CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

SIRIS

Albizia lebbeck (L.)

Botanical name	: Albizia lebbeck (L.)
Synonym	: Mimosa lebbeck
Vernacular name	: Siris/ lebbeck
Family	: Fabaceae
About the Tree	: Siris although a native of India is uncommon deciduous tree, in urban areas .It is a medium sized tree, with a good quality timber. All parts of plant are used in Ayurvedic medicine. The tree is mentioned often in ancient Sanskrit literature.
Height	: 18-30 m tall
Bark	: The bark is rough grey brown in colour somewhat flaky; inner bark reddish and its outermost part is split and separate in long segments..
Leaf	: The leaves are bi pinnate (twice compound), like tamarind leaves, but slightly bigger than that. The primary leaflets are oblong to elliptic-oblong sub opposite 1.5 - 6.5 cm long and 0.5 - 3.5 cm wide
Flower	: Inflorescence a terminal or axillary (often 2 or more per axil), 5 - 9 cm diameter semi-globular cluster of 15 - 40 flowers; peduncles 5 - 10 cm long. Flowers, fragrant, with pedicels 1.5 - 4.5 (- 7) mm long; calyx 3.5 - 5 mm long, corolla 5 - 11 mm long, terminating in 5 triangular lobes pubescent at the apex; filaments numerous, 1.5 - 3 cm long, fused at the base, predominantly white to cream in colour, tipped with pale green, and becoming dark yellow with age.
Fruits	: The fruit is a pod 15-30 cm long and 2.5-5.0 cm broad, containing six to twelve seeds. Pod turns brown when matures.
Season	: Flowering occurs from September to October; mature pods remain on the tree for long periods and are available May-July.
Medicinal Properties Peculiar Character	: The flowers, fruit, bark, leaves and roots are all used in medicine. Lebbeck is an astringent, also used by some cultures to treat boils, cough, flu, gingivitis, lung problems, and a pectoral problem, also used as a tonic, and is used to treat abdominal tumors. : The dry pods shivered with each gust of wind, making a rusling sound. This constant sound made by the pods has earned the tree the name of 'Woman's Tongue Tree'.