Albizia amara explained

Albizia amara is a tree in the family Fabaceae. Its range includes southern and Eastern Africa, from South Africa to Sudan and Ethiopia. It is also found in India and Sri Lanka.^[1]

Description

Albizia amara is a mid-sized, deciduous tree which resembles acacia without the thorns.^[2] The bark of the tree is grey in color and is grainy and scaly.^[2] The leaves consist of up to 15 pairs of side stalks and the leaflets are tiny and can consist of about 15–35 pairs.^[2] The flowers are whitish-yellow powder puffs with long stamens and golden pollen.^[2] The pods are flat and are about 20 cm long.^[2] The leaves thin out during February–March and are renewed in April.^[2] The flowers are present throughout May and the fruits ripen during October and November.^[2] It is a host plant for Achaea janata.^[3]

Ecology

Albizia amara is intolerant of shade, and resistant to drought. In Africa it grows mainly in sandy woodlands.^[1]

Albizia amara and Hardwickia binata are the dominant canopy trees in the Central Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests ecoregion of India.^[4] 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.^[5]

Uses

Medicinal uses

• The leaves and flowers are used for treatment of boils and ulcers. The leaf is also used for treatment of erysipelas.^[6]
• Paste of leaf and rootbark is used to cure both skin diseases and poisonous bites.^[7] [This journal is probably a predatory journal].
• The seeds are regarded as astringent and used in the treatment of piles, diarrhea and gonorrhea.
• The flowers are used as a remedy for cough, ulcers, dandruff and malaria.
• The pharmaceutical compounds of seeds and leaves has potential broad spectrum of anticancer activity.

Its wood is used for construction and furniture, and as a firewood. Albizia amara provides many environmental services: control of soil erosion, wind break, shade provider. It is also an ornamental tree in urban areas. Ruminants can feed its leaves.^[8]

In colonial times, in India, its "plentiful" wood was extensively used as railway fuel.^[9]

Notes and References

1. "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 http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Albizia_amara.pdf
2. Book: Krishen. Pradip. Trees of Delhi: A Field Guide. 2006. Penguin Books India. 9780144000708.
3. Book: Sen-Sarma. P. K.. Forest Entomology. 2012. APH Publishing. 9788131303320.
4. 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
5. Book: Mani. M.S. Ecology and Biogeography in India. December 2012. Springer Science & Business Media. 9789401023313. 24 October 2015.
6. Book: Khare. C.P.. Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary. 22 April 2008. Springer Science & Business Media. 29, 30. 9780387706375.
7. Albizia amara – A Potential Medicinal Plant: A Review. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). 5.
8. Heuzé V., Thiollet H., Tran G., Lebas F., 2016. Albizia (Albizia amara). Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/337
9. Cox, Arthur F., 1895. Madras District Manuals: North Arcot (North Arcot District Gazetteer). Madras: Government Press. p. 25.