Silk plants
Botanical name: Albizia
Silk plants
Botanical name: Albizia
Description
Silk plants consist mainly of tropical and sub-tropical trees and shrubs, with species' native ranges being disturbed around the entire tropical world. Generally speaking, these plants have a very short life span, but there are some rare occasions where they live for more than a century. Many species are used for forage and timber but are primarily popular as attractive ornamentals in gardens. Due to their rapid growth, some silk plants have become problematic invasives, especially in the Pacific islands.
Species of Silk plants
Persian silk tree 'Boubri'
Persian silk tree 'Boubri' consist mainly of tropical and sub-tropical trees and shrubs, with species' native ranges being disturbed around the entire tropical world. Generally speaking, these plants have a very short life span, but there are some rare occasions where they live for more than a century. Many species are used for forage and timber but are primarily popular as attractive ornamentals in gardens. Due to their rapid growth, some persian silk tree 'Boubri' have become problematic invasives, especially in the Pacific islands.
Persian silk tree 'Summer Chocolate'
Persian silk tree 'Summer Chocolate' is a cultivar of the Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), selected for and named after its characteristic bronze leaves, which become burgundy-chocolate in color as the season progresses. This prominent foliage color makes this cultivar more attractive than its parent plant, whose leaves are simply green.
Rain tree
The rain tree(Albizia saman) is a giant among trees and can easily reach up to 24 m tall in its lifespan. In an act of self-protection, it will curl in its leaves whenever they're not useful, during periods of rain, clouds, and even just at night! It makes durable lumber with a distinctive, wavy grain pattern. Parts of this tree are toxic, so use caution!
Woman's tongue
Woman's tongue (Albizia lebbeck) is a deciduous tree that can grow to 30 m tall. It has a rounded canopy and gray, rough, cork-like bark. Blooms in spring with greenish yellow flowers. Produces long hanging seed pods. Invades pine lands and hammocks, disrupting the natural flora and fauna. The wood is naturally termite resistant and is often used in furniture making.
Whiteclintonia
Similar to the well-known Silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), whiteclintonia is a medium-sized tree that's often cultivated as an ornamental in Europe for its powder-puff blooms and interesting foliage. Though very decorative, the tree shows a somewhat aggressive nature and the significant ability to self-seed, disturbing native plants in areas where it's been introduced and has become invasive in places like North America.
Persian silk tree
Albizia julibrissin, colloquially known as persian silk tree, is a deciduous plant with characteristic pink, fuzzy inflorescences. Persian silk tree is mainly cultivated for decorative purposes. Its flowers have a mild, sweet smell and are often visited by butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.
Chinese albizia
Albizia chinensis is a deciduous or evergreen tree that reaches a height of up to 30–43 m. Its trunk has a diameter up to 1–2 m. Its flowers are stalked heads that aggregate into a yellow panicle. The fruits are indehiscent pods.
Albizia sinaloensis
Albizia sinaloensis consist mainly of tropical and sub-tropical trees and shrubs, with species' native ranges being disturbed around the entire tropical world. Generally speaking, these plants have a very short life span, but there are some rare occasions where they live for more than a century. Many species are used for forage and timber but are primarily popular as attractive ornamentals in gardens. Due to their rapid growth, some albizia sinaloensis have become problematic invasives, especially in the Pacific islands.
Worm-cure false-thorn
Worm-cure false-thorn consist mainly of tropical and sub-tropical trees and shrubs, with species' native ranges being disturbed around the entire tropical world. Generally speaking, these plants have a very short life span, but there are some rare occasions where they live for more than a century. Many species are used for forage and timber but are primarily popular as attractive ornamentals in gardens. Due to their rapid growth, some worm-cure false-thorn have become problematic invasives, especially in the Pacific islands.
Scientific Classification
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