Common Name:

General Information

Leucaena diversifolia is a deciduous tree or erect shrub with a light but spreading crown; it can grow 3 - 20 metres tall. When growing as a tree, the single-stemmed bole can be 20 - 50cm in diameter, slender and clear of branches for up to 10 metres[, ].
The tree is occasionally harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is widely cultivated in tropical areas as a shade tree in plantations, for soil stabilization etc and as a source of wood. After Leucaena leucocephala, it is probably now the most widely cultivated species of Leucaena with a virtually pantropical, albeit somewhat scattered distribution[, ].
Leucaena diversifolia is widely distributed, sometimes locally abundant, sometimes cultivated as coffee shade and apparently thrives on disturbance and is thus of little or no conservation concern. A growing abundance of spontaneous hybrids between this species and Leucaena leucocephala in parts of Mexico and Guatemala could pose a threat of genetic contamination of native populations in the future[]. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Central America - northern Guatemala to central Mexico.

Habitat

Brushy, rocky hillsides, at elevations of 200 - 400 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Leucaena diversifolia succeeds in moist tropical and essentially frost-free subtropical areas at elevations up to 1,740 metres[]. It grows in areas where the mean annual temperature ranges from 18 - 30°c, and the mean annual rainfall is 600 - 3,500 mm, with up to 4 months dry period[]. Its natural distribution corresponds to a narrow zone of moist or very moist submontane evergreen forest, subject to frequent mist and cloud cover[]. It also grows sometimes abundantly in secondary vegetation. As a mid-elevation species, it is tolerant of cool climates but not frost[].
Grows best in a sunny position but tolerates some shade[]. Prefers slightly acid, fertile soils but is tolerant of leached soils[].
The aggressive nature and profuse growth of Leucaena diversifolia occasionally make it a weed[]. The plant is fast-growing, self-fertile; it flowers and fruits over an extended season and sets prodigious quantities of seed from an early age. In other words, it has all the traits to make it an aggressive colonizer of ruderal sites and secondary or disturbed vegetation in many places[, ].
This species forms spontaneous hybrids with Leucaena leucocephala extremely easily wherever the two species
are brought together in cultivation. These hybrids are self fertile and extremely seedy, suggesting weediness risks[].
The unripe seedpods are harvested by climbing the trees and lopping the terminal branches or groups of pods, often crudely, with machetes, small knives or cutting poles. Annual pollarding in this way apparently causes only limited damage to the trees which resprout and fruit annually[].
The tree is moderately resistant to Psyllid damage[].
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

Immature seed - raw or cooked[]. Often eaten raw as a snack when working in the field, Leucaena seeds are also often used as a garnish on cooked foods or added to stews, mixed with beans and maize tortillas etc. After removal from the pods, the unripe seeds can be dried and stored for later use or ground into a flour and mixed with wheat, corn etc[]. The seeds of this species are the smallest of any species in the genus; they are 4 - 5mm wide and 2 - 3mm long. There are 60,000 - 80,000 seeds/kg[].

We have no record of edibility for the seedpods of this species, but the immature seedpods of many species in Mexico are eaten raw or cooked. The dark brown or reddish-brown seedpods can be 70 - 150mm long and 11 - 17mm wide, containing 6 - 20 seeds. There are 1 - 6 pods prooduced per flower head[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has proved to be effective in controlling soil erosion[]. It is also planted in reforestation schemes for soil amelioration and stabilization[].
Its light crown, and ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, makes it an ideal species for shade over perennial crops such as coffee[]
The annual leaf dry matter production can reach 10 - 16 tonnes/hectare. When incorporated as green manure, this adds 72 - 119 kg nitrogen, 2.5 - 3 kg phosphorus, 29 - 60 kg potassium, 47 - 94 kg calcium and 7.5 - 18.5 kg magnesium to the soil per hectare[].

Other Uses

A water-soluble gum is obtained from the plant[] It contains the sugar rhamnose[].

An attractive wood, it is hard, heavy and durable, but not available in sufficient quantities for commercial exploitation. It is used locally for heavy construction[]. Sufficiently large logs are used in construction and as poles[]. The pulp is desirable for paper production[].
One of the primary uses of the species is as a firewood and charcoal; its energy value is 900-19 300 kJ/kg[].

Propagation

Seed - requires pre-treatment to allow water to penetrate the hard coat. This can be done by carefully abrading part of the seed coat, being careful not to damage the seed. Alternatively, soak the seeds in a small quantity of almost boiling water, which cools down quickly enough so that it does not cook the seed. Then soak the seed for 12 - 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing. Treated seeds can give 70% germination within one week[]. Typically, seedlings should be transplanted into the field 8 - 12 weeks after germination[].
Seed storage behaviour is orthodox; viability can be maintained for several years in hermetic storage at room temperature with 5 - 8% mc[].
Vegetative propagation from cuttings and grafts has generally failed, although tissue culture is successful[].

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