About Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth.
Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth. is typically 7 to 15 meters tall, and occasionally grows as tall as 30 meters. It is a deciduous species, dropping all its leaves during the dry season, which occurs from August to September. Its leaves are bi-pinnate, with 2 to 5 pairs of sub-opposite pinnae and a 10 to 30 centimeter rachis. The bark is smooth and light-colored, and exfoliates to show a reddish color underneath. The species produces sessile greenish-yellow flowers with long, threadlike white stamens that create a puffball effect; these flowers grow on racemes that are 8 to 25 centimeters long. After flowering, the plant produces rich red or reddish-brown flattened pods that hold 6 to 12 small, greenish-brown seeds. Albizia procera is cultivated for timber or as fuel in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In India, its leaves are regarded as good fodder for animals including cows, sheep, goats, and elephants. The wood of Albizia procera makes good charcoal, its resin works well as a substitute for gum arabic. Its leaves are reported to be insecticidal, while its bark can be used to make fish poison.
