Trees (3–)5–7 m. Stems gla­brous, bark brown, rough, with protuberant lenticels. Leaves 23–30 cm; stipule length unknown; petiole 3–7.5 cm, glabrous; gland near middle, elliptic, length to 1.5 times width; pin­nae 2 or 3(or 4) pairs, 8.5–13 cm, rachis without glands; leaflets (5–)8–10(–14) pairs, blades slightly bicolored, oblong, slightly asymmetric, 2.5–3.5(–4.5) cm, surfaces with conspicuous palmate venation, midvein marginal or submarginal, base rounded or slightly acute, apex rounded, mucronate, surfaces glabrous; terminal pair slightly heteromorphic, not larger. Peduncles 4–7 cm, glabrous; bracts basal. Inflorescences 15–20-flowered, terminal or axillary, capitulalike corymbs; axis glabrous. Pedicels to 1 mm. Flowers: calyx tubular, 3 mm, lobes 5, sparsely strigillose; corolla infundibuliform, 7–9 mm, lobes 5, sparsely strigillose; stamens 30, 15 mm, tube to 5 mm; central flowers sessile, calyx tubular, 4 mm, lobes 5; corolla infundibuliform, 12 mm, lobes 5, sparsely strigillose; stamens 30–35, 20 mm, tube 17 mm. Legumes: stipe to 1 cm, ochre or reddish brown, 0.7–2 × 1.5–3 cm, margins inconspicuous, base and apex acute, valves membranous, shortly pubescent or glabrescent. Seeds 4–12, 6 × 4 mm. 2n = 26.

Phenology: Flowering spring–early summer; fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat: Disturbed thickets, roadsides.
Elevation: 100–200 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

N.C., Asia.

Discussion

Young leaflets of Albizia kalkora are yellow-green, while those of A. julibrissin are dark green; A. kalkora has fewer pinnae [2 or 3(or 4) pairs] and leaflets (5–14 pairs), compared to A. julibrissin (4–12 pairs of pinnae with 13–36 leaflet pairs per pinna); flowers of A. kalkora are paler and more creamy than pink, while those of A. julibrissin are more commonly pink to dark pink.

Some specimens from Durham County in North Carolina (where Albizia kalkora grows near A. julibrissin) exhibit intermediate characteristics and may represent hybrids.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.