Pink silk tree - Albizia julibrissin
Description and Uses
Albizia julibrissin (Pink silk tree) is a temperate tree from Mesopotamia. It is mainly grown for its ornamental crops (medium shelflife), but also Other uses include; apiculture, fodder, fuel, ornamental and poison herbicide can be produced. The crop is harvested by pruning. It starts flowering after 6 - 8 years. The first yield will be 0.5 kg fresh leafs but in its top season there will be a yield of 5.0 kg fresh leafs. The shoot is edible. Medical uses include; it is medically used as anti-cancer. The seed/nut contains para-Anisidine (1.9 - 1.98). There is no oil extracted from this tree. The tree`s wood is called pink silk wood and has a density of 530 - 550 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is fast, its energetic value is 4100 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is medium; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 12 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Albizia julibrissin has a lifespan of 40 years.
Environmental limitations
The tree is 8 meters tall. It is fast growing and tolerates not less light than full sun. Albizia julibrissin has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations Glomus intraradices,Glomus mosseae (endo-mycorrhiza). It is able to fix nitrogen with Microbacteriaceae bacteria. The tree`s flower-morphology is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by bees. Albizia julibrissin is deciduous in winter and not allelopathic and has no thorns.
Albizia julibrissin thrives in an altitude of 700 to 2000 meters above sea-level (temperate). The minimum temperature is -9°C and optimally between 20 - 25°C. The optimal rainfall is 1400 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 600 - 1600 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 6.0 - 9.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is tolerant to wind 4 and to fire a bit tolerant.
Pests and Diseases
Agrilus hyperici,Agrilus subrobustus,Bruchidius terrenus,Meloidogyne incognita and Fusarium wilt,Silk tree leaf spot diseases.
Seed Propagation
Seeds are orthodox and can be stored for 1 months. There are approximative 12500 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Store harvested seeds dry at room temperature, (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing., (3) press the seeds twice its size in the soil soil.
