Leguminosae. 83 
It is one of those trees in which the leaflets are possessed of the 
power of movement and close together at sundown, thus shedding 
the dew. When the sun is high the leaflets spread out and screen off 
the powerful rays of the sun. It is a valuable tree for crop protection 
as it prevents excessive evaporation from the soil. 
Albizzia Lebbek (L.) Benth. 
The Siris Tree. 
Plate XXXIV. 
The Siris Tree is large, deciduous, and spreading. It is culti- 
vated here and there in parks and along streets about Honolulu. The 
Siris Tree is a native of tropical Africa and Asia ; it grows in the 
evergreen mixed forests in the lower Himalayas from the Indus to 
Bengal, Burmah, as well as in Central and South India, and often 
ascends to an elevation of five thousand feet. As the tree is decidu- 
ous and remains for a long time bare, save for the broad yellow papery 
pods which hang in great numbers and do not improve the appear- 
ance of the tree, it cannot be called ornamental ; besides, its flowers 
are more or less inconspicuous, being of a greenish yellow color but 
are exceedingly fragrant. Even in the spring when the leaves appear, 
the pods, which are over half a foot long and an inch and a half 
wide, and straw colored, still remain. 
It has been employed in India as an avenue tree, as its roots do 
not penetrate very deeply into the ground. It is grown from seeds 
but may also be easily propagated from cuttings. There are. however, 
much more desirable trees for avenue plantings which shed their 
leaves either not at all or at most for a very short period and be- 
sides have beautiful large showy flowers. 
The Siris Tree yields a gum which is not soluble in water but 
is jelly-like and resembles gum arable, and is often used as an adult- 
erant for pure gum. The bark is used for tanning, while an oil ex- 
tracted from the seeds is considered useful in leprosy. The seeds 
and leaves are employed medicinally in ophthalmia, and the flowers 
are used by the natives of India as a cooling medicine, being applied 
externally on boils and eruptions. Powdered seeds have been ad- 
ministered successfully in scrofulous enlargements of the glands, and 
powdered root-bark is used when the gums are ulcerated and spongy. 
The Siris Tree is a rapid grower and is content with almost any 
kind of soil. It flourishes best, however, on embankments and road- 
sides. Large trees can be found in Honolulu, one at Pawaa Junction 
