Trees to 30 m; branches and twigs densely pubescent to gla­brescent; resting buds densely pubescent. Leaves: stipules early caducous, 5–6 mm, strigulose; petiole 4–8 cm, eglandular, strigulose; pin­nae 4.5–9.5(–18) cm, with gland between each pair; leaflet blades oblique-oblong to obovate, 15–35(–45) × 9–20 mm, base acute, apex rounded, mucronate, venation brochidodromous, main vein central; terminal pinna blades rhombic-elliptic, to 55 × 35 mm, apex rounded or acute; nectaries between each pair of pinnae and leaflets. Peduncles 5–7 cm, densely strigulose. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, densely strigulose; bracts 3 or 4, deltate, (5–)7 mm, densely strigulose; bract 5 mm, clavate, strigulose. Flowers: peripheral flowers pedicellate, pedicels 2–3 mm, strigulose; calyx 6 mm, densely strigulose; corolla campanulate, 10–12 mm; stamens white proximally, pink distally, staminal tube to 8 mm, ovary 4 mm; central flowers: calyx 10 mm, lobes 8; corolla 13–15 mm, lobes 5; staminal tube 12 mm, ovary 4 mm. Legumes 15–20 × 1.5–2.3 cm, base rounded, margins entire, apex rounded with slightly curved beak to 8 mm, valves leathery, smooth or slightly rough.

Phenology: Flowering spring–early summer.
Habitat: introduced also in tropical and subtropical areas nearly worldwide..
Elevation: 0–20 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Fla., Central America, South America, introduced also in tropical and subtropical areas nearly worldwide.

Discussion

Samanea saman is introduced in the paleotropics as an ornamental, timber, and forage tree. The species is considered invasive in Fiji and Vanuatu; elsewhere in the Pacific, it is naturalized but rarely considered problematic.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.