Summary: Albizia lebbeck (East Indian Walnut) is a plant in the Fabaceae family. Verdica documents 7 traditional uses, 58 phytochemical compounds, and 22 herb-drug interactions for this species.
Siris Tree (Woman's Tongue) Albizia lebbeck. Other common names include Indian walnut, lebbeck, lebbeck tree, flea tree, frywood, and koko. Siris Tree or Woman's Tongue Tree (Albizia lebbeck) belongs in the Fabaceae family that grows up to 15-30 m in height and 50 cm to 300 cm in trunk diameter. It has bipinnate leaves that are usually 7.5 - 15 cm long, with one to four pairs of pinnae and each pinna with 6 - 18 leaflets. It has very fragrant, white flowers with numerous stamens. The fruit is a pod containing 6 -12 seeds. The tree is used to produce timber and fuel, for forage, environmental management, and medicine. It is an astringent and used for coughs, boils, lung problems, flu, and gingivitis, among others. Its bark is used to treat inflammation and as fish poison. The red dye obtained from the bark, however, causes skin irritation. The leaves and seeds are used medicinally for treating ophthalmia and other eye problems. The seeds are powdered to treat scrofula. Siris tree is commonly used to provide shade for coffee and cocoa plantations. Edible parts are young tips when cooked or boiled. It has nitrogen-rich leaves that can be used as mulch and green manure. It has an extensive, fairly shallow root system thus can be a good soil binder and may be used to prevent soil erosion. Other Names: Chiali, Lebbeck, Lebbek, Thing-chawke.
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Watering | Moderate — drought tolerant once established |
| Soil | Well-drained; nitrogen-fixing — minimal fertilizer needed |
| Hardiness Zone | Varies widely (USDA 2-11) |
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