A flora of Manila - Rainforestation

LEGUMINOSAE 225
1. E. SAMAN (Jacq.) Prain (Pithecolobium saman Benth.)- Acacia (Sp.-
Fil.) ; Rain-tree.
A large tree reaching a height of 20 to 25 m, the branches wide-spread-
ing. Leaves evenly 2-pinnate, pinnae 8 to 12, 15 cm long or less; leaflets 12
to 16 in the upper pinnae, 6 to 10 in the lower ones, decreasing in size downward,
pubescent beneath, oblong-rhomboid, base and apex more or less
oblique, the midnerve diagonal, 1.5 to 4 cm long. Flowers pink, in dense,
peduncled, axillary solitary or fascicled heads. Pod straight, somewhat
fleshy, indehiscent, 15 to 20 cm long, 2 cm wide, the mesocarp pulpy, sweet.
(Fl. Filip. pi. 309.)
Very commonly cultivated as a shade tree, decidous in February, fl.
March-Sept.; quite generally cultivated in the larger towns in the Phil-
ippines. A native of the West Indies, now widely distributed in the tropics
in cultivation.
2. PITHECOLOBIUM Martius
Erect trees with 2-pinnate leaves sometimes with spinose stipules.
Flowers small, perfect, 5-merous, in globose heads which are solitary, fas-
cicled, or paniculate. Calyx campanulate or funnel-shaped, shortly toothed.
Corolla narrowly funnel-shaped, the petals united below the middle.
Stamens exserted, monadelphous; anthers not gland-crested. Ovary manyovuled;
style filiform; stigma capitate. Pod strap-shaped, variously
falcate, or circinate, usually much twisted at maturity, dehiscent. Seeds
arillate or not. (Greek "monkey" and "pod.")
Species about 100, tropical, mostly American, 9 in the Philippines.
1. P. DULCE (Roxb.) Benth. Camanchiles, Camonsil (Sp.-Fil.).
A tree 5 to 18 m high, the ultimate branches often pendulous, armed
with short, sharp, stipular spines. Leaves evenly 2-pinnate, 4 to 8 cm
long; pinnae a single pair, each pinna bearing a single pair of oblique,
ovate-oblong, obtuse, 1 to 4 cm long leaflets. Flowers white, in dense
heads about 1 cm in diameter, their peduncles solitary or fascicled in the
axils of small bracts, along the slender branchlets. Pod turgid, twisted,
often spiral, 10 to 18 cm long, about 1 cm wide, dehiscent along the lower
suture, the valves red when ripe. Seeds 6 to 8, surrounded by an edible,
whitish, pulpy arillus. (Fl. Filip. pi. 237.)
Common and widely distributed, fl. Oct.-April. A native of tropical
America, now throughly naturalized in the Philippines, and also found in
India and Malaya. The local names are corruptions of its old Mexican name
Quamochitl.
3. ALBIZZIA Durazz
Unarmed trees with 2-pinnate leaves. Flowers small, 5 merous, perfect,
pedicelled or sessile in globose heads which are usually paniculate. Calyx
campanulate or funnel-shaped, toothed. Corolla funnel-shaped, the petals
united below the middle. Stamens many, monadelphous at the base, longexserted;
anthers not gland-crested. Ovary many-ovuled. Pod thin, flat,
strap-shaped, straight, not curved or twisted, indehiscent or very tardily so.
(In honor of the noble Italian family of Albizzi.)
Species about 30 in the tropics of the Old World, 8 in the Philippines.
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