Albizia Lebbeck, Frywood - 0.5 kg Seeds

Albizia lebbeck (Albizia lebbeck), known in India as siris, frywood or kala siris, is a fast-growing deciduous tree of the legume family that reaches 15-25 m with a broad, spreading crown of feathery bipinnate leaves. In spring it bears fragrant, greenish-cream powderpuff flowers followed by long, papery pods that rattle in the wind, giving it the nickname "woman's tongue tree." It is widespread across the plains and dry forests of India, from the sub-Himalayan tract through the Deccan, thriving up to about 1,200 m.

It is a classic agroforestry and avenue tree: the nitrogen-fixing roots enrich the soil, the foliage is valued as cattle and goat fodder, and the dark, walnut-like timber is prized for furniture, panelling and decorative veneer. It is widely planted for shade along roads, on field bunds and in silvopasture, and the bark and seeds have a long history in traditional medicine.

• Family: Fabaceae (Mimosoideae)
• Native region: Indian subcontinent and tropical Asia
• Mature height: 15-25 m
• Growth rate: Fast

Sowing the seed: scarify the hard seed coat lightly or soak the seeds in water for 12-24 hours (or pour near-boiling water over them and let them cool) to break dormancy. Sow about 1-2 cm deep in well-drained nursery beds or polybags filled with a sandy loam mix; germination follows in roughly 7-14 days. Transplant seedlings to the field when they are 25-40 cm tall, ideally at the onset of the monsoon.