Albizia lebbeck

Name and publication

Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth., London J. Bot. 3: 87 (1844).

Description

The fruits (legumes) of East Indian-walnut, frywood, koko, or lebbek are large, thin, straw-colored (in the native state), 10-30 cm long and 2.5-5 cm wide, round at both ends or pointed at both ends, 6-12 seeded, seeds 6-9 mm, compressed, pale brown.

Nativity and distribution

This tree is cultivated in the tropics but probably native to tropical mainland Asia, now naturalized in Africa, southeastern United States, tropical South America, the Caribbean, Cape Verde Islands, Melanesia, Polynesia, and Hawai’i.

Family

Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae), also placed in Mimosaceae

Synonymy

Mimosa lebbeck L.