Common Name:

General Information

Albizia versicolor is a deciduous tree with an open, spreading crown; usually growing from 5 - 18 metres tall, but sometimes smaller when growing in poor soils, or sometimes larger to 20 metres tall. The bole is usually short and free of branches for up to 5 metres, occasionally for up to 12 metres; it is straight and cylindrical, up to 60cm, occasionally to 150cm in diameter[, ].
A multipurpose tree, providing medicines and materials for the local population. It has a good potential in agroforestry systems and is worthy of cultivation. It is sometimes planted as an ornamental shade tree[, ].

Known Hazards

The wood dust may cause serious irritation to the nose and throat[].
The pods and seeds are poisonous to livestock; young pods are the most toxic, but livestock is more often poisoned as a result of eating fallen pods. Cattle, sheep and goats may develop hypersensitivity, intermittent convulsions and high temperature, and may die from heart failure, but most animals recover without treatment[]. The disease is called albiziosis, and is caused by the presence of methylpyridoxine. Treatment of poisoned sheep with pyridoxine hydrochloride resulted in recovery[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Congo to Uganda and Kenya, south to northern Namibia, Botswana and northern S. Africa.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland and wooded grassland at elevations up to 1,700 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers well-drained soils with a high water table[].
The growth rate of trees is moderate[].
Trees can be coppiced and pollarded[, ].
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 root and bark are anthelmintic and purgative. A decoction is used to treat anaemia, swollen glands and venereal diseases[].
A bark maceration is used to relieve coughs, headache and sinusitis, and the bark powder is sniffed for the same purpose[].
A bark decoction is applied externally to treat ophthalmia and skin rash[].

Kaempferol glycosides and several triterpenes (lupeol, lupenone, betulinic acid and acacic acid lactone) have been isolated from the bark[].

Agroforestry Uses:

This species has good prospects as an auxiliary tree in agroforestry systems. It improves the soil with its nitrogen-fixing root nodules; provides mulch with its leaf litter; reduces erosion with its large rooting system; and its light canopy protects crops from too much sun without depriving them of sufficient light[]. This, together with other local uses, especially as timber tree and medicinal plant, makes it a multipurpose tree worthy of cultivation on a wider scale[].

Other Uses

The bark contains about 5% tannins[, ].

A fibre from the inner bark is used for making rope[]. Fairly strong[].

The roots are rich in saponins. When boiled with water they can be used as a substitute for soap[].

The heartwood is pale to purplish brown, often darker striped, sometimes almost black; it is distinctly demarcated from the white sapwood, which is up to 5cm wide. The grain is wavy or interlocked, the texture coarse. The wood is moderately heavy, moderately durable, but liable to attacks by pinhole borers and marine borers. Reports on its resistance to termites vary from susceptible to resistant. It saws and works well, but the surfaces of quarter-sawn boards may pick up. The use of a filler is needed to obtain a smooth finish. The wood does not hold nails well, and pre-boring is required. The jointing and gluing properties are good, but steam bending properties are usually poor[]. The wood is used locally for making small boats, tool handles, mortars and other kitchen implements, containers, casks and musical instruments. It is suitable for light construction, light flooring, joinery, furniture, cabinet work, decorative work, veneer, plywood, draining boards, hardboard and particle board[].
The wood is used as a fuel, although it may spark badly, and is also used for making a good quality charcoal[, ].

Propagation

Seed - when sown fresh it does not require any pre-treatment. However, as it matures the seed develops a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order 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. Germination of fresh or treated seed is usually good, with up to 90% of the seed sprouting within 30 days[].
The seed can be stored for long periods when kept under dry and insect-free conditions[].
Propagation by cuttings and root suckers has been successful[].

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