Albizia amara

Albizia amara is a mid-sized, deciduous tree which resembles acacia without the thorns.[3] The bark of the tree is grey in color and is grainy and scaly.[3] The leaves consist of up to 15 pairs of side stalks and the leaflets are tiny and can consist of about 15–35 pairs.[3] The flowers are whitish-yellow powder puffs with long stamens and golden pollen.[3] The pods are flat and are about 20 cm long.[3] The leaves thin out during February–March and are renewed in April.[3] The flowers are present throughout May and the fruits ripen during October and November.[3] It is a host plant for Achaea janata.[4]

Albizia amara is intolerant of shade, and resistant to drought. In Africa it grows mainly in sandy woodlands.[2]

Albizia amara and Hardwickia binata are the dominant canopy trees in the Central Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests ecoregion of India.[5] It is also found in the Anamalai, Palani and Cardamom hills of Western Ghats and the Godavari area, the Javadi Hills of Eastern Ghats in South India.[6]

Albizia amara with flowers and pods

Medicinal uses

• The leaves and flowers are used for treatment of boils and ulcers. The leaf is also used for treatment of erysipelas.[7]
• Paste of leaf and rootbark is used to cure both skin diseases and poisonous bites.[8] [This journal is probably a predatory journal].
• The seeds are regarded as astringent and used in the treatment of piles, diarrhea and gonorrhea.[8]
• The flowers are used as a remedy for cough, ulcers, dandruff and malaria.[8]
• The pharmaceutical compounds of seeds and leaves has potential broad spectrum of anticancer activity.[8]

Its wood is used for construction and furniture, and as a firewood. Albizia amara provides many environmental services: control of soil erosion, wind break, shade provider. It is also an ornamental tree in urban areas. Ruminants can feed its leaves.[9]

In colonial times, in India, its "plentiful" wood was extensively used as railway fuel.[10]