CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

WHITE SIRIS

Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth

Botanical name	: Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth
Synonym	: Mimosa procera Roxb
Vernacular name	: White Siris/ Tallest Albizia
Family	: Fabaceae - Mimosoideae
About the Tree	: Albizia procera is a tree with an open canopy. It is a moisture loving plant. Its presence is an indicator of good arable land. Native to southern Asia from India to southern China, Indonesia, Philippines and northern Australia.
Height	: up to 30 m
Bark	: Bark smooth, distinctive pale yellow, yellowish-green, yellowish-brown or brown with horizontal ridges, under bark green, changing to orange just below the surface.
Leaf	: Its bipinnately compound leaves measure upto 45 cm in length, while its leaflets, of 2 to 4.5 cm, are a medium green both above and below. The compound leaves have 5-12 pairs of sub-opposite pinnae with a large, brown, oblong gland near the base.
Flower	: White, arranged in heads which are either solitary or appearing in groups of 2-5 to form globose, Glomerules of 2 to 2.5 cm in diameter, which are grouped in turn in panicles of 8 to 25 cm in length, towards the end of twigs. Its individual flower measure 6 to 7 mm, lacking stalks, Calyx and Petal are insignificant, Stamens long threadlike about 10mm long.
Fruits	: The fruit is a flat, papery pod, dark red-brown, linear-oblong, 10-25 cm long and 2-3 cm broad with distinctive long points at both ends and distinctive marks over each seed. It contains 6-12 brown, ellipsoid seeds that are arranged more or less transversely in the pod .At maturity the pod splits open to release the seeds
Season	: Flowering generally occurs during the rainy season. This tree blooms between June and August. Leaves are shade towards the end of March. New leaves in April- May. Fruits formed, quickly turns from green to coppery red by December, and dropping between march and may.
Medicinal Properties	: The decoction of bark is used in traditional medicine to treat rheumatism and stomach ache. It is a useful tree for farm and amenity planting, light shade, firebreaks and for the rehabilitation of seasonally dry, eroded and degraded soils good.
Peculiar Character	: It is the tallest Albizia in our region. Highly adaptable to different environment.