Paraserianthes lophantha

Paraserianthes lophantha
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Mimosoideae
Genus:	Paraserianthes
Species:	P. lophantha
Binomial name
Paraserianthes lophantha (Willd.) I. C. Nielson
Synonyms
Albizia lophantha

Paraserianthes lophantha, commonly called Albizia, Cape Leeuwin Wattle, Cape Wattle or Crested Wattle, is a fast-growing tree that occurs naturally along the southwest coast of Western Australia, from Fremantle to King George Sound.^[1] It was first spread beyond southwest Australia by Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, who gave packets of P. lophantha seeds to early explorers under the assumption that if they planted the seeds at their campsites, the trees would indicate the routes they travelled.^[2]

It is considered a weed in the parts of Australia where it is not indigenous,^[3] as well as in New Zealand, South Africa, the Canary Islands, and Chile.

Seed pods

See also

• Invasive species in Australia
• Invasive plants of Australian origin

References

Further reading

• Randall, Roderick Peter (2002). A Global Compendium of Weeds. Melbourne: R. G. & F. J. Richardson. ISBN 0-9587439-8-3. 
• Blood, Kate (2001). Environmental Weeds: A Field Guide for SE Australia. Mount Waverley, Victoria: C. H. Jerram & Associates. ISBN 0-9579086-0-1.