Home > List of families > Fabaceae subfamily Mimosoideae > Albizia > gummifera
Albizia gummifera (J.F. Gmel.) C.A. Sm.
Below Castleburn Cliffs, Vumba
By main Vumba rd
By main Vumba rd (below Westaway)
Photo: Neil Crouch
Bridal Veil Falls, Chimanimani
Synonyms: Albizia fastigiata sensu Eyles
Common names: Mucherenje (Shona) Mupambangoma (Shona) Smooth-barked flat-crown (English)
Frequency: Local
Very large deciduous, flat-topped tree with smooth bark, very rarely rough; young branches finely brownish-pubescent. Stipules lanceolate, c. 6-7 × 2-2.5 mm. Leaves bipinnate with 5-7 pairs of pinnae; leaflets in 9-16 pairs per pinna; with a small but distinct "heel", glossy dark-green above, pubescent beneath only on the midrib and margins (occasional hairs on the primary lateral nerves when young). Flowers in semi-spherical heads, white; staminal tube conspicuous, crimson, exserted up to 2.8 cm beyond the corolla. Pod dehiscent, pale brown to reddish or purplish, glossy, becoming hairless with age.
Notes: This species is very similar to A. adianthifolia, in which the leaflets are densely pubescent all over the surface beneath and which lack the "heel". Furthermore, A. adianthifolia is a species of more open forest and forest edge and occurs generally at lower altitudes. A. schimperiana is another similar forest species, which has pure white flowers and smaller leaflets.
Native to divisions E and S, it is also commonly planted as an ornamental elsewhere, e.g. in Harare, where it grows very well. However. apart from the record from Moir Close, which is of doubtful status, there is no evidence that it escapes in division C.
Derivation of specific name: gummifera: producing gum or resin
Habitat: In (sub) montane forest, often forming a super-canopy over the forest.
Flowering time: Oct
Worldwide distribution: From the Sudan and Ethiopia southwards to Zimbabwe and Mozambique; also westwards to E DRC, Cameroon and Nigeria; also Madagascar
Zimbabwe distribution: E,S
Growth form(s): Tree.
Images last updated: Saturday 26 February 2011
Biegel, H.M. (1977). Check-list of ornamental plants used in Rhodesian parks and gardens. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal. Research Report No. 3. Page 20.
Brenan, J.P.M. (1952). The Albizzia gummifera complex Kew Bulletin 7(4) Pages 511 - 518. (Includes a picture).
Brenan, J.P.M. (1970). Mimosoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(1) Pages 129 - 131. (Includes a picture).
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 212. (Includes a picture).
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 4.
Coates Palgrave, K. et al. (1956). Trees of Central Africa National Publications Trust, Salisbury. Pages 265 - 268. (Includes a picture).
Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 18.
Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 215. As: Albizia gummifera gummifera
Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 240. As Albizia gummifera gummifera
Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Pages 15 - 16. as Albizzia fastigiata (Includes a picture).
Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Pages 93 - 94.
Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 74.
Other sources of information about Albizia gummifera:
Flora of Malawi: Albizia gummifera
Flora of Mozambique: Albizia gummifera
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Albizia gummifera
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Albizia gummifera
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Albizia gummifera
African Plant Database: Albizia gummifera
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Albizia gummifera
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Albizia gummifera
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Albizia gummifera
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Albizia gummifera
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Albizia gummifera
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network): Albizia gummifera
iNaturalist: Albizia gummifera
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Albizia gummifera
JSTOR Plant Science: Albizia gummifera
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Albizia gummifera
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Albizia gummifera
Plants of the World Online: Albizia gummifera
Tropicos: Albizia gummifera
Wikipedia: Albizia gummifera
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2021). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Albizia gummifera.