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Each flower has a small calyx and corolla, except the central ones, and a dense tuft of conspicuous stamens 2-3 cm long, white or pink with a white base. The flowers bloom throughout the summer in dense inflorescences, which resemble starbursts of pink silky threads. They have been observed to attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

The Tree

Albizia julibrissin is a small deciduous tree with a broad crown of level or arching branches, growing to 5-16 m (16-52 ft) tall. The leaves are large and frond-like, divided into 6-12 pairs of pinnae, each with 20-30 pairs of leaflets. Its fruit is a flat brown pod 10-20 cm (4-8 in) long that contains several seeds. Original habitats of the tree include regions from Iran (Persia) and the Republic of Azerbaijan to China and Korea. The native range also includes Japan, Nepal and Taiwan, and the tree has been introduced to Greece and the United States.

Varieties and Forms

The typical variety is Albizia julibrissin var. julibrissin, while var. mollis differs in having densely hairy shoots. The flower colour varies from white in the form alba to rich red-tipped flowers. The form rosea, the pink silk tree, is a smaller tree of 5-7 m with always pink flowers, native to Korea and northern China, and it survives temperatures down to at least -25 °C.

Names

The specific epithet julibrissin is a corruption of the Persian word gul-i abrisham, which means "silk flower". It is also called Lankaran acacia or bastard tamarind, though it is not too closely related to either genus. In the United States the species is called Chinese silk tree, silk tree or mimosa, which is misleading. Several species of Acacia, notably Acacia baileyana and Acacia dealbata, are also called mimosa, especially in floristry.

Uses of the Tree

The tree is widely planted as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens. The flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees. Silk tree wood may be used to make furniture. The dried stem bark is used medicinally in China to prepare tonics and sedatives. The flowers are also used to make teas, and in Chinese medicine the plant is considered an antidepressant. In Japan the name nemunoki is a kigo, a seasonal word of haiku, representing summer.

Spread

The tree has become an invasive species in the United States. There it has spread from southern New York, New Jersey and Connecticut west to Missouri and Illinois, and south to Florida and Texas.

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