Trees & Plants

Subaul

Ipil ipil

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.)

Very common with profuse regeneration in almost all the islands One of the best palatable fodder trees although mimosine toxicity is a disadvantage. The timber is of moderate quality, but makes excellent charcoal. Leucaena is sometimes used as a shade over coffee and cocoa. The s

Details

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uses: trees although mimosine toxicity is a disadvantage. The timber is of moderate quality, but makes excellent charcoal. Leucaena is sometimes used as a shade over coffee and cocoa. The seeds are used to expel intestinal worms and as a remedy for diabetes. The roasted seeds help to increase or menstrual flow. × Th reat & damage: The plant can form dense thickets eliminating native plants and cover large areas within a short duration. It can affect the biodiversity and disturb the ecological equilibrium of the invaded areas. Management: Uprooting of saplings is effective. Removal of trees by cutting may not be useful because of aggressive sprouting × from the cut ends. Herbicidal application using the cut-stump method will give some control. Biocontrol by a bruchid beetle seed predator viz., Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus has been attempted successfully in South Africa.
family: Fabaceae
synonym: Mimosa leucocephala Lam., Acacia glauca (L.) Willd.
description: Trees, to 15 m high; branchlets puberulous. Leaves bi-pinnate, alternate; rachis 12-22 cm, slender, pulvinate, puberulent; pinnae 4-6 pairs, 4-15 cm, even pinnate, a gland between the lowest pair or a little lower down on the petiole on the × upper side; leaflets 16-40, opposite, 0.8-2 Th 0.2-0.6 cm, obliquely oblong or obliquely- lanceolate, base obliquely truncate, apex acute or acuminate, pubescent and glaucous beneath. Flowers greenish-white, in axillary umbels, globose, to 1.2 cm across, solitary or 2-3 together; peduncle to 4 cm. Calyx 3 effmm, 5-toothed. Petals 5, free. Stamens 10; × filaments 7 mm long. Fruit a pod, 18-20 1.5-2.5 cm, linear-oblong, flat, dehiscent; seeds 15-20, brown, glossy.
native range: Mexico and Central America
distribution: Pantropical de Wit
english names: Subaul · Lead tree · Leucaena
flowering fruiting: November – April
occurrence maldives: Very common with profuse regeneration in almost all the islands One of the best palatable fodder