Falcata
Paraserianthes falcataria - Southeast Asia's Growth Champion
By whatever common or scientific names it is known, Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen is a valuable multipurpose tree for the humid tropics. One of the fastest growing of all tree species, it is used for pulp and other wood products, fuelwood, ornamental plantings and shade for coffee, tea and cattle. Potential uses for which it is being tested include alley farming and intercropping in forest plantations. BOTANY: "Falcataria" belongs to the Leguminosae (subfamily: Mimosoideae). It is most widely known by its former name,Albizia falcataria but it also has been called
A. moluccana and A. falcata. "Falcate' means "curved like a sickle," referring to its leaflets. Leaves are alternate, bipinnately compound, and 23-30 cm long. Flowers are creamy white, and pods are narrow, flat, 10-13 cm long and 2 cm wide. This is a large tree that regularly reaches 24 to 30 m in height and 80 cm in diameter. When grown in the open, trees form a large, umbrella-shaped canopy. Crowns are narrow when this light-demanding species is grown in plantations of 1000 to 2000 trees/ha. Trees regularly produce large quantities of seeds after reaching 3 to 4 years of age. | |
ECOLOGY: Falcataria occurs naturally in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands from 10o S to 30o N. In its natural habitat it grows from sea level to 1200 m above sea level with an annual rainfall from 2000-4000 mm, a dry season of less than 2 months, and a temperature range of 22o to 34o C. Although it is likely to perform better on alkaline soils (NAS 1983), there are many examples of it growing well on acid soils.
Correlation and multiple regression analysis show that topsoil depth is the most important indicator of site quality for falcataria (Dalmacio 1987). The most productive sites had at least 19-26 cm of well drained topsoil with at least 3-8% organic matter and an exchangeable potassium of 0.36 meq/100 g of soil.
ESTABLISHMENT.-
By whatever common or scientific names it is known, Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen is a valuable multipurpose tree for the humid tropics. One of the fastest growing of all tree species, it is used for pulp and other wood products, fuelwood, ornamental plantings and shade for coffee, tea and cattle. Potential uses for which it is being tested include alley farming and intercropping in forest plantations. BOTANY: "Falcataria" belongs to the Leguminosae (subfamily: Mimosoideae). It is most widely known by its former name,Albizia falcataria but it also has been called
A. moluccana and A. falcata. "Falcate' means "curved like a sickle," referring to its leaflets. Leaves are alternate, bipinnately compound, and 23-30 cm long. Flowers are creamy white, and pods are narrow, flat, 10-13 cm long and 2 cm wide. This is a large tree that regularly reaches 24 to 30 m in height and 80 cm in diameter. When grown in the open, trees form a large, umbrella-shaped canopy. Crowns are narrow when this light-demanding species is grown in plantations of 1000 to 2000 trees/ha. Trees regularly produce large quantities of seeds after reaching 3 to 4 years of age. | |
ECOLOGY: Falcataria occurs naturally in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands from 10o S to 30o N. In its natural habitat it grows from sea level to 1200 m above sea level with an annual rainfall from 2000-4000 mm, a dry season of less than 2 months, and a temperature range of 22o to 34o C. Although it is likely to perform better on alkaline soils (NAS 1983), there are many examples of it growing well on acid soils.
Correlation and multiple regression analysis show that topsoil depth is the most important indicator of site quality for falcataria (Dalmacio 1987). The most productive sites had at least 19-26 cm of well drained topsoil with at least 3-8% organic matter and an exchangeable potassium of 0.36 meq/100 g of soil.
ESTABLISHMENT.-
References: Dalmacio, M.V. 1987. Relationship between site factors and growth of Albizia falcataria (L.) Fosb. NFT 'RR 5:26-28. Evensen, C., et al. 1987. Alley cropping experiment no. 3502. TropsoUs Field Research Brief no. 40. Dept. of Agronomy, University of Hawaii. Moloney, R.A., et al. 1986. The effect of phosphorus and nitrogen applications on the early growth of Adenanthera pavonina, Albizia falcataria, andSchleinitzias insularum.. NFTRR 4:3-6. NAS. 1979. Tropical Legumes: Resources for the Future. National Academy Press, Washington, DC. NAS. 1983. Firewood Crops vol. 11. National Academy Press, Washington, DC. Rahargo, Y.C. and P.R. Cheeke. 1985. Palatability of tropical tree legume forage to rabbits. NFRRR 3:31- 32. Schubert, T.R. 1985. Preliminary results of eucalyptus /legume mixtures in Hawaii. NFTRR 3:65-66.