Coffeebush (Leucaena leucocephala, Taxon 10: 54 (1961))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: (Lam.) de Wit

Bibliography: Taxon 10: 54 (1961)

Year: 1961

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Leucaena

Vegetable: False

Observations: Mexico to C. America

Description

Coffeebush, scientifically known as Leucaena leucocephala, is a versatile plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. Native to regions ranging from Mexico to Central America, its adaptability has made it prevalent in various tropical and subtropical parts of the world.

Characterized by its compound leaves and white puffball-like flowers, Coffeebush grows quickly and can reach heights of up to 20 feet. This perennial plant plays a significant ecological role, particularly due to its nitrogen-fixing capabilities, which enhance soil fertility. As a result, it is commonly used in agroforestry systems to improve land productivity and provide shade.

Apart from its ecological benefits, Coffeebush has several practical uses. Its leaves and seeds are a valuable source of feed for livestock, while its wood is used for fuel and construction. Additionally, the plant has medicinal properties and is utilized in traditional remedies for various ailments.

Introduced to many countries for its beneficial properties, Coffeebush can, however, become invasive under certain conditions, necessitating careful management to prevent it from adversely affecting local ecosystems.

The Coffeebush, described comprehensively in Taxon (1961) by the author (Lam.) de Wit, continues to be a subject of study and interest due to its ecological and economic importance, demonstrating the delicate balance between its advantages and the need for responsible cultivation.

Common Names

Spa: leucaena, acacia, acacia palida, aroma mansa, aromo blanco, guaje, huaxin, leucaena de cabezuelas blancas, tamarindo silvestre, uaxim
Eng: white leadtree, coffeebush, horse-tamarind, ipil-ipil, jumbie-bean, leadtree, leucaena, sneakytree, vi-vi, white popinac, mimosa, tan tan, tantan, tantan tree, wild tamarind, acacia, cowbush, jimbay, jumbie bean, jump-and-go
Fra: graines de lin
Swe: ipil-ipil
Por: leucena
Afr: reusewattel
En: Coffeebush, Horse-tamarind, Leadtree, Jumbie-bean, Leucaena, Vi-vi, Sneakytree, White popinac, Ipil-ipil, White leadtree, Macata, False koa, Mimosa, Tan Tan, Tantan, Tantan Tree, Wild Tamarind, Acacia, Cowbush, Jimbay, Jumbie bean, Jump-and-go, Wild mimosa, Horse/wild tamarind, Lead tree, Cassie, Cassie Blanc, Graines de Lin, Horse tamarind, Ipil Ipil, Lino, Lino Criollo, Granadillo bobo
Af: Reusewattel
Sq: Farat e lirit
Ar: ليوسينا
Bn: ইপিল ইপিল
My: ဘောစကိုင်း
Zh: Yin he huan, 灰金合歡, 銀合歡, 银合欢
Cs: Leucéna bělohlavá
Nl: Witte mimosa
Fi: Lyijypuu
Fr: Graines de lin, Faux mimosa, Leucaena leucocephala, Faux-acacia, Leucéna à têtes blanches, Cassi, Acacie
De: Weißkopfmimose
Ht: Madlèn
He: צחר כחלחל
Hi: सुबबूल
Id: Lamtoro
Jv: Pethèt
Km: ដើមធំថេត
Mk: Белоглава мимоза
Ms: Petai belalang
Ml: സുബാബുൽ
Mr: सुबाभूळ
Ne: इपिल
Fa: سوبابل
Pt: Acacia glauca, Leucena
Qu: Yarawisqu
Ru: Леуцена светлоголовчатая
Es: Guaje, Tamarindo silvestre, Uaxim, Huaxin, Leucaena, Acacia, Acacia palida, Aroma mansa, Aromo blanco, Leucaena de cabezuelas blancas
Su: Peuteuy sélong
Sv: Ipil-ipil
Tl: Ipil-ipil
Zh-tw: 銀合歡
Ta: இபில்-இபில்
Te: సుబాబుల్
Th: กระถิน
Uk: Левкена сиза
Vi: Keo dậu

Synonyms

• Mimosa leucocephala (Lam.)
• Acacia leucocephala ((Lam.) F.Dietr.)

Distribution

• Belize (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Aruba (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bismarck Archipelago (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• Burundi (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Christmas I. (introduced)
• Cocos (Keeling) Is. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Congo (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• Djibouti (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Easter Is. (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• French Guiana (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Ghana (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Guinea (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Guyana (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Iraq (introduced)
• Ivory Coast (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kazan-retto (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Lebanon-Syria (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Liberia (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Malawi (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Maldives (introduced)
• Mali (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Mauritania (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Namibia (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Niger (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
• Oman (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Phoenix Is. (introduced)
• Pitcairn Is. (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Rwanda (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Sardegna (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Sicilia (introduced)
• Sierra Leone (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• Somalia (introduced)
• South China Sea (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Suriname (introduced)
• Swaziland (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Vanuatu (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Wake I. (introduced)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Yemen (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Apr 18, 2019 by Elsa Havart (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 13, 2020 by Kremer Rita (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 31, 2021 by Mark Dawson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2019 by elena (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2019 by elena (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jan 14, 2022 by Brasil Bruno (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 14, 2022 by Brasil Bruno (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 8, 2020 by Franck Prejger (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 1, 2022 by Campos Alexandre (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2019 by elena (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Apr 25, 2018 by Richard P (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 14, 2017 by Paco Fuentes (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 13, 2020 by Kremer Rita (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 2, 2019 by Josie Bazile (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 23, 2019 by ghis stol (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken Nov 1, 2021 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 9, 2022 by Mel Mun (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 7, 2022 by Vieira do Nascimento Paulo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 28, 2022 by Κωνσταντίνα Γαστεράτου (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 13, 2020 by Kremer Rita (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Dec 30, 2020 by Karim BOUDANI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 3, 2022 by alfonso tenorio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 7, 2022 by Vieira do Nascimento Paulo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 25, 2019 by Virginia (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 14, 2022 by Brasil Bruno (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Feb 1, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Ans GORTER (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 27, 2020 by S M (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 27, 2020 by S M (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 6, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Sénégal ENGOUEMENT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 25, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Ans GORTER (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2970418)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:138955-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Stem

Growth habit: Tree, Shrub

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.7

Ph minimum: 5.0