• Leucaena
  • image.png
  • 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.
    • leaves: bipinnate with numerous leaflets, feathery texture, rich green color.
    • flowers: globular, creamy-white heads, fragrant, attract pollinators.
    • fruits (pods): flattened, linear pods; initially green, turn brown when mature, numerous flat, brown glossy seeds.
    • bark: smooth, grayish-brown bark, becomes fissured with age.
    • 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.
    • Spacing: optimal planting density is 2–4 meters between individual plants.
    • 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:
      • CompoundRootsLeavesFlowersFruits (Pods & Seeds)BarkTimberNotes / Uses
        mimosineMediumHighLowHighLowNonetoxic amino acid; restricts livestock feeding; antimicrobial; herbicidal properties
        tanninsMediumMediumMediumMediumHighLowastringent; antimicrobial; leather tanning; traditional medicine
        alkaloidsLowLowTraceMediumMediumNonepotential toxicity at higher amounts; limited traditional medicinal uses
        flavonoids*TraceMediumHighLowLowNoneantioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties; beneficial medicinally
        proteinsLowHighLowMediumNoneNonenutrient-rich fodder after detoxification; high-value livestock feed
        fiber (Cellulose)MediumLowNoneHighHighHighstructural fiber for biomass energy, paper pulp, mulch production
        ligninMediumLowNoneMediumHighHighstructural polymer; enhances fuelwood and timber durability; biomass resource
        hemicelluloseMediumLowNoneMediumHighHighstructural; utilized in bioenergy production, paper and construction material industries
      • compoundrootsleavesflowersfruits (pods & seeds)barktimbernotes / uses
        mimosinemediumhighlowhighlownonetoxic amino acid; restricts livestock feeding; antimicrobial; herbicidal properties
        tanninsmediummediummediummediumhighlowastringent; antimicrobial; leather tanning; traditional medicine
        alkaloidslowlowtracemediummediumnonepotential toxicity at higher amounts; limited traditional medicinal uses
        flavonoidstracemediumhighlowlownoneantioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties; beneficial medicinally
        [[proteinsprotein]]lowhighlowmediumnonenone
        fibermediumlownonehighhighhighstructural fiber for biomass energy, paper pulp, mulch production
        ligninmediumlownonemediumhighhighstructural polymer; enhances fuelwood and timber durability; biomass resource
        hemicellulosemediumlownonemediumhighhighstructural; 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.