Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit

Leguminosae, J.P.M. Brenan. Flora Zambesiaca 3:1. 1970

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree 0·6-9 m. high; young branchlets densely grey-puberulous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves: petiole 2-4·7 cm. long, often with a gland at the junction of the lowest pair of pinnae, glands otherwise absent; rhachis (2·5)7-15 cm. long; pinnae (2)3-8 pairs, opposite; leaflets (5)7-17(21) pairs, 7-18 x 1·5-5 mm., obliquely oblong-lanceolate, acute at the apex, puberulous on the margins and sometimes also on the midrib beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Peduncles 2·5 cm. long. Heads of flowers white to cream.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2-3·5 mm. long, puberulous above outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4-5·25 mm. long, puberulous above outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen-filaments 6·5-7·5 mm. long; anthers hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 8-18 x (1·4)1·8-2·1 cm., with a stipe up to 3 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 7·5-9 x 4-5 mm., elliptic to obovate.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Cultivated, Guinea-Congolian anthropic landscapes, Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; anthropic landscapes.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub/Tree

Vernacular

Acacie, Aroma Blanca, Aroma Boba, Aroma Mansa, Barba De Leon, Bois Bourro, Bois-lolo, Cassie, Cassie Blanc, Cowbush, Graines De Lin, Grains de Lin Pays, Granadillo Bobo, Granadino, Granolino, Gros-Cassie, Guaje, Hediondilla, Ipil Ipil, Jimbay, Jumbie Bean

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Vernacular

Lead tree (Engl.).

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree;young branchlets densely grey-puberulous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with pinnae (2–)3–7 pairs; leaflets (5–)7–17(–21) pairs, obliquely oblong-lanceolate, 7–18 x 1.5–5 mm, acute at apex, puberulous on margins and sometimes also on midrib beneath

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2–3.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 4–5.25 mm long, pale green

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 6.5–7.5 mm long, white; anthers hairy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 8–18 x (1.4–)1.8–2.1 cm.

Distribution

Cultivated at least in C2 and S2 and maybe sometimes naturalised widespread in the tropics, native in the New World.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean, Guiana Shield, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–2200 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Bogotá DC, Boyacá, Caldas, Cesar, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Meta, Norte de Santander, Quindío, San Andrés y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupés.

Habit

Shrub, Small tree.

Conservation

National Red List of Colombia (2021): Potential LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 2200 m.; Andes, Guayana y Serranía de La Macarena, Islas Caribeñas, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Pacífico, Valle del Cauca, Valle del Magdalena.

Morphology General Habit

Arbusto, arbolito

Conservation

Preocupación Menor

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

acacia blanca, acacia forrajera, carbonero, carbonero blanco, carbonero quiebrahacha, leucaena, panelo, ucaena

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

A shrub or small tree to about 6 m tall (in our area), the younger parts and leaflet-margins puberulous; pinnae in 3–8 pairs, 6–9 cm long; leaflets in 8–14 pairs, linear-oblong and inequilateral, 7–16 mm long, 2–4 mm broad, often pale or glaucous beneath

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flower- heads ca. 2 cm in diameter, on axillary peduncles 2–4 cm long; calyx 2–3 mm long; petals 4–5 mm long, puberulous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8–10 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods dark brown, pointed, 10–18 cm long, 1.3–1.8 cm broad, usually 3–10 in a cluster.

Distribution

Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac. Florida, West Indies, and continental Caribbean countries; naturalised in the Old World tropics.

Ecology

Characteristic of second-growth thickets, old fields, and roadsides.

Note

It is alleged that if horses or mules eat any part of this plant, their hair will fall out, but that cattle and goats are not affected.

Use

Domestic, Environmental, Food and Drink, Forage, Medicine, Miscellaneous, Toxins, Weed, Wood

Use

Introduced as shade tree, wood crop or browse plant. As browse it is suitable in moderate amounts only for cattle and goats, while poisonous to other domestic animals.

Use Animal Food

Used as animal food.

Use Environmental

Environmental uses.

Use Fuel

Used for fuels.

Use Gene Sources

Used as gene sources.

Use Food

Used for food.

Use Invertebrate Food

Used as invertebrate food.

Use Materials

Used as material.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.

Use Poisons

Poisons.

Use Social

Social uses.