Albizia versicolor

Albizia versicolor, commonly known as the Silk Tree or Mimosa, is a graceful deciduous tree prized for its delicate, fern-like foliage and fragrant, pom-pom shaped blossoms. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this species holds significant value in traditional medicine, offering diverse therapeutic properties used to treat various ailments globally.

  • Scientific name: Albizia versicolor
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • Native range: Africa

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. It is specifically identified by its genus, Albizia, as part of the species Albizia versicolor.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Fabales WCVP
Family Fabaceae WCVP
Genus Albizia WCVP

Common Names

This plant, Albizia versicolor, is known by various common names depending on the language and region. In Afrikaans, it is referred to as Grootblaarvalsdoring, while in Chinese, it is called 毒荚合欢 (zh and zh-cn) and 毒莢合歡 (zh-tw).
Language Common Name Source
af Grootblaarvalsdoring Wikidata
zh 毒荚合欢 Wikidata
zh-cn 毒荚合欢 Wikidata
zh-tw 毒莢合歡 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern concentrated within the tropical regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found across several nations including Burundi, Congo, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Additionally, its range extends into the East Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it has been identified within the borders of Kenya. Together, these locations define the natural geographical footprint of Albizia versicolor.

Region Area Source
West-Central Tropical Africa Burundi WCVP
West-Central Tropical Africa Congo WCVP
West-Central Tropical Africa Rwanda WCVP
West-Central Tropical Africa DR Congo WCVP
East Tropical Africa Kenya WCVP
East Tropical Africa Tanzania WCVP
East Tropical Africa Uganda WCVP
South Tropical Africa Angola WCVP
South Tropical Africa Malawi WCVP
South Tropical Africa Mozambique WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, known scientifically as Albizia versicolor, possesses various components that contribute to its traditional medicinal applications, with a particular emphasis on its stem barks. The stem barks are often harvested for their bioactive compounds, which are utilized in various herbal formulations to address specific health concerns. By tapping into the therapeutic potential found within these woody layers, practitioners can leverage the natural properties inherent in the plant's structure to support healing processes.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
stem barks 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Albizia versicolor has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include acacic acid lactone.

Total chemicals
1
Scientific sources
1

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
acacic acid lactone 1 ★☆☆☆☆