Albizia

For the Australian tree commonly named "Albizia", see Paraserianthes lophantha.

Albizia
Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin),
foliage and blossoms
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Albizia
Durazz. (1772)
Diversity
About 150 species
Synonyms[1]
  • Albizzia Benth.
  • Arthrosprion Hassk. (1855)
  • Besenna A. Rich. (1848)
  • Parasamanea Kosterm. (1954)
  • Parenterolobium Kosterm. (1954)
  • Sassa Bruce ex J. F. Gmel. (1792)
  • Serialbizzia Kosterm. (1954)
  • Sericandra Raf. (1838)
Albizia procera fruits

Albizia is a genus of more than 160 species of mostly fast-growing subtropical and tropical trees and shrubs in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae. The genus is pantropical, occurring in Asia, Africa, Madagascar, America and Australia, but mostly in the Old World tropics. In some locations, some species are considered weeds.

They are commonly called silk plants, silk trees, or sirises. The obsolete spelling of the generic name – with double 'z' – is still common, so the plants may be called albizzias. The generic name honors the Italian nobleman Filippo degli Albizzi, who introduced Albizia julibrissin to Europe in the mid-18th century.[2] Some species are commonly called mimosa, which more accurately refers to plants of genus Mimosa. Species from southeast Asia used for timber are sometime termed East Indian walnut.

  1. ^ Albizia Durazz. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference pa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).