Common Name:

General Information

Albizia harveyi is a deciduous tree with a rounded or narrowly rounded crown; it can grow 10 - 15 metres tall[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Kenya, DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi. Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, S. Africa.

Habitat

Deciduous Combretum/Acacia mixed woodland at elevations of 80 - 2,130 metres. It is particularly prevalent around termitaria[]. Woodland and dry bushveld, sometimes near rivers[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,130 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 28°c, but can tolerate 15 - 30°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 900 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 400 - 2,000mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position, tolerating some shade[]. Prefers a loamy soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 5.5, tolerating 4.5 - 6[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The roots are used to treat epilepsy, cystitis, vomiting, infertility and to prevent miscarriage[].

Other Uses

The wood is used for building poles[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

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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