* Albazia Falcata

ALBIZIA FALCATARIA

Botanical Name ; Albizia falcataria (L.) Fosb.

Synonyms ; Albizia moluccana Miq., Albizia falcata (L.) Backer (in part) (also

spelled Albizziz).Common Names ; Molucca Albizia, Indonesia Albizia, White Albizia (English): Batai (Pen. Malaysia), Mara (Sri Lanka); Falkata, Moluccan sau

(Philippines); Kayu macis (Sarawak, Malaysia); Djeungdjing,

Sengon, Sengon laut (Indonesia); Tamalini (W. Samoa); Vaivai

(Fiji); Sau Paulo.

Legume Family ; Leguminosae (Mimosoideae)

Albizia falcataria, one of the fastest-growing trees in the world, is a fuel wood species for the humid tropics. It is a large deciduous tree with a thin, very broad crown of dull green foliage, bipinnately compound leaves with numerous small, oblong leaflets and narrow, flat brown pods that split open. It is widely planted in tropical countries and becoming naturalized.

This pioneer, light-requiring tree produces abundant seeds in lightweight pods blown by winds. It spreads into clearings and has become established in abandoned sugar cane fields in Hawaii and the tea plantations in Sri Lanka.

The tree stands as a windbreaker in the tea plantations in Sri Lanka

Growth records of this "miracle tree" on good soil and high rainfall are as much as 7m in height in little more than a year, 13-18m in 3 years, 21m in 4 years and 30m in 9-10 years. Then growth slows to a maximum of 45m and short life of about 25 years. In plots, the most vigorous trees increased in trunk diameter about 5-7cm per year. A height of 15m and diameter of 30cm have been attained after 4 years, in Hawaii. The state champion tree in Hawaii measured 33.6m high 9.1m in circumference at breast height and 50.9m in crown spread.

The trees coppice vigorously and can be harvested in plantations on an 8 year cycle from coppice growth. They are shallow-rooted and very susceptible to uprooting and breakage of branches by typhoons.

The specific name, "falcate" or "curved like a sickle" refers to the leaflets.

Description - Large deciduous tree to 24-30m tall with long trunk, often bent or branching to 80cm in diameter, not enlarged at base; thin, very broad spreading crown, often umbrella-shaped, of dull green foliage. Bark light gray, smooth with corky warts, showy; inner bark pink, astringent slightly bitter, Twigs stout, light gray.

Leaves alternate, bipinnately compound, 23-30cm long, with tiny rusty pressed hairs and slender angled axis bearing gland above base. Side axes (pinnae) 10-12 pairs, 5-10cm long. Leaflets paired 15-20 pairs on each axis, stalk less small, along, 6-12mm long, 3-5mm wide, short-pointed at tip, unequal-sided and blunt at base, edges not toothed, upper surface dull green and hairless, underneath paler and finally hairy.

Flower clusters (panicles) large, laternal, branched, 20-25cm long. Flowers many, clustered, stalk less 12mm long, whitish, composed of light green bell shaped 5-toothed hairy calyx 3mm long, greenish-white hairy corolla 6mm long with 5 narrow pointed lobes; very many threadlike, spreading, whitish stamens more than 12mm long and slender pistil with narrow ovary and long threadlike style.

Pods (legumes) narrow, flat, 10-13cm long, 2cm wide, short pointed, green turning brown, thin-walled, splitting open. Seeds 15-20, bean like, 6mm long, oblong, flattened, dull dark brown.

Wood light-colored, very soft, lightweight (sp.gr.0.30-0.46) with grain usually straight, shallowly interlocked. Difficult to saw, not strong, not durable. Wood suitable for fuel and makes good charcoal, though its calorific value is not high.

 

Other Uses A promising source of pulpwood. Rated excellent for fibreboard and particle-board. Used for veneer core stock pallets, boxes, crates, furniture components, matches.

Trees widely planted as fast-growing timber trees in reforestation and sometimes as shade for tea, coffee and banana plantations. Also grown as ornamentals, though large and short-lived.

Natural Distribution Native of Moluccas, New Guinea, New Britain and Solomon Islands. Altitude where native from sea level to 1200m and in plantations to 1500m.

Introduced and widely planted in tropical countries and becoming naturalized. Common in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Pacific Islands to Hawaii.

Climate and Soils Humid or moist tropical, such as tropical rain forest. Rainfall high (2000-4000mm), uniform through the year or with dry season of not more than 2 months. In the Philippines plantations rainfall as much as 4500mm. Grows best on deep, well-drained fertile soils, such as friable clay loam. Does better on alkaline than acid soils; not suited to dry sands.