leucaena

• selected for edem

  • leucaena leucocephala

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    • miracle
    • tree :
      • tree or shrub; fast growing, perennial legume, reaching up to 20 meters tall, with bipinnate leaves, white spherical flower heads, and elongated flat seed pods containing multiple seeds.
      • roots: deep taproot system, lateral fibrous roots; nodules contain nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria.
        • compounds: mimosine, tannins, alkaloids
      • leaves: bipinnate with numerous leaflets, feathery texture, rich green color.
        • compounds: mimosine, proteins, tannins, flavonoids
      • flowers: globular, creamy-white heads, fragrant, attract pollinators.
        • compounds: flavonoids, tannins
      • fruits (pods): flattened, linear pods; initially green, turn brown when mature, numerous flat, brown glossy seeds.
        • compounds: mimosine, tannins, alkaloids, fiber
      • bark: smooth, grayish-brown bark, becomes fissured with age.
        • compounds: tannins, fiber, alkaloids
      • timber: moderately dense, durable, pale brown wood, resistant to pests.
        • compounds: cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, minor tannins
      • Environment: prefers subtropical to tropical, well-drained soils, tolerant to drought.
      • Climate: thrives in warm, frost-free tropical to subtropical climates.
        • Sun: 800–1000 W/m²
        • No Sun Days: 14
        • Water: 650–1500 mm
        • No Water Days: 120
        • Humidity: 20 days
        • Fog Resistance: 45 days
        • Max Temp: 45°C
        • Optimal Temp: 20–30°C
        • Min Temp: 5°C
        • Wind Damage: storm, hurricane
      • Soil: prefers deep, fertile, neutral to alkaline soils with good drainage.
        • Soil Ph: 6.0–8.5
        • Soil Type: loam, sandy, clay-loam
      • Spacing: optimal planting density is 2–4 meters between individual plants.
        • Good Neighbors: cenchrus purpureus, gliricidia sepium
        • Bad Neighbors: eucalyptus, casuarina
        • Max Height: 2000 cm
        • Max Spread: 800 cm
      • lifecycle
        • Longevity: 25 years
        • Germination: seeds germinate rapidly, typically within 3–14 days, after scarification or soaking.
        • Seedling: quick initial growth; seedlings reach 1 meter within 3–4 months, vulnerable to browsing animals.
        • Mature: rapid maturity in 2–3 years; extensive foliage, prolific flowering, and seed production.
        • Death: gradual decline after 15–20 years, susceptible to pests or fungal diseases; often rejuvenated through coppicing.
      • features: nitrogen-fixing, fodder, fast growing, soil improvement, firewood
      • layer: canopy, dwarf, shrub
      • products: animal-feed, firewood, [timber, biomass-energy, mulch, green-manure
      • chemical compounds:

        • Compound	Roots	Leaves	Flowers	Fruits (Pods & Seeds)	Bark	Timber	Notes / Uses
          mimosine	Medium	High	Low	High	Low	None	toxic amino acid; restricts livestock feeding; antimicrobial; herbicidal properties
          tannins	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	High	Low	astringent; antimicrobial; leather tanning; traditional medicine
          alkaloids	Low	Low	Trace	Medium	Medium	None	potential toxicity at higher amounts; limited traditional medicinal uses
          flavonoids*	Trace	Medium	High	Low	Low	None	antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties; beneficial medicinally
          proteins	Low	High	Low	Medium	None	None	nutrient-rich fodder after detoxification; high-value livestock feed
          fiber (Cellulose)	Medium	Low	None	High	High	High	structural fiber for biomass energy, paper pulp, mulch production
          lignin	Medium	Low	None	Medium	High	High	structural polymer; enhances fuelwood and timber durability; biomass resource
          hemicellulose	Medium	Low	None	Medium	High	High	structural; utilized in bioenergy production, paper and construction material industries

        • compound	roots	leaves	flowers	fruits (pods & seeds)	bark	timber	notes / uses
          mimosine	medium	high	low	high	low	none	toxic amino acid; restricts livestock feeding; antimicrobial; herbicidal properties
          tannins	medium	medium	medium	medium	high	low	astringent; antimicrobial; leather tanning; traditional medicine
          alkaloids	low	low	trace	medium	medium	none	potential toxicity at higher amounts; limited traditional medicinal uses
          flavonoids	trace	medium	high	low	low	none	antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties; beneficial medicinally
          [[proteins	protein]]	low	high	low	medium	none	none
          fiber	medium	low	none	high	high	high	structural fiber for biomass energy, paper pulp, mulch production
          lignin	medium	low	none	medium	high	high	structural polymer; enhances fuelwood and timber durability; biomass resource
          hemicellulose	medium	low	none	medium	high	high	structural; utilized in bioenergy production, paper and construction material industries

    • operations
    • propagate plants: regular pruning or coppicing promotes vigorous regrowth; minimal fertilization required due to nitrogen-fixing capacity. Periodic pest monitoring recommended.
    • maintenance regular pruning or coppicing promotes vigorous regrowth; minimal fertilization required due to nitrogen-fixing capacity. Periodic pest monitoring recommended.
    • harvest: leaves and young twigs regularly harvested as fodder; timber harvested from coppiced stems every 2–3 years; pods collected for seed production and propagation.

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