ALBIZIA

also spelled Albizzia, large genus of trees, of the pea family (Fabaceae), native to warm regions of the Old World. The alternate, compound leaves are bipinnate (i.e., the leaflets of the feather-formed leaves, in turn, bear leaflets). The small flowers are borne in globular or finger-shaped clusters. The fruit is a large, strap-shaped pod. Several species are grown as ornamentals. A. julibrissin, or julibrizzin (silk tree, or mimosa tree), native to Asia and the Middle East, grows to about 9 m (30 feet) tall, has a broad, spreading crown, and bears flat pods about 12 cm (5 inches) long. A. lebbek (siris, or woman's-tongue tree), native to tropical Asia and Australia, grows about 24 m tall and bears pods 2330 cm long. A. lophantha (plume albizia), native to Australia, grows to about 6 m tall and has pods 7.5 cm long.