Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth.
Scientific Name: Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth.
Family: Fabaceae
Common Name: East Indian walnut, frywood, Indian siris, koko, lebbek tree, raom tree, woman's tongue
Hindi Name: सरस, शिरीष
Description: Deciduous tree with cracked gray bark; leaves bipinnate, with large gland above base of petiole; pinnae 1-4 pairs; leaflets 3-9 pairs, elliptic or obliquely oblong, 3-5 cm long; flowers creamish-white, in heads on up to 10 cm long peduncles; calyx 3-4 mm long; corolla 6-8 mm long; filaments yellowish-green, tube shorter than corolla tube; pod up to 30 cm long, 3-5 cm brad, flat, pale-straw coloured, 7-12 seeded.
Economic Importance:
It is cultivated as a shade tree in North and South America. In India and Pakistan, the tree is used to produce timber.
The tree is used to produce timber and fuel, for forage, environmental management, and medicine.
Medicinal Importance:
It is an astringent and used for coughs, boils, lung problems, flu, and gingivitis, among others.
Its bark is used to treat inflammation and as fish poison.
The leaves and seeds are used medicinally for treating ophthalmia and other eye problems.
The seeds are powdered to treat scrofula.
Cultural Importance:
It is found all over India. Almost all parts of this plant are used for the treatment of ailments such as migraine, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, jaundice, skin problems, asthma etc.
Reference: