Albizia anthelmintica

Albizia anthelmintica (A. Rich.) Brongn.

Common names

Worm cure albizia (English); chibombwesala (Bemba); kansalunsalu, muzanga (Kunda); chigologolo, chikalolo, chitale, mpefu, mtangatanga, kaweleka, masango, msase, ngaza, mzanga (Nyanja)

The generic Latin name ‘Albizia’ refers to; ‘anthelmintica’ refers to the anthelmintic (ant-worm) properties of the bark (see below).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A medium-sized, deciduous shrub or tree, up to 12 m in height. Bark smooth, grey to brown, young branchlets hairless or sometimes shortly pubescent. Leaves compound, paripinnate, leaf stalks often ending with a downwards bent hook or claw. Leaves with 1-4 pairs of pinnae, each bearing 1-5 pairs of leaflets. A conspicuous gland is found on the petiole below the first pair of pinnae. Leaflets 1-3.6 x 0.6-3.1 cm, elliptic, obovate or sub-circular with a small hair (mucro) at their apex; hairless to sparsely pubescent with margin entire. Flowers white, scented, fluffy heads, 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter, with multiple stamens, usually appearing before the leaves (July-September). Fruit pods 18 x 3cm, straw-coloured, flattened and dehiscent, ripening September-November the year after flowering.

Range and habitat

Albizia anthelmintica occurs in dry habitats from the Sudan and Ethiopia southwards to South Africa and Namibia. In the Luangwa valley it is common in thicket areas and the drier Mopane woodlands.