Albizia amara
| Albizia amara | |
|---|---|
Bolvin..jpg) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Albizia |
| Species: | A. amara |
| Binomial name | |
| Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boiv. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Albizia amara is a tree in the Fabaceae family. 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
Albizia amara is a mid-sized, deciduous tree which resembles acacia (sans 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
A. amara is intolerant of shade, and resistant to drought. In Africa it grows mainly in sandy woodlands.[2]
A. 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]
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Uses
The leaves and flowers are used for treatment of boils and ulcers. The leaf is also used for treatment of erysipelas.[7]
References
- ↑ "Albizia amara (Roxb.)B.Boivin". Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- 1 2 "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). Accessed 18 July 2014
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Krishen, Pradip (2006). Trees of Delhi: A Field Guide. Penguin Books India.
- ↑ Sen-Sarma, P. K. (2012). Forest Entomology. APH Publishing.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Mani, M.S (December 2012). Ecology and Biogeography in India. Springer Science & Business Media. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ↑ Khare, C.P. (22 April 2008). Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 29,30.