Albizia
julibrissin Durazzini
Common
names: mimosa, mimosa tree, silktree.
Synonyms: Albizzia julibrissin Durazzini.
Family: Fabaceae.
Brief
description:
A small, deciduous tree, typically 10–15 m (33–50 ft.) tall when mature.
Bark is gray and smooth, often with scattered small bumps. Leaves
are alternate and bipinnately compound, with many (commonly 250–1200
or more) leaflets per leaf. The leaves fold up at night. The main
vein of each leaflet runs along its leading edge. Flowers are arranged
in heads, each flower bearing relatively small, inconspicuous, green
petals. However, long, bright pink or purple stamens protrude beyond
the corolla, creating the colorful ‘powder puff’ appearance of the
inflorescence. Fruits are flat pods (legumes), 8–20 cm long, which
change from green to brown or black when mature. Mimosa is not native
to the North Carolina Piedmont, having originated in tropical Asia.
It has become widespread throughout the southern United States though,
aggressively establishing itself in disturbed areas and roadsides.
USDA
Profile
Herbarium
sheet images:
Live
specimen images:
Branchlet
with leaves Individual leaf
Closed individual
leaf Close-up of leaflets
Branchlet with
buds Close-up of buds
Flowers
Close-up of
fruits