Albizia lebbeck Benth

Botanical name: Albizia lebbeck Benth

Family: Mimosaceae

Common name: Lebbek

Vernicular name: শিৰিষ (স্বৰ্ণচূড়া)

General characteristics: Lebbek is a deciduous, perennial medium-sized legume tree. It reaches 3-15 m in plantations and up to 30 m in the open. Its dense shade-producing crown can be as large as 30 m in diameter. Leaves are bipinnate with 3-11 pairs of bright green, oblong leaflets, 1.5-6.5 cm long x 0.5-3.5 cm broad. Inflorescences are globular clusters of 15-40 white fragrant flowers. The fruits are 10-30 cm long x 3-6 cm broad, reddish-brown pods that contain 5-15 flat rounded, free moving seeds. They produce an incessant rattle in the wind, reminding women's chatter, hence the name "women's tongue" (FAO, 2010; Orwa et al., 2009; Lowry et al., 1992).

Distribution: Lebbek is native to tropical Africa, Asia and Northern Australia. It is widely naturalized within sub-humid, semi-arid tropics and subtropical areas where there is a marked dry season and a reliable rainy season. It is found from sea level up to an altitude of 1800 m (Cook et al., 2005; Lowry et al., 1992; Duke, 1983).

Uses: Good for fire wood. It is generally planted as shade tree in tea and coffee garden (Orwa et al., 2009; Duke, 1983).. Its provide shelter for birds and varieties of inspect. Due to rapid growing nature of the plant, people prefer to plant it in public places for shade. Lebbek is a multipurpose tree. As a fodder tree, its foliage, twigs, flowers and immature pods are relished by different classes of livestock (camels, cattle, small ruminants and rabbits) (FAO, 2010). It is also used planted as timber yielding plant. Lebbek is suitable for agroforestry regimes in which the benefits of animal production are combined with wood production (Lowry et al., 1998).

IUCN status: LC