Mimosa - Silk Tree - Albizia julibrissin
Leaves - bipinnately compound: 6-15" (15-38 cm) long fernlike: 5-12 pairs of side axes covered with fine hairs each axes: 15-30 pairs of oblong pale green leaflets, 3/8"-5/8" (10-15 cm) long
Flower: more than 1" (2.5 cm) long; with long threadlike pink stamens whitish toward base, ball like clusters 1 1/2"-2" (4-5 cm) wide grouped at the end of the stem throughout the summer.
Fruit: 5-8" (13-20 cm) long; flat pointed oblong pod; yellow-brown; maturing in summer, remaining closed; several beanlike flattened shiny brown seeds
Twig: brown or gray, often angled
Bark: blackish or gray, nearly smooth
Form: broad, flattened crown of spreading branches, short trunk or several trunks
Habitat: open areas, wasteland and dry gravelly soils
Range: native from Iran to China, naturalized from Maryland to southern Florida, west to eastern Texas, north to Indiana
Location: Warren Street - west edge of town, where Meissner Street meets Warren Street, north side of street.
Latitude - 39o02.55N
Longitude - 089o57.56W
The mimosa tree is called by this name because the flowers are similar to those of the related herbaceous sensitive-plants (genus - Mimosa). It is the hardiest tree of its genus. Silktree leaflets fold up at night.
© Community Unit School District #8, Bunker Hill
504 E. Warren, Bunker Hill, IL 62014
References:
Little, Elbert L. Field Guide to Trees: Eastern Region. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf Inc., 1980.
Mohlenbrock, Robert H. Forest Trees of Illinois. Springfield, IL: 1992