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Albizia sinaloensis

Accession Count: 1
Common Name: Sinaloan albizia, Sinaloan silk tree, palo joso
Family Name: Fabaceae
Botanical Name: Albizia sinaloensis
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Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
The Sinaloan silk tree is a graceful legume tree with a straight, pale yellow trunk, typically growing to 12 m (36 feet) but reaching closer to 20 m (60 feet) in mesic conditions (1, 4). The canopy is vase shaped extending up to 10 m (30 feet) wide (2).  The tree is deciduous with pale olive-green, 25 cm (10 inch) long bi-pinnately compound leaves (1).  Each leaf is divided into 4-8 pairs of pinnae, and each of these divided again into 10-21 pairs of leaflets. Each leaf is narrowly oblong-eliiptic or broadly linear with a semicordate leaf base and are 10-14 mm (~.5inches) long and 2-4mm wide (1). The upper leaf surfaces are downy (puberulent) while the lower leaf surfaces have longer hair-like trichomes (ie. pilosulous) (1). Flowers are approximately 2 cm (< 1inch), cream colored puffballs arranged in a spike inflorescence. Legume pods that follow can be as long as 16 cm (6 inches), contain 8-12 seeds and will persist through winter.
Compound: Alb sin
Geographic Origin: Mexican Tropics
Ecozone Origin: Neotropic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Sinaloan silk tree is endemic to northwest Mexico, growing in the W piedmont of Sa Madre Occidental between the Yaqui and Fuerte rivers in S Sonora and N Sinaloa (1, 3). In southern Sonora it grows in deep alluvial soils along watercourses and in river valleys, though few individuals grow along the lower reaches of the Río Yaqui and its tributaries (1, 4).  In Sinaloa, this tree grows in upland locations and disturbed sites when it has access to groundwater. It is usually found growing at elevations less than 200 m (600 feet) but can occasionally be found growing up to 400 m (~1000 feet) (3).

======================================================================= Natural History of the UA Campus Arboretum Specimen: The original Albizia sinaloensis specimen on campus was grown from seed collected in southern Sonora by Warren Jones in the mid 1970s. 
Cultivation Notes: Seed germination requires scarification and soaking in a damp towel overnight. The Desert Legume Program (DELEP) in Tucson reports that smaller trees die back to the ground when winter temperatures drop to the low 20s F. However Tucson’s record cold temperatures (official 19F) of late 2003 resulted in minimal damage to the Albizia sinaloensis on campus. Presumably the tree is large enough and the campus retains more heat than the open DELEP fields.

Propagation is commonly done through seeds, although it may also be propagated through cuttings. Seed germination requires scarification and soaking in a damp towel overnight. It is suited for USDA Hardiness zones 9A – 11 (2). The Desert Legume Program (DELEP) in Tucson reports that smaller trees die back to the ground when winter temperatures drop to the low 20s F. However, Tucson’s record cold temperatures (official 19 F) of late 2003 created minimal damage to the Albizia sinaloensis on campus. Similarly, in 2010 when temperatures dropped to 15 F and did not rise above freezing for three days, the tree experienced minimal evidence of damage. Presumably the tree is large enough and the campus retains more heat than the open DELEP fields where the tree was first tested. 

It prefers full sun, is tolerant to a wide variety of soil types as long as they are well-drained (2). Since it typically grows in areas with a tropical or subtropical climate, characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons, regular watering is necessary to achieve a fast rate of growth (2, 3). However, it is generally tolerant of drought conditions once established (2). It is considered a fast grower and has the tendency to resprout from adventitious (sucker) shoots. As such has some potential to be invasive when grown near natural areas.
Ethnobotany: In its native habitat, it plays a role in the ecosystem by providing habitat and food for various wildlife species especially birds of prey and large waterfowl (4). It is also used in cultivated landscapes as a beautiful, majestic specimen and shade tree. Indigenous communities in the Sinaloa region may have traditional uses for Albizia sinaloensis. 

It not only holds cultural significance for indigenous communities, with stories or folklore associated with its presence, but parts of the tree, such as the bark, leaves, or seeds, are used in traditional herbal remedies (4). In Sinaloa, for example, the pulverized bark is thought to be a good remedy for snakebites (4).  At Masiaca the bark is used to produce a commercially popular, white-colored leather (4). Further, the wood be of some local economic importance, as it can be used for construction, furniture, or in making utensils such as spoons and bowls. The wood, which does not burn very hot, is sometimes used for roasting agaves (4).
Height: 20 - 50 feet
Width: 20 - 50 feet
Growth Rate: Fast Growing
Grow Season: Summer
Flower Season: ForeSummer
Color: White
Function: Shade
Spread: Spreading
Allergen: Non-allergenic
Invasive: Invasive
Toxicity: Benign
Hardy: Semi-hardy
Water Use: Moderate Water Use
Citations:
  1. World Flora Online https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000187031  Retrieved June 15, 2024
  2. Horticopia https://www.horticopia.info/Plants/016/albsin000.html  Retrieved June 15, 2024
  3. Topicos.org http://legacy.tropicos.org/NamePage.aspx?nameId=13054914&projectId=77  Retrieved June 15, 2024
  4. Mayo Botany https://academic.oup.com/california-scholarship-online/book/19452/chapter/178097079 Retrieved June 15, 2024
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Albizia sinaloensis