Volume 4 > Part 2 > Year 1985 > Page 155 > Leguminosae-Mimosoideae > Leucaena

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Witwfo-0000164084

Taxon 10: 53. 1961; ibid. 24: 352. 1975; Polhill & Steam, Taxon 25: 323. 1976; Nielsen in Fl. C.L.V. 19: 38. Pl. 5, 21–25. 1981.— Mimosa leucocephala Lamk., Eric. 1: 12. 1783. Fig. 36: 21–25.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : A large shrub or-low tree up to 10 m high. Leaves: rachis 15–20 cm long; gland often present below the junction of the proximal pair of pinnae, orbicular; pinnae 3–10 pairs, up to 10 cm long; leaflets 5–20 pairs, 6–21 by 1.5–5 mm, linear or linear-oblong; base slightly, obliquely cuneate, apex acute; both surfaces glabrous, margins ciliate, lower surface glaucous. Inflorescence peduncles 1–3 together, 2–5 cm long. Calyx ca 2.5 mm long, tubular-campanulate, glabrous at the base, puberulous at the apex, teeth tgiangular, acute, puberulous. Petals ca 4.5–5 mm long, spathulate, puberulous. Stamens 10, filaments 8–10 mm long. Ovary with hairy apex, stipitate. Pod up to 2 x 20 cm, strap-shaped, straight, flat, membranous, dehiscent. Seeds 15–30, 6–9 by 3–4.5 mm, narrowly ovate, compressed, apex obtuse, base cuneate, with oblong pleurogram ca 4 by 1.5 mm.

Thailand : Introduced, cultivated.

Distribution : Tropical S & C America (type).

Vernacular : Kra thin (กระถิน), kra thin thai (กระถินไทย), kra thin ban (กระถินบ้าน), kra thin yak (กระถินยักษ์)(Central); phak kan thin (ผักก้านถิน), phak nong bok (ผักหนองบก)(Northern); kaset khok (กะเส็ดโคก), kaset bok (กะเส็ดบก)(Southwestern); sato bao (สะตอเบา), to bao (ตอเบา)(Peninsular).

Uses: Young leaves, flowers and pods locally consumed; mature leaves for chicken feed; wood for fuel. A new fast growing cultivar has been recently introduced under cultivation to substitute fuel wood.