Albizia saman (Jacq.) F. Muell MIMOSACEAE
Synonyms: Samanea saman, Entrolobium saman
Common names: Rain tree, monkey pod
Dhivehi name: Bodu gas
Status: Occurs occasionally in nature; now it is widely planted
Description: A fast growing, semi-deciduous tree, which normally grows to 15 to 25 m in height but is capable of reaching up to 50 m. Crown is umbrella shaped; in open places the horizontal spread is greater than the height of the tree. Trunk is short and stout with grey, rough and fissured bark. Bark on younger tree is pale grey and smooth. Leaves are compound, arranged alternately along twigs with two to six pairs of pinnae. Each pinna has 6 to 16 pairs of leaflets, which are diamond shaped,shiny green on the upper surface and pale and finely haired on the lower surface.
Leaflets are larger at apical end of the pinna. Leaflets fold during the night and
sometimes on cloudy days. Flowers are pink in colour, numerous and clustered. Long
stamens, which are red in the upper half and white below, give the whole flower head
the appearance of a powder puff. Flowers bear honey. Fruit is a large pod, 10 to 20 cm in length, thick, black-brown in colour and filled with a sticky brownish sweet pulp.Each fruit contains 15 to 20 fatty, shiny, smooth and dark brown seeds.
Uses: Widely grown as shade providing and ornamental tree. Timber is light weight,durable and resistant to termites. It is used for carving, furniture, paneling and as veneer and plywood. It can be used for framing in boat building. It makes fairly good firewood but smokes a lot when burned. Tree yields a low-grade gum when wounded.Honey is also harvested from the tree. Pulp of the pod is edible but too astringent.In Maldives, it is mainly grown as an ornamental and shade tree. It is a nitrogen fixer.Ecology, propagation and management: Rain tree grows on light, medium and heavy soils and also adapts to acidic and alkaline conditions. It can tolerate water logging for a short period and light salt spray but is intolerant to shade. It is propagatedeasily and commonly by seed but also by stem cuttings, root cuttings and stump cuttings. Seeds are placed in hot water for about three minutes and then soaked in cold water for 24 hours before sowing. Seedlings of about 15 to 30 cm can be used for outplanting. Seedlings of more than 1 cm stem diameter hold up better in wind and rain.