Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Native range: From China through Southeast Asia to the Andaman and Cocos Islands west to Nepal. Various writers have reported its native range to also include northern Africa and northern Australia but this range is disputed because it is known to have been introduced into Egypt from the East Indies as early as 1807 and into the Brisbane area of Australia in 1900.

Description: A large, very fast-growing tree to 60 feet or more in height. Compound, bipinnate leaves are dark green and the oblong leaflets are 1 to 2 inches long. The tree is deciduous in response to drought stress in spring. Fragrant, 2-inch pale yellow, mimosa- or powderpuff-like flowers are produced in summer. These are followed by large, flattened, beanlike pods in winter and spring. The pods are retained through spring after the leaves have fallen. The dry pods rattle in the wind, giving rise to the sexist common name, "woman’s tongue".

Ecological threat: Woman’s tongue is firmly entrenched in the flora of Florida. It is widely naturalized in a broad range of native habitats, as well as disturbed sites such as roadsides and vacant lots. In Miami-Dade county it is found in pine rockland where it tolerates fire, and also invades hardwood forests, coastal strand, scrubby flatwoods, and mangrove-buttonwood forests. Woman’s tongue outcompetes native vegetation and can form large populations both from seed and extensive root suckers. 

Distribution in Florida: Central and southern Florida, including the Florida Keys.

Background: Albizia lebbeck trees were planted in 1869 along a five mile avenue from the Nile River to the Great Pyramids in Egypt to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal. Plant explorer Dr. David Fairchild was enthralled by these trees and introduced them to Florida in 1899. Dr. Julia Morton later wrote that "Albizia lebbeck flourished in Florida and before 1933 was running wild, springing up in hammocks and cultivated land on the southern part of the peninsula and on the Keys." It is no longer commercially propagated in Florida because of its weedy tendencies and messy litter.