Leucaena
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Leucaena
Leucaena leucocephala
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Mimosoideae Tribe: Mimoseae Genus: Leucaena Benth.
Species
See text.

Leucaena is a Genus of about 24 species of leguminous trees and shrubs, distributed from Texas, U.S.A. to Peru. It belongs to subfamily Mimosoideae of the legume family Fabaceae.

The plant can be used for such purposes as: livestock fodder, green manure, firewood crops, soil conservation. Its seeds can be used as beads (jumbie beans). The crop can be raised as a charcoal source and for energy (1 million barrels of oil per annum from 120 km²). Extract from its seeds have anthelmintic medicinal qualities in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Some species (namely Leucaena leucocephala) have edible fruits (as unripe) and seeds. The seeds of Leucaena esculenta, called guaje in Mexico, are eaten with salt, but in others species high levels of mimosine may leads to loss of hair and infertility.

List of species

• Leucaena collinsii
• Leucaena confertiflora
• Leucaena cuspidata
• Leucaena diversifolia
• Leucaena esculenta
• Leucaena greggii
• Leucaena guatemalensis
• Leucaena involucrata
• Leucaena lanceolata
• Leucaena lempirana
• Leucaena leucocephala
• Leucaena macrophylla
• Leucaena magnifica
• Leucaena matudae
• Leucaena mixtec
• Leucaena multicapitula
• Leucaena pallida
• Leucaena pueblana
• Leucaena pulverulenta
• Leucaena retusa
• Leucaena salvadorensis
• Leucaena shannonii
• Leucaena spontanea
• Leucaena trichandra
• Leucaena trichodes

References

• Mabberley, D.J.(1997):The Plant-Book, 2nd Ed., Cambridge University Press, UK ISBN 0-521-41421-0

External links

• ILDIS/LEGUMEWEB

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