Mimosa

Albizia julibrissin is a small deciduous tree growing to 16–40 ft tall, with a broad crown of level or arching branches. Trees frequently appear to have a flatten top or inverted pyramid shape. Its leaves slowly close during the night and during periods of rain, the leaflets bowing downward as if the tree were sleeping

The species is usually called “silk tree” or “mimosa” in the United States, which is misleading – the former name can refer to any species of Albizia which is most common in any one locale. And, although once included in Mimosa, neither is it very close to the Mimoseae. To add to the confusion, several species of Acacia, notably Acacia baileyana and Acacia dealbata, are also known as “mimosa” (especially in floristry), and many Fabaceae trees with highly divided leaves are called thus in horticulture.

The LEAVES are bipinnate, 8–18 in long and 5–10 in broad, divided into 6–12 pairs of pinnae, each with 20–30 pairs of leaflets; the leaflets are oblong, 0.4–0.6 cm long and 0.08–0.2 in broad. The flowers are produced throughout the summer in dense inflorescences, the individual flowers with no petals but a tight cluster of stamens 0.8–1.2 in long, white or pink with a white base, looking like silky threads. They have been observed to be attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

The FRUIT is a flat brown pod 10–20 cm long and 0.8–1 in broad, containing several seeds inside. Upon drying out. the pod splits open violently disperses the SEEDS as far as 10 to 15 feet. This is partially due to the pods unique corkscrew shape. The pod is observed to “jump” right off the ground as it twists while dispersing the seeds.

The bark is dark greenish grey in color and striped vertically as it gets older.

The seeds are used as a food for livestock and wildlife, and the sweetly-scented flowers are a good nectar source for honeybees. Albizzia julibrissin has been found to possess antidepressant properties and the bark or cortex is used to cure bruises and as a vermicide.