Small to medium-sized deciduous tree up to 30(–35) m tall; bole straight and cylindrical in closed forest but often crooked and/or twisted in more open localities, up to 95 cm in diameter, without buttresses or with small, thick buttresses; bark yellowish brown to grey, smooth or rough, inner bark granular, creamy to yellowish, with clear gum; crown flattened, with large, spreading branches; young branches densely yellowish or reddish pubescent. Leaves alternate, bipinnately compound with (3–)5–10 pairs of pinnae; stipules ovate to lanceolate, up to 12 mm long, caducous; petiole 1.5–7.5 cm long, near the base at upper side with a sessile gland, rachis 3–12 cm long, yellowish or reddish pubescent; leaflets in 5–17 pairs per pinna, sessile, obliquely rhombic to elliptical-obovate, up to 1.5(–2) cm × 1 cm, cuneate to rounded at base, obtuse to acute at apex, pubescent below. Inflorescence an axillary head on a 2–6 cm long peduncle. Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous, reddish or greenish white, almost sessile, subtended by up to 8 mm long, caducous or persistent bracteoles; calyx narrowly obconical, 2.5–5 mm long, pubescent outside; corolla 6–12.5 mm long, with 5–9 mm long tube, pubescent outside; stamens numerous, 3–3.5 cm long, united into a tube for most of their length, red to pink or greenish; ovary superior, narrowly ellipsoid, 2–3 mm long, gradually tapering into a 3–3.5 cm long style. Fruit an oblong, flat pod 9–19 cm × 2–3.5 cm, with stipe c. 0.5 cm long, densely but finely pubescent, transversely veined, pale brown when ripe, opening with 2 papery valves, 7–10-seeded. Seeds flattened globose, 6.5–9.5 mm × 6.5–8.5 mm.

Anodyne and vermifuge (bark); purgative and anodyne (twig-bark decoction)

PROTAbase: Albizia adianthifolia

Bark sap is applied to the eye to treat river blindness and conjunctivitis, and internally against respiratory complaints, as an anodyne and to treat allergic reactions; it is also applied to sores and to allay toothache. A bark infusion or decoction is administered to treat scabies and other skin complaints, and to treat fever. Pounded bark is applied externally to boils and itching skin. The bark is also used to improve memory and to treat Alzheimer’s disease. A root infusion is applied to treat eye complaints, and powdered roots are administered to women in labour or with irregular menstruation. The leaves are used internally against diarrhoea and gonorrhoea, and externally to treat wounds and sore feet. A fruit extract is drunk to relieve stomach-ache.