Leaves hasten ripening of bananas. The most appropriate tree for shading coffee in plantations up to 2,500 m. Despite its name, the tree gives only small amounts of gum when the smooth bark is cut. Bees are often found inhabiting holes in the trunk.