Monkey pod tree (Albizia saman)
Si n ón i mos: Pithecellobium saman
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Taxon biology
Leguminosae -- Legume family
Roger G. Skolmen
Monkey-pod (Pithecellobium saman), samán in Spanish, is a fast-growing tree that has been
introduced to many tropical countries throughout the world from its native habitats in Central America
and northern South America. Although generally planted as a shade tree and ornamental, it has been
naturalized in many countries and is greatly valued in pastures as shade for cattle. Short-boled, with a
spreading crown when open grown, it forms a long, relatively straight stem when closely spaced. Its
wood is highly valued in some locations for carvings and furniture (7).
The most widely used common name for the species is raintree, from the belief that the tree
produces rain at night. The leaflets close up at night or when under heavy cloud cover, allowing rain to
pass easily through the crown. This trait may contribute to the frequently observed fact that grass
remains green under the trees in times of drought. However, the shading effect of the crown, the
addition of nitrogen to the soil by decomposition of litter from this leguminous tree, and possibly, the
sticky droppings of cicada insects in the trees all contribute to this phenomenon (3). The Hawaiian
common name, monkey-pod, is used here because it is a logical derivation of the scientific name
Pithecellobium (monkey earring in Greek). Besides monkey-pod, raintree, and saman, which is its name
throughout Latin America, the tree is called mimosa in the Philippines.
National distribution 1
United States
Ori gi n : Exotic
R egu l ari ty : Regularly occurring
Cu rren tl y : Unknown/Undetermined
Con fi d en ce : Confident
Physical description
Perennial, Trees, Woody throughout, Nodules present, Stems erect or ascending, Stems or branches
arching, spreading or decumbent, Stems greater than 2 m tall, Stems solid, Stems or young twigs
sparsely to densely hairy, Leaves alternate, Leaves petiolate, Extrafloral nectary glands on petiole,
Stipules inconspicuous, absent, or caducous, Stipules green, triangulate to lanceolate or foliaceous,
Stipules deciduous, Stipules free, Leaves compound, Leaves bipinnate, Leaf or leaflet margins entire,
Leaflets opposite, Leaflets 10-many, Leaves hairy on one or both surfaces, Inflorescences globose heads,
capitate or subcapitate, Infloresc ence axillary, Bracts very small, absent or caducous, Flowers sessile or
nearly so, Flowers actinomorphic or somewhat irregular, Calyx 5-lobed, Calyx glabrous, Petals united,
valvate, Petals white, Petals pinkish to rose, Stamens numerous, more than 10, Stamens completely free,
separate, Filaments glabrous, Filaments pink or red, Style terete, Fruit a legume, Fruit stipitate, Fruit
unilocular, Fruit indehiscent, Fruit elongate, straight, Fruit oblong or ellipsoidal, Fruit strongly curved,
falcate, bent, or lunate, Fruit rugose wrinkled or reticulate, Fruit fleshy, Fruit coriaceous or becoming
woody, Fruit exserted from calyx, Fruit internally septate between the seeds, Fruit beaked, Fruit glabrous
or glabrate, Fruit 3-10 seeded, Seeds embedded in gummy or spongy pulp, Seed with elliptical line or
depression, pleurogram, Seeds ovoid to rounded in outline, Seed surface smooth, Seeds olive, brown, or
black.
Habitat 1
Commen ts : Prefer sandy well-drained soil.
Associated forest cover
Monkey-pod is frequently found on old home sites near streams in the forests of Hawaii where it is
usually associated with mango (Mangifera indica), ti (Cordyline terminalis), guava (Psidium guajava),
another escaped domestic plants. Where naturalized, is associated primarily with grasses, although
occasionally with such trees or shrubs as koa-haole (Leucaena leucocephala), Java-plum (Eugenia
cumini), and Christmas-berry (Schinus terebinthifolius).
Damaging agents
Monkey-pod on the Island of Oahu, HI, is badly defoliated each year by three caterpillars, Melipotis
indomita, Ascalapha odorata, and Polydesma umbricola, with most damage attributed to M. indomita
(13). The trees promptly leaf out after defoliation, so are not stressed for long.
Stressed trees, however, are sometimes attacked by the monkeypod roundheaded borer (Xystrocera
globosa), which makes large galleries in the sapwood (11). In Puerto Rico, ants (Myrmelachista
ramulorum) bore into branchlets, resulting in defoliation and leaf deformation (14). The defoliators can
be controlled with insecticides applied to the tree trunks (13). The tree is highly susceptible to leaf
damage from herbicide overspray. Leaves are also very susceptible to damage by salt-laden mist from
ocean storms (called 'ehu kai in Hawaiian).
Reaction to competition
Monkey-pod is intolerant of shade. The leaves of shaded branches remain folded during the day and
contribute little photosynthate. Shaded branches die back and improve the form of trees that shade
each other.
Vegetative reproduction
Monkey-pod roots easily Hardwood (leafless) cuttings, ranging in size from 1 by 15 cm (0.4 by 6 in) to
stems and branches of mature trees, can be rooted in moist soil on a site without use of mist or shade.
In Honolulu, it is common practice to transplant huge trees by cutting away almost all the roots and all
the branches. Trees grown at close spacing in the forest frequently have branch-free stems 4 to 5 in
(13 to 16 ft) tall and are transplanted to parking lots and parks as "instant" full-size shade trees.
Despite the ease with which it can be vegetatively propagated, monkey-pod is almost always started
from seed.
Growth and yield
One of the best known trees of this species is in Trinidad. When a little more than 100 years old, this
tree had a trunk 244 cm (96 in) in diameter, was (reportedly) 44.8 in (147 ft) tall, and had a crown
spread of 57 m (187 ft) (3). The large, rounded crown of open-grown trees (fig. 1) provides shade over a
wide area. Huge trees such as these are extremely difficult to log, so young, smaller trees are sought
after for utilization, particularly those that are forest-grown and have long boles.
Although primarily a shade tree, monkey-pod also has potential as a timber tree. After the first year
of planting at close spacings in Western Samoa, monkey-pod averaged 4 cm (1.6 in) d.b.h. and 4.4 m
(14 ft) tall (2). Because of its large crown, however, it requires wide spacing in plantations. A spacing of
2.4 by 2.4 m (8 by 8 ft) proved much too close in Zanzibar (12). In Hawaii, two plantings at 3 by 3 m (10
by 10 ft) failed, possibly as a result of spacing, but more likely for lack of adequate tending. Monthly
weeding around planted trees greatly improved height growth in the Philippines, thus ensuring
survival (6). Another planting in Hawaii that covered about 16 ha (40 acres) at 6 by 6 m (20 by 20 ft) was
fairly successful and produced many trees with 7 to 10 m (24 to 32 ft), relatively straight, branch-free
stems. The growth of this stand, now 85 years old, has never been measured or evaluated, however.
Trees in this stand are 18 to 21 m (60 to 70 ft) tall and are about 91 to 122 cm (36 to 48 in) in diameter,
and have crowns that are co-dominant in the overstory with Eucalyptus, Ficus, Persea, and other
introduced trees that have invaded over the years.
Rate of growth depends on rainfall. In dry areas in Hawaii, diameter growth of open-grown trees is
usually less than 13 mm (0.5 in) per year, and total height rarely exceeds 12 m (40 ft). In wet areas,
diameter growth usually exceeds 2.5 cm (I in) per year. An annual growth rate of 25 to 35 m³/ha (350 to
500 ft³/acre) was reported, but a source was not cited (15). This rate may be excessive in view of the
wide spacing required by this species.
Genetics
No information on the genetics of this tree was found. It is probable that the genetic base at each
location where it has been introduced is quite narrow. For example, in Hawaii, the entire population
may be the progeny of only two seeds, although the ease with which seed of this species can be
transported in one's pocket from the Philippines, for example, makes this unlikely.
Statistics of barcoding coverage: albizia saman 2
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 6
Species With Barcodes: 1
National nature serve conservation status 1
United States
R ou n d ed N ati on al Statu s R an k : NNA - Not Applicable
Economic uses 1
Uses : Fruit, FORAGE/BROWSE, Building materials/timber, Cultivated ornamental, Showy wildflower,
OTHER USES/PRODUCTS
Commen ts : La madera es moderadamente dura y liviana. Tiene un uso potencial para muebles y
tallados de madera. Es resistente y apta para postes. Arbol ornamental con flores vistosas, las flores,
producen un néctar para las abejas. Las vainas son comestibles y la pulpa es dulce. En varios países se
hace una harina de los frutos, que es alimento excelente para las vacas, chanchos, cabras y gallinas. Las
hojas constituyen un forraje apreciado.
Taxonomy 1
Commen ts : Record (1924) treats Enterolobium Saman Prain as the accepted name for this species.
Mimosa Saman Jacq., Inga Saman Willd., Pithecolobium Saman Benth., Calliandra Saman Gris., Samanea
Saman Merrill and Albizia Saman were given as synonyms.
References
1. © NatureServe, some rights reserved
2. © Barcode of Life Data Systems, some rights reserved