SafePlants

Albizia schimperiana

Albizia schimperiana, described by Daniel Oliver in 1871, is known by several local names, including Mfuranje (Chagaa TZ), Mukurue (Kikuyu), and Ober (Acholi UG).

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is a tree, and its seeds are mentioned as being potentially insect-damaged.

Considerations for Children

• The wood is used for making spoons and needles, suggesting that small pieces or splinters might be present if the wood is used for crafts or construction around children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Albizia schimperiana Oliv.
• Family: Fabaceae (Pea family)
• Subfamily: Mimosoideae
• Rank: Species
• Synonyms:
  • Albizia amaniensis Baker f.
  • Albizia maranguensis Engl.
• Varieties:
  • A. schimperiana var. schimperiana
  • A. schimperiana var. amaniensis (Note: this variety "doesn't seem to exist within records.")

Distribution and Habitat

• Albizia schimperiana is endemic to eastern Africa.
• Specifically found in the highlands of Kenya and the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania.
• It grows in dry evergreen forests, evergreen bushland, and groundwater forests, and is a dominant species in Albizia-Croton forests and rainforests.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• It is a deciduous tree, typically growing up to 30 meters tall, but occasionally reaching 35 meters.
• It features a flattened or rounded, often umbrella-shaped crown.
• The leaf type is deciduous.

Ecological Role

• It is a dominant species in certain forest types, such as the Albizia-Croton forest.

Traditional Uses

• The wood of Albizia schimperiana is used for construction, joinery, tool handles, beehives, stools, grain mortars, spoons, needles, plywood, and matchboxes.
• The stem bark is used indigenously for the treatment of bacterial infections.
• The root is used in traditional remedies, such as for treating the "evil eye" (buda) when combined with Pterolobium stella in a traditional beer.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Honeybees collect nectar and pollen from the flowers.
• Near infrared spectroscopy is used to separate sound and insect-damaged seeds, suggesting that it is susceptible to insect damage.

Quirky Facts

• The text mentions the use of the root of Albizia schimperiana combined with another plant to create a remedy for the "evil eye" (buda), offering a glimpse into local beliefs and traditional medicine.

Further Information

• Tropicos database.
• International Plant Names Index.
• Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera.
• World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi.
• GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network).