Sirisa

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Lebbeck
• Woman's Tongue
• Acacia-tree
• Amor platónico
• Broome Raintree
• East Indian Walnut
• Frywood
• Indian Siris
• Koko
• Lebbeck Tree
• Powderpuff-tree
• Rain Tree
• Shack-shack
• Silver raintree
• Singer-tree
• Siris Rain Tree
• Siris Tree
• Soros-tree
• Tibet lebbeck
• Whistling-bean
• White Siris
• East Indian-walnut
• lebbek
• lebbektree
• women's-tongue-tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acacia lebbeck
• Acacia speciosa
• Feuilleea lebbeck
• Acacia sirissa
• Inga leucoxylon
• Mimosa lebbeck
• Pithecellobium splitgerberianum
• Mimosa speciosa
• Mimosa sirissa
• Albizia lebbeck var. rostrata
• Albizia lebbeck var. pubescens
• Albizia latifolia
• Albizia speciosa
• Inga borbonica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, placing it in the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Albizia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions in Africa. In Northern Africa, its presence can be observed within the borders of Egypt. Moving toward the West Tropical Africa region, it is found in the countries of Benin and Burkina. The species also extends its range to include the nation of Gambia. Finally, its documented habitat includes the territory of Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Albizia lebbeck is characterized by its broad adaptability to various altitudinal gradients, thriving from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1525 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 600 m AMSL. This species exhibits significant flexibility in its colonization patterns, frequently appearing as an introduced species that successfully establishes itself on ruderal sites. Its ability to persist in disturbed environments and its wide vertical distribution allow it to occupy diverse ecological niches across varying topographical landscapes.

Elevational range max:

1525 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

introduced, on ruderal site

Genetics

The genetics of Albizia lebbeck are characterized by a specific chromosomal constitution that defines its cellular structure and reproductive biology. The species possesses a diploid chromosome number of 26, indicating its genetic stability within the Fabaceae family. This chromosomal makeup is consistent with a ploidy level of 2, signifying that the organism maintains two complete sets of chromosomes in its somatic cells. This diploid state plays a fundamental role in the plant's inheritance patterns, genetic diversity, and its ability to maintain phenotypic consistency across different environmental conditions.

Chromosome number :

26

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Albizia lebbeck is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, a life form strategy that helps it compete for light in various forest strata. Its physiological cycle is marked by a deciduous nature, meaning it sheds its foliage seasonally, often in response to dry periods or climatic shifts. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, phanerophyte growth habit, and deciduousness defines its enduring and adaptive biological strategy.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Albizia lebbeck is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that is strictly self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or liana. This species is an independent organism, functioning without parasitic tendencies, and is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in size, with a minimum height of 2.5 m, a mean height of approximately 15 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 30 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

2.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Albizia lebbeck is characterized by several distinct morphological and metabolic adaptations, including a nitrogen-fixing capability that allows it to thrive in nutrient-poor soils through symbiotic relationships. Its photosynthetic process follows the C3 pathway, a common metabolic strategy for trees in this genus. The foliage consists of bipinnate leaves with specific dimensional parameters, where leaf length typically ranges from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, and leaf width varies between 0.9 cm and 3.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf tissue density rather than specialized water-storing structures.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.9 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Albizia lebbeck is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects such as bees. The flowers are characterized by a green coloration and possess a length ranging from 0.6 cm to 0.8 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dehiscence-type fruits that are elongated, with lengths varying between 20 cm and 35 cm, and widths ranging from 3 cm to 4 cm. These fruits contain a relatively small number of seeds, typically ranging from 1 to 10 seeds per fruit. The individual seeds are characterized by a maximum length of 10 mm and a maximum width of 5 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds show significant variation, with a mean mass of approximately 0.1244 g, a minimum mass of 0.0752 g, and a maximum mass of 0.1836 g. Once the fruit reaches maturity and undergoes dehiscence, the seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing the wind for distribution.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flower length max:

0.8 cm

Flower length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit length max:

35 cm

Fruit length min:

20 cm

Fruit width max:

4 cm

Fruit width min:

3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

10 mm

Seed mass max:

0.18363 g

Seed mass mean:

0.124436285 g

Seed mass min:

0.0751857 g

Seed width max:

5 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Albizia lebbeck has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Archiv der Pharmazie
2. Journal of applied microbiology

Flower

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chemicals

Albizia lebbeck has 59 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins, (+)-Pinitol, Acacic Acid, Albigenic acid.

Flavonoids

1. Archiv der Pharmazie
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Saponins

1. Archiv der Pharmazie
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

(+)-Pinitol

1. Dr. Duke

Acacic Acid

1. Dr. Duke

Albigenic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Albigenin

1. Dr. Duke

Albizziagenin

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Albizia lebbeck has 429 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antihistaminic, Antispasmodic, Analgesic, Antiallergic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Toxicology mechanisms and methods
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Drugs under experimental and clinical research

Antihistaminic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Toxicology mechanisms and methods
3. Drugs under experimental and clinical research

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Toxicology mechanisms and methods
3. Drugs under experimental and clinical research

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Antiallergic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Anticonvulsant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antimicrobial

1. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antinociceptive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Medicinal Uses

Albizia lebbeck has 22 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include allergic rhinitis, Ascaris lumbricoides, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, anorectal disorders.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations