Albizia lebbeck
Albizia lebbeck is a tree well known in the Indian subcontinent for its range of uses. Although geographically widespread, little is known about the species outside India. It appears to have potential for increasing pastoral production in extensive systems in the wet-dry tropics where the major problem is low feed quality of the basal diet, mature tropical grasses. Albizia lebbeck addresses this problem in three ways: as a feed, as a supplement and by improving grass quality. Nomenclature Albizia lebbeck ( L. ) Benth (Mimosaceae) has a variety of vernacular names including siris, koko, vagai (India), tekik (Javanese), kitoke, tarisi (Sundanese), khago, ka se (Thai), East Indian walnut and Indian siris (timber trade). A number of names are trivial (mother-in-law's tongue, rattle-pod (West Indies)) or misleading (acacia, raintree (northern Australia)). The Indian name siris is most commonly used (Anon. 1980). Use of 'albizia' as a common name should be avo...