Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 29 



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. In warm regions 

 easily naturalised from seeds. An allied species is the North-Eastern 

 Australian A. canescens (Bentham). 



Albizzia lophantha, Bentham. (Acacia 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 nor very long-living. It produces 

 seeds abundantly, which germinate most easily and retain their 

 vitality for several years. 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. 

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

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

 dolabriformis of Southern Asia. In Australia this plant is found 

 better even than the Broom-bush for sheltering new forest planta- 

 tions 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-coloured, durable and strong ; well adapted 

 for naves and felloes [Drury and Brandis]. Regarded by Roxburgh 

 as one of the most valuable jungle-timbers. 



Albizzia procera, Bentham. 



South-Eastern Asia and North-Western Australia, but enduring 

 mild extra-tropic climes. Height to 100 feet. Growth more rapid 

 than that of the Siris. Among the limited numbers of trees fit to 

 live on saltish land. 



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



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

 and Peru. It attains a height 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. Truly splendid 

 for shade ; almost unapproached for rapid growth by any other tree. 

 In Fiji it attained a stem-circumference of 9 feet m 7 years, and a 

 height of about 50 feet, with some branches spreading over 40 feet 

 from the short trunk. It can be trimmed to form a tall stem [R. L. 

 Holmes]. At Port Curtis it grew 6 feet in 15 months, and it fruitf 



