Albizia Procera (Roxb.) Benth
Source: James A. Duke. 1983. Handbook of Energy Crops. unpublished.
- Folk Medicine
- Yields and Economics
- Biotic Factors
Tree cultivated for shade and timber. Wood rather similar to Albizia
lebbeck but lighter and softer (sp. gra. 0.60 air dry weight of sapwood ca
460 kg/m3 of heartwood 640 kg/m3). The heartwood is durable even in exposed
situtations. It can be worked to a good surface that polishes well. Wood is
used chiefly for construction, furniture, carts and carriages, cane crushers,
carvings, boats and oars, rice pounders, and, of course, fuel. In Australia,
the tree is reagarded as a good cattle feed and as a sign of good country for
farming sugarcane. Leaves said to be insecticidal (Kirtikar and Basu, 1975).
Bark used for fish poison. The tree yields a reddish-brown gum.
Leaves are poulticed onto ulcers in India. Bark considered useful in
pregnancy and stomachache. Bark given with salt as a medicine for water
Bark, leaf, and root contain saponin. Hydrolysis of the saponin yields
machaerinic acid. Tree contains some HCN. Leaf and fruit have given positive
tests for haemolysis. A new pentacyclic triterpenic acid, procera acid, was
isolated from the seed (List & Horhammer, 19691979). The gum contains
aldobiuronic acid and the disaccharide 3-0-D-galactopyranosyl-L-arabinose.
Degraded gum from Albizia procera contains D-galactose, D-mannose,
D-glucuronic acid, and 4-0-mehtyl-D-glucuronic acid. Complete methylation and
subsequent hydrolysis of the product afford 2,4-di-0-methyl-D-galactose (3
moles), 3,4,6-tri-0-methyl-L-arabinose. Perceragenin C30H46O4 is reported from
the seed (List and Horhammer, 19691979).
An erect, slightly pubescent or nearly glabrous tree, 1025 m high.
Leaves about 40 cm long; pinnae about 412, 1520 cm long; leaflets 1220,
oblong-elliptic, rounded or retuse, 25 cm long, oblique. Panicles terminal or
in the upper axils, up to 20 cm long, diffuse; flowers 11.5 across. Pod long,
thin, smooth, flattened, 1015 cm long, 22.4 cm broad, containing 810 seeds
Reported from the Indochina-Indonesia and Hindustani Centers of
Diversity, tall albizia, or cvs thereof, is reported to tolerate drought, and
stony, dry, and shallow soils. (2n = 26)
Native to tropical Asia and Australia, now widely cultivated in the
Ranging from Tropical Very Dry through Tropical Moist Forest Life Zones,
tall albizia is reported to tolerate annual precipitation of 8.8 to 29 dm (mean
of 25 cases = 16.8) and annual temperature of 24.7 to 26.3°C (mean of 12 cases
Soak seed a few seconds in boiling water (removed from source of heat)
and soak overnight. Directly sow seed in prepared pots (in 1015 mm
polyethylene bags) using 50:50 sandy loam:potting soil. Spray insecticides
twice a month for two months and as often as necessary thereafter. Place
seedlings in shade, watering at least every other day. Harden off after 34
months. Regulate exposure to sun and water until seedlings are hardened.
Space at 3 x 3 m, marking with Stakes. Set out in early morning and/or late
afternoon at beginning of rainy season, when seedlings are about 47 months old
(Canopy, 1981). Trees are easily propagated, using seedlings or stumps (NAS,
Tree is cut as needed for fuel, timber, or charcoal.
Should yield about like Albizia lebbeck. In Java, annual wood
production of 10 m3/ha is recorded. Trees may attain 1 m DBH at 12 years, 2
m at 30 years.
Pods and fallen leaves may be considered as undesirable litter or as
potential energy sources. It seems probable that if Albizia lebbeck
fruits can yield 10 barrels of ethanol per hectare, this species could do as
well. The species was increased in Puerto Rico during the 1940's because it
seemed "a promising rapid-growing fuelwood species for the coastal and lower
Wood is relatively resistant to attack by dry-wood termites. Most of
the Puerto Rican introductions have suffered severely from a fungus disease
which causes disback or death (Little and Wadsworth, 1964). Browne (1968)
lists: Fungi. Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma lucidum, Nectria
haematococca, Phellinus gilvus, Polyporus anebus, Ravenelia clemensiae,
Ravenelia indica, Ravenelia sessiles, Sphaerophragmium acaciae.
Coleoptera. Apate terebrans, Bruchidius uberatus, Sinoxylon anale,
Xystrocera globosa. Hemiptera. Arytaina ramakrishni, Kerria lacca,
Oxyrhachis mangiferana. Isoptera. Ancistrotermes amphidon, Coptotermes
curvignathus. Lepidoptera. Archips micaceanus, Ascotis selenaria,
Cusiala raptaria, Heliothis zea, Hypanartia hecabe, Hyposidra successaria,
Indarbela quadrinotata, Platypeplus aprobola, Polydesma umbricola, Rhesala
imparata, Rhesala inconcinnalis, Rhesala moestalis, Semiothisa emersaria,
Semiothisa pluviata, triglina scitaria. Orthoptera. Schistocera
Complete list of references for Duke, Handbook of Energy Crops
- Browne, F.G. 1968. Pests and diseases of forest plantations trees.
Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Canopy (International). 1981. Forest Research Institute Publication
- Kirtikar, K.R. and Basu, B.D. 1975. Indian medicinal plants. 4 vols. 2nd ed.
Jayyed Press, New Delhi.
- List, P.H. and Horhammer, L. 19691979. Hager's handbuch der pharmazeutischen
praxis. vols 26. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
- Little, E.L., Jr., and Wadsworth, F.H. 1964. Common trees of Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands. Ag. Handbook 249, USDA, Washington, DC.
- N.A.S. 1979. Tropical legumes: resources for the future. National Academy of
Sciences, Washington, DC.
Last update December 19, 1997