Notes on Albizia niopoides (Spruce ex Benth.) Burkart (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae)

Abstract

A. niopoides is a potential multipurpose tree due to its large shade-giving crown with a diameter up to 20 m (data from herbarium labels of Venezuelan populations), its tolerance of dry areas, its hard wood of high quality (which is used for railway sleepers), and its usually large production of fruits for forage (data taken from herbarium labels). Alongside the main focus on Leucaena and Gliricidia, Albizia species have been collected and studied by the Oxford Forestry Institute during the last 10 years as trees of potential use for tropical reafforestation (ODA Research scheme R-4091) and A. niopoides has been extensively collected within this research programme. Recently, while dealing with a query from the Oxford Forestry Institute about an Indian species of Albizia, I found an isotype of Albizia richardiana King & Prain in the Kew herbarium. This also corresponds to A. niopoides. In the protologue of A. richardiana a brief history of the material on which this name is based is explained. The tree was first cultivated in the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta in 1841 and it was believed, erroneously, to be a native of Madagascar. According to King & Prain (in King, Duthie & Prain 1906), seeds of this plant were received by Wallich with a note stating "Gagnebina spec. Bel arbre de Madagascar". Later, Voigt (1845) listed it as Gagnebina richardiana Wall. In the original description of A. richardiana (King & Prain 1906) there is a drawing of the plant and a photograph of the whole tree showing the characteristic bark and wide crown typical of A. niopoides. A. niopoides is more widely distributed than previously thought and the relevant synonymy is presented below.