Silk tree (Albizia niopoides, Legum. Argent. 2: 542 (1952))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: (Spruce ex Benth.) Burkart

Bibliography: Legum. Argent. 2: 542 (1952)

Year: 1952

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Albizia

Vegetable: False

Observations: S. Mexico to Trop. America

Description

The Silk tree, scientifically known as Albizia niopoides, is a fascinating specimen belonging to the Fabaceae family. It was first described in detail in the botanical reference “Legum. Argent. 2: 542” published in 1952 and attributed to the esteemed botanist Burkart, who built upon the initial observations made by Spruce and Bentham.

Endemic to the rich and diverse regions spanning from Southern Mexico to Tropical America, the Silk tree is a stellar example of the floristic wealth in these areas. This geographical distribution imbues the Silk tree with various growth forms and adaptations, making it a captivating subject for botanists and plant enthusiasts alike.

The Silk tree is part of the legume family, an essential group for the ecosystem due to their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, thereby enhancing soil fertility. This quality makes Albizia niopoides not just a beautiful plant but also an ecologically significant one.

In its natural habitat, the Silk tree offers a visually striking appearance with its delicate, feather-like foliage and often vibrant, fluffy flowers that attract a myriad of pollinators. This not only adds to the biodiversity but also plays a crucial role in the life cycles within its ecosystem.

Given its ornamental beauty and ecological importance, Albizia niopoides is a subject of interest for both conservation efforts and horticultural appreciation.

Common Names

Eng: silk tree
En: Silk tree
Pt: Farinha-seca

Synonyms

• Pithecellobium niopoides (Spruce ex Benth.)

Distribution

• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Belize (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Guyana (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Peru (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Venezuelan Antilles (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Mar 23, 2022 by Henrique Quadros (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (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.

Bark

Taken Nov 21, 2016 by Yves Demouy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 14, 2021 by Oliveira Vander (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 4, 2022 by Colten Patton (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Kai K (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Nov 21, 2016 by Yves Demouy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 4, 2022 by Colten Patton (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Nov 21, 2016 by Yves Demouy (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2973046)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:8032-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Albizia niopoides (Benth.) Burkart)

Specifications

Growth