Paperbark False Thorn

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Paperbark False Thorn
• Paperbark False-thorn
• paperbark albizia
• Papierbasvalsdoring

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and the genus Albizia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several regions of the African continent. In East Tropical Africa, its distribution includes the countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Moving toward the southern part of the continent, it is also found within South Tropical Africa. Specifically, its range extends through Angola and Malawi. Finally, the species can be located within the borders of Mozambique.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Albizia tanganyiensis is characterized by its presence within specific altitudinal gradients, thriving in diverse forest environments across its native range. This species is typically found inhabiting varying landscapes that span a significant vertical distribution, ranging from a minimum elevation of 520 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 1525 m AMSL. This wide elevational range allows the plant to occupy various ecological niches, from lower lowland forests to mid-altitude montane zones, where it adapts to different temperature regimes and moisture availability. Its distribution is often closely tied to the availability of well-drained soils and specific light requirements common to canopy or sub-canopy species within its preferred forest habitats.

Elevational range max:

1525 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

520 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Albizia tanganjiencis is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to establish a long-term presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its development, the plant exhibits a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage periodically, which is often a strategic adaptation to seasonal shifts in moisture or temperature. As a perennial, it undergoes repeated cycles of growth and dormancy, investing energy into robust structural development and long-term survival rather than completing its life cycle in a single season.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Albizia tanganyiensis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. This species is a self-supporting, independent organism that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial habitat. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 12 meters, with a mean height typically reaching approximately 15 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Albizia tanganjiensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many woody tropical species that utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO. Despite belonging to the Fabaceae family, which is broadly known for symbiotic associations, this specific species is categorized as not being a nitrogen fixer under the provided parameters, indicating a lack of active biological nitrogen fixation through root nodules in its physiological profile. This combination of traits influences its nutrient acquisition strategies and carbon assimilation efficiency within its native ecological niche.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Albizia tanganyiensis is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that facilitate its dispersal and establishment within its natural habitat. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a highly uniform physical profile, with a recorded seed mass mean of 0.139 g. This consistency is reflected in the maximum and minimum seed mass values, which both remain constant at 0.139 g, indicating a very low level of variation in the weight of individual seeds during reproductive cycles. This precise seed mass is a critical factor in the plant's life cycle, influencing both the nutrient reserves available to the emerging seedling and the mechanisms of seed dispersal.

Seed mass mean:

0.139 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Albizia tanganyicensis has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Uterotonic.

Antioxidant

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Uterotonic

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Albizia tanganyicensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Cell suspension cultures.

Cell suspension cultures

1. Journal of natural products