Cultivation Details
A plant of the lowland moister tropics, succeeding at elevations from sea level up to 1,400 metres[3]. It grows in areas where the mean annual temperature is in the region of 26°c and the mean annual rainfall is around 2,732 mm[3]. Prefers well drained loamy or clayey soils and a position in full sun[3]. It has been found to be tolerant to soil acidity and shows some resistance to drought[1, 3]. Seedlings develop quickly, and can reach 3 metres tall after 2 years[1, 3]. Trees are capable of growing rapidly and have reached a bole diameter of 80 cm in secondary forest of 40 years old[1]. In a plantation in northern Cote d'Ivoire, 5.5-year-old trees were on average 3.7 metres tall, with a stem diameter of 7 cm. Trees on old termite mounds were over 6 metres tall with a stem diameter over 10 cm[1]. Planted trees can be managed by coppicing and pollarding[1]. Natural regeneration depends on the presence of medium-sized to large canopy gaps in the forest. Consequently, seedlings and saplings are more abundant in forest with logging damage than in undisturbed forest[1]. The flowers produce nectar which is collected by bees[1, 3]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[4].
Propagation
Seed - the germination rate of seeds soaked in water for 24 hours was 8 - 30% in 35 days; it was much better after treatment with sulphuric acid or mechanical scarification[1]. Pre-treatment of the seeds with 98% sulphuric acid for 5 minutes followed by thorough rinsing in water improved germination by up to 85%, and mechanical scarification followed by soaking for 6 hours in water gave a germination rate of up to 95% in 8 days[1]. Seeds for planting should be collected from the trees before the pods dehisce. Seeds can be stored for some time in a sealed container in a cool place, after adding ash to reduce insect damage[1]. Can be successfully propagated vegetatively by root cuttings[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-19. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Albizia+zygia>
Pollinators
Bees
References
- [1]Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. — http://www.prota.org ↩︎An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
- [2]The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation — Allen O.N.; Allen E.K. · University of Wisconsin · 1981 · ISBN 0-333-32221-5 ↩︎An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
- [3]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [4]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [5]Dictionary of Economic Plants. — Uphof. J. C. Th. · Weinheim · 1959 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.