Common Name: Paperbark Albizia

General Information

Paperbark albizia is a deciduous tree growing up to 20 metres tall[]. The bole is up to 120cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of timber.

Known Hazards

The pods and seeds are poisonous to livestock; young pods are the most toxic[].
Sawdust from the wood irritates the nose and throat - this has given the plant a local name of 'Sneezewood'[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Kenya and Tanzania south to Mozambique and South Africa and from there west to Angola.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Albizia schimperiana

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The powdered root is rubbed into scarifications to treat swollen legs and is used as a tonic[]. A root infusion is drunk against impotence[].

A bark decoction is used to treat cough[].

Other Uses

The whitish wood is light in weight. Of no commercial value[], but it is occasionally used for purposes such as carving[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.

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