Broad-pod Albizia
As you walk down the board walk at Lower Sabie rest camp you skirt a sturdy Broad Pod Albizia.
They occur in most parts of Kruger but there are more in the southern part of Kruger; especially along the Sabie River.
Albizias have feathery leaves like acacias, but no thorns. They also have a single trunk with branches that droop down.
Thick Broad Pod of Albizia forbesii
The pods are distinctive and are much bigger than those of other Albizias. They also remain on the tree for a longer period. They do not burst open even after they have fallen to the ground, and present themselves in February.
The flowers are smallish, white pincushions, appearing with or after new leaves in October and November. The leaves are utilized by elephants and other browsing game.
Albizia forbesii can become a large spreading tree reaching up to 20m in height.
Albizia Broad Pod Flowers
The bark is from smooth to a roughish grey with the trees thriving along streams and river banks in fringing forest.
Albizia is named after an Italian nobleman Filipo Degli Albizzi, who took the plant to Europe. Forbessi is named after the naturalist collector who died of malaria in 1823.
Gleaned from the pen of Marissa Greeff in her book A Site-by-Site Guide to Trees in the KRUGER NATIONAL PARK.
This book is avaiable for purchase from us for R260.00 excluding postage.
The Broad Pod Albizia (Breedpeulvalsdoring) Tree is available for purchase from the Kruger Park Indigenous Tree Nursery near Skukuza.
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