Shrubs or trees 3–15(–20) m, twigs and petioles puberulent. Leaves: petiole 2–3 cm; gland saucer-shaped; pinnae 4–8 pairs; rachis 9–11 cm; leaflets 26–32, rachilla 7–8 cm, blade oblong, 8–14 × 2–4.5 mm. Peduncles 1–2.5 cm, pubescent. Inflorescences fascicled in distal axils, 1–2 cm diam.; bracts inconspicuous. Flowers: calyx tube strigose; petals distinct, white, puberulent; anthers sparsely hairy, tip rounded. Legumes green becoming red to brown, flat, compressed, 12–21 × 1.4–2 cm. 2n = 104.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting year-round.
Habitat: introduced also in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide..
Elevation: 0–500 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Loading map...

Introduced; Fla., Tex., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, introduced also in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide.

Discussion

Leucaena leucocephala is probably native in the New World tropics and is now pantropical as a weed. It is planted for food and animal forage and is used as firewood. Because it is cultivated in Arizona and California, it should be expected as a weed. Leucaena leucocephala is a self-compatible tetraploid.

C. E. Hughes (1998) recognized three subspecies in Leucaena leucocephala, two of which occur in North America: subsp. glabrata (Rose) Zárate (arborescent) and subsp. leucocephala (shrubby), with traits which are not determinable from herbarium specimens; their character states are otherwise overlapping.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.