Woman's tongue

Family

Mimosaceae

Origin

New Guinea, Northern Australia

Description

Albizia lebbeck is commonly known as 'Shirish' and is a medicinal tree. It is a tree growing to a height of 18-30 m tall with a trunk 50 cm to 1 m in diameter. The leaves are bipinnate, 7.5 -15 cm long, with one to four pairs of pinnae, each pinna with 6-18 leaflets. The flowers are white, with numerous 2.5-3.8 cm long stamens, and very fragrant. The fruit is a pod 15-30 cm long and 2.5-5.0 cm broad, containing six to twelve seeds.

Environment

Albizia lebbeck prefers full sunlight and moderate watering. These plants are able to succeed in most soil types, including saline but excluding cracking clay, so long as they are well drained.

Landscape Uses

Specimen, Windbreak, Erosion control.