Albizia chinensis
|
Taxon |
Family |
|
Albizia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. |
Fabaceae |
 |
 |
| A. Chinensis flowering Credit: R.C. Gutteridge, Ecoport |
Invaded habitat in Hawaii |
Common names: Chinese albizia, silk tree
Synonyms: Albizia stipulata (Roxb.) Boivin, Acacia stipulata DC., Mimosa chinensis Osbeck., Mimosa stipulacea Roxb., Pithecellobium serronii Glaz., Albizia marginata (Lamk) Merrill.
Life form: tree
Biology/Ecology:
Dispersal: Seeds are not thought to have any reliable means of dispersal, although may be dispersed by grazing cattle. Pods are sometimes dispersed by the wind. Introduced by humans for ornamental purposes.
Reproduction: Flowers are 8-12 mm long. Pods are flat and 10 to 17 mm long, containing 2 to 9 seeds each. Pods remain on the tree for a long time. Seeds are 7 mm long and 4-5 mm in diameter.
Herbivores: Insect herbivores are common, and include the Lepidoterans Pteroma plagiophleps and Indarbela quadrinotata. Young pods may be damaged by beetles and thrips sometimes prevent flowers opening.
Resistant stages: Seeds remain viable for up to five years (although they are often attacked by insects).
Habitat:
Native habitat: mixed deciduous forest in humid tropical and sub-tropical climates, secondary forest, riparian zones, savanna.
Habitat occupied in invaded range: thickets, open forests, disturbed areas.
Habitat requirements:
| Altitude | Up to 2400 metres above sea level. |
| Light | No information available. |
| Temperature | No information available. |
| Annual rainfall | Between 1000 and 5000 mm |
| Soil | Adapted to poor soils with a high pH, fairly salt tolerant. |
Distribution:
Native to south-eastern Asia
Introduced range: Invasive in Hawaii and Samoa. Introduced but not invasive in tropical Africa and Mauritius.
Impacts:
Ecosystem: Rapidly invades disturbed areas due to prolific seed production and fast growth rate. Creates a fire hazard to ecosystems, as the tree is deciduous. Rhizomes are allelopathic.
Health, social and economic: Leaves have reportedly been toxic to cattle in large quantities, and have been described as potentially toxic to humans.
Management:
Mechanical: No information available.
Chemical: No information available.
Biological: No information available.
References:
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER), 2005. Available from http://www.hear.org/pier/species/albizia_chinensis.htm (Accessed August 2006).
International Legume Database & Information Service, 2001. Available from http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb/6.00/taxa/171.shtml (Accessed August 2006).
World Agroforestry Centre AgroForestryTree Database. Available from http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=1787 (Accessed August 2006).
Last updated October 2006
