Common Names: Flatcrown albizia
Local Names: Banabana Ayinreta, igbabo, afema, avu, tsintsiyar, kurmii
Species ID: NMP-004, wfo-0000196032, NCBI:txid992633

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Genus: Albizia

Species: A. adianthifolia

Synonyms: Albizia chirindensis (Swynn. ex Baker f.) Swynn. ex Steedman, Albizia ealaensis De Wild., Albizia fastigiata (E.Mey.) Oliv., Albizia intermedia De Wild. & T.Durand, Albizia sassa Bakerf., Mimosa adianthifolia Schumach., Zygia fastigiata E.Mey.

Albizia adianthifolia is a medium to large deciduous tree (up to 35m tall) with:

• Crown: Flattened with large spreading branches
• Bark: Yellowish-brown to grey, creamy/yellowish inner bark exuding clear gum
• Leaves: Bipinnately compound with 3-10 pairs of pinnae (5-17 leaflets per pinna)
• Flowers: Reddish to greenish-white axillary heads
• Fruit: Oblong flat pale brown pod containing brown globose seeds

Widespread across tropical Africa (Senegal to Kenya, Angola to South Africa) and eastern Madagascar. Found in:

• Moist tropical forests and forest margins
• Open forests and ravines
• Coastal lowland forests (South Africa)

• Respiratory: Bark treats bronchitis and coughs
• Dermatological: Bark infusions for scabies/skin conditions
• Ocular: Bark sap for conjunctivitis/river blindness
• Gastrointestinal: Leaves against diarrhea/gonorrhea
• Neurological: Bark used for Alzheimer's/memory improvement
• Antipyretic: Bark decoctions reduce fever
• Reproductive: Root powder for labor difficulties/menstrual issues

⚠   Known Toxicity:

• Contains histamine/imidazole compounds causing potential allergies
• Wood dust may irritate respiratory tract
• Requires expert guidance for medicinal use

• Timber: Used for carving, spoons, masks
• Agroforestry: Shade tree for cocoa/coffee plantations
• Culinary: Young leaves as vegetable, seed sauces
• Fodder: Browsed by cattle/wild ruminants
• Ecology: Hosts satyr charaxes butterfly larvae

1. NCBI. (2018). Medicinal properties review
2. PlantZAfrica. Flat-crown profile
3. PROTA4U. Plant resources
4. Wikipedia. (2025). Albizia adianthifolia

1. JSTOR Plant Visuals
2. Useful Tropical Plants
3. Wikipedia Article

• Octadecanoic acid ethyl ester
• 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester, (9Z,12Z,15Z)-
• Methyl-11,14-octadecadienoate
• 2-tetradecene
• 1-Nonadecene
• (E)-4-tetradecene

Adesanwo, J. K., Egbomeade, C. O., Moronkola, D. O., & Akinpelu, D. A. (2019). Chemical, toxicity and antibacterial studies on methanol extracts of Melanthera scandens, Ageratum conyzoides, Aspilia Africana and Synedrella nodiflora. Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology, 4(1), 1-7.