DefinePK

Abstract

ABSTRACT Albizia iebbek (Siris) is a medium sized fast growing tree, native in Asia which was named after Albizzi, an Italian naturalist of the 18th Century (Parker, 1921). Its natural range extends from latitudes 8&deg N to 32&deg N through eastern Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Siri Lanka, Burma, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Egypt. There are extensive plantations of Siris in Nepal and in central and southern India (NAS, 1983). Siris is characterized by a spreading umbrella shaped crown of thin foliage and bipinately compound leaves. Its pods are conspicuous during most of the year because they hang on the tree long after they ripe and throughout the hot weather when the tree is bare of leaves. When rattled by hot winds, the pods sound like frying fish; hence, the tree is known in West Indies as the Fry wood.