Albizia gummifera (J.F. Gmel.) C.A. Sm.

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Albizia gummifera

Photo: Bart Wursten
Below Castleburn Cliffs, Vumba

Albizia gummifera

Photo: Bart Wursten
By main Vumba rd (below Westaway)

Albizia gummifera

Photo: Bart Wursten
By main Vumba rd (below Westaway)

Albizia gummifera

Photo: Neil Crouch
Bridal Veil Falls, Chimanimani

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Synonyms: Albizia fastigiata sensu Eyles
Common names: Smooth-barked flat-crown (English)
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Very large deciduous, flat-topped tree with smooth bark, very rarely rough; young branches finely brownish-pubescent. Stipules lanceolate, c. 6-7 × 2-2.5 mm. Leaves bipinnate with 5-7 pairs of pinnae; leaflets in 9-16 pairs per pinna; with a small but distinct "heel", glossy dark-green above, pubescent beneath only on the midrib and margins (occasional hairs on the primary lateral nerves when young). Flowers in semi-spherical heads, white; staminal tube conspicuous, crimson, exserted up to 2.8 cm beyond the corolla. Pod dehiscent, pale brown to reddish or purplish, glossy, becoming hairless with age.
Notes: This species is very similar to A. adianthifolia, in which the leaflets are densely pubescent all over the surface beneath and which lack the "heel". Furthermore, A. adianthifolia is a species of more open forest and forest edge and occurs generally at lower altitudes. A. schimperiana is another similar forest species, which has pure white flowers and smaller leaflets.
Derivation of specific name: gummifera: producing gum or resin
Habitat: In (sub) montane forest, often forming a super-canopy over the forest.
Altitude range: 1100 - 1600 m
Flowering time:Oct
Worldwide distribution: From the Sudan and Ethiopia southwards to Zimbabwe and Mozambique; also westwards to E DRC, Cameroon and Nigeria; also Madagascar
Mozambique distribution: N,Z,T,MS
Growth form(s): Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Saturday 26 February 2011
Literature:

Biegel, H.M. (1977). Check-list of ornamental plants used in Rhodesian parks and gardens. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal. Research Report No. 3. Page 20.

Brenan, J.P.M. (1952). The Albizzia gummifera complex Kew Bulletin 7(4) Pages 511 - 518. (Includes a picture).

Brenan, J.P.M. (1970). Mimosoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(1) Pages 129 - 131. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 212. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 230. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 4.

Coates Palgrave, K. et al. (1956). Trees of Central Africa National Publications Trust, Salisbury. Pages 265 - 268. (Includes a picture).

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 18.

Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 215. As: Albizia gummifera gummifera

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 240. As Albizia gummifera gummifera

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 45.

Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Pages 15 - 16. as Albizzia fastigiata (Includes a picture).

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Pages 93 - 94.

Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 74.

Other sources of information about Albizia gummifera:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Albizia gummifera
Flora of Malawi: Albizia gummifera
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Albizia gummifera
Flora of Zimbabwe: Albizia gummifera
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Albizia gummifera

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Albizia gummifera
African Plant Database: Albizia gummifera
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Albizia gummifera
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Albizia gummifera
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Albizia gummifera
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Albizia gummifera
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Albizia gummifera
JSTOR Plant Science: Albizia gummifera
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Albizia gummifera
Plants of the World Online: Albizia gummifera
Tropicos: Albizia gummifera
Wikipedia: Albizia gummifera


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave 2007-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Albizia gummifera.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=125660, retrieved 19 March 2024

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