in Extra-Tropical Countries. 21 



Albizzia latisiliqua, F. v. Mueller. (Lysiloma latisiliqua, Bentham.) 



Tropical America. A large spreading tree; trunk attaining a 

 diameter of 3 feet; wood excellent for select cabinet-work, excelling 

 according to Nuttall the Mahogany in its variable shining tints, 

 which appear like watered satin; it is hard and close-grained. 



Albizzia Lebbek, Bentham. 



The Siris-Acacia of Southern and Middle Asia and Northern 

 Africa. Available as a shade-tree. It produces also a good deal of 

 gum; the flowers much sought for honey by bees. An allied species 

 is the North-Eastern Australian A. canesceus (Bentham). 



Albizzia lophantha, Bentham. ( A cdcia lophantha, Willdenow. ) 



South-Western Australia. One of the most rapidly-growing plants 

 for copses and first temporary shelter in exposed localities, but never 

 attaining the size of a real tree. It produces seeds abundantly, which 

 germinate most easily. For the most desolate places, especially in 

 desert-tracts, it is of great importance, quickly affording shade, 

 shelter and a copious vegetation. Cattle browse on the leaves, The 

 bark contains only about 8 per cent, mimosa-tannin ; but Mr. Rum- 

 mel found in the dry root about 10 per cent, of saponin, so valuable 

 in silk- and wool-factories. Saponin also occurs in Xylia dolabrifor- 

 mis of Southern Asia. In Australia this plant is found better even 

 than the Broom-bush for sheltering new forest-plantations in open 

 sand-lands ; in rich soil known to have grown 14 feet in a year. 



Albizzia micrantha, Boivin. (A. odoratissima, Bentham.) 



India; ascending to 5,000 feet ; growing in almost any kind of 

 soil; hardy in sub-tropical countries. A middle-sized tree; timber 

 particularly hard, dark-colored, durable and strong ; well adapted 

 for naves and felloes (Drury and Brandis). Regarded by Roxburgh 

 as one of the most valuable jungle-timbers. 



Albizzia Saman, F. v. Mueller. (Pithecolobium .Saman, Bentham. ) 



The " Rain-tree " or " Guango," extending from Mexico to Brazil 

 and Peru. It attains a heighth of 70 feet, with a trunk 6 feet in 

 diameter, the colossal branches expanding to 150 feet ; it is of quick 

 growth, and in outline not unlike an oak ; it is content with light soil, 

 and forms a magnificent feature in a landscape. In India it attained 

 in ten years a stem-girth of about 6 feet at 5 feet from the ground, 

 its ramifications by that time spreading out to 90 feet (Blechyndon). 

 It thrives particularly in the dry salt-pond districts of the West 

 Indies, and likes the vicinity of the sea, " its foliage possessing the 

 power, to an unusual extent, to attract, absorb and condense aerial 

 humidity " (Consul for France at Laroto). Not ascending to above 

 1,000 feet altitude in Jamaica ; resisting drought. The pods mature 

 for fodder at a time, when grass and herbage on pastures become 

 parched. Rain and dew fall through the foliage, which is shut up at 

 night, thus allowing grass to grow underneath. The tree thrives 

 best where the rainfall fluctuates between 30 and 60 inches a year. 



