Leucaena leucocephala
From Bugwoodwiki
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Overview
- Appearance
- Leucaena leucocephala is a shrub or small tree that can grow up to 16 ft. (5 m) in height.
- Foliage
- The bipinnate leaves are about 10 in. (25 cm) long. There are approximately 12 pairs of lanceolate shaped leaflets each about 0.35-0.47 in. (9-12 mm) long, 0.08-0.14 in. (2-3.5 mm) wide. Leaflets are oppositely arranged.
- Flowers
- Flowers grow clustered on the end of branches. Individual flowers are white, turning brown with maturity.
- Fruit
- Leucaena leucocephala is a prolific seed producer. The dark brown seed pods are flat, roughly 4-6 in. (10-15 cm) long, with about 20 seeds. Seeds are glossy brown, oval, flat, 0.24 in. (6 mm) long.
- Ecological Threat
- In areas where Leucaena leucocephala is considered an invasive weed, it will form dense thickets and displace the native vegetation. Disturbed, cleared areas, coastal strands, outskirts of forests and canopy gaps are some locations regularly invaded by Leucaena leucocephala.
Resources
John K. Francis, Research Forester, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry [1]
Global Invasive Species Database. 2011. Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission [2]
University of Florida, IFAS Extension, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants [3]
James A. Duke. 1983. Handbook of Energy Crops, Purdue University [4]
CABI Invasive Species Compendium [5]
Flora of China, www.eFloras.org [6]
USDA NRCS PLANTS [7]
USDA ARS GRIN [8]
Images from Bugwood.org
