Common Name:

General Information

Albizia corniculata varies in habit; in open habitats it is a straggling shrub growing up to 6 metres tall, but in closed forests it often becomes a vigorous climbing plant with stems that can be up to 45 metres long and sprawl over the tops of tall trees. The branchlets are armed with recurved prickles up to 8mm long that help the plant to attach itself to other vegetation[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its seedpods, which are used locally as a soap substitute.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southern China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Habitat

Primary and secondary forest, especially along rivers, in forest margins, disturbed habitats and open grassy fields, along sandy seashores and behind the mangrove; usually in sandy soils; at elevations from sea-level up to 300 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	35.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Found in the wild in sandy soils[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The seedpods are rich in saponins and can be used as a substitute for soap[].

The sapwood is white or yellow, it is soft to medium hard[]. No uses are recorded[].

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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