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Description: Falcataria moluccana has undergone considerable taxonomic change in its nomenclature over the years; it has been previously placed in other genera such as Adenanthera, Albizia and Paraserianthes. Falcataria moluccana, as it is correctly referred to today as a scientific species, has commonly been known in English as “Albizia.” F. moluccana is a large, introduced, fast growing tree, up to about 40 m (125 ft) tall and up to as much 100 cm (40 in) or more in diameter, with a spreading flat crown, along with layered subcrowns. Its leaves are bipinnately compound, about 23-30 cm (8-12 in) long and alternately arranged; and its bark that is white, gray or greenish, mostly smooth or slightly warty, and has young parts covered densely with rusty pressed hairs. Its compound leaves have a multitude of small leaflets. On the leaves, a large nectary develops below the lowermost pair of pinnae (a leaflet or primary division of a pinnately compound leaf); and a smaller nectary develops between or below most pairs of pinnae [note: alien, such as “the invasive and biting “fire ants” may feed on these nectaries and increase the problematic naturalization and spreading distribution of the fast growing but relatively short lived and shallow-rooted, large Albizia trees. Flowers of F. moluccana develop in panicles about 20 cm (8 in) wide, often with 2 serial branches from 1 bract scar. The relatively small seeds are ellipsoid, laterally flattened, and are transversely arranged in straight seed pods about 10 to 13 cm (4-5 in) long (see Wagner et al. 1999:690; Falanruw 2015:108).
Distribution: Falcataria moluccana (“albizia”) is sometimes referred to as elegant, beneficial, large, deciduous tree because of its aesthetic appearance, including attractive gray bark and feather-like flowers (Wagner et al. 1999; Starr et al. 2003). Indeed, because of its fast growth with wide-spreading branches, F. moluccana has been widely used as a shade plant for coffeeand other cash crops in many parts of the world; it has also been planted due to its adaptation to nutrient-poor soils from sea level to about 1,500 m (~4,500 ft.) in the tropics. In modern times, F. moluccana has been introduced throughout much of the tropics as a rapid-growing plantation tree, or in small numbers for shade and as an ornamental capable of increasing in height about 7 m (>20 ft) in it first year of growth. Its native range is probably in the eastern Malesian area (i.e., parts of Indonesia and Melanesia), since this is where the greatest diversity within the species is found. Ecologically, F. moluccana is a pioneer species occurring in primary, but more typically in secondary lowland rainforest as well as in light montane forest, grassy plains and along roadsides near the ocean. It is adapted to fairly wet and monsoonal climates with a dry season of up to 2 (4 maximum) months. Very importantly, this large tree species is sensitive to fire and easily damaged by strong wind; this can be very consequential for human settlements, road networks and plantation agriculture. Still widely cultivated and exploited, it has escaped and become invasive especially in natural lowland humid forests on Pacific and also on Indian Ocean islands, where it alters ecosystem functioning through nitrogen fixation and eliminates native species. This tendency could also occur in other countries where it is present but not yet widespread, such as tropical America and Africa, and the dangers of possible invasion should be highlighted prior to making any further introductions! In Microneisa, F. moluccana has been cultivated on some islands, including Palau, Yap, Guam, Pohnpei and Kosrae. Some naturalization has been reported from some of these islands. Although some have suggested that this species does not spread rapidly, it does appear to has the ability to extend its invasive range gradually, if not faster, through native forest ecosystems. Alien populations of F. moluccana in the Hawaiian Islands, where it has been listed on the State of Hawai’i Noxious Weed List (Ostertag et al., 2009), and elsewhere should be montitored carefully (e.g., see Hughes and Denslow 2005; Allison et al. 2006; et al. 2010; Hughes et al. 2011; Tummons 2013). In his ecological study of the floral impact of F. moluccana tree populations on Mo’orea in French Polynesia, B.J. Wong (N.D.) summed up the problematic future for this large alien woody species in the tropical Pacific and elsewhere, even given its multipurpose usage history including use as a biofuel:
“F. moluccana is an enormous presence on the island of Mo’orea, and, due to its value as a timber species and ability to spread and persist, it is not likely to disappear. Future monitoring will be critical to ensure that F. moluccana does not begin to affect the ecosystem on a larger scale. Temporal studies showing effects of F. moluccana over time, as well as more intensive sampling, would both serve to better inform us of the possible threat posed by this invasive.”
Uses by Island or Island Group: Falcataria moluccana (Albizia) has been used for reforestation and as an ornamental due to its due to its fast growth and nitrogen fixation capacity (e.g., see Hughes and Denslow 2005); and reportedly its wood has been “used for a variety of purposes including canoe building and furniture making” (Starr et al. 2003; Little and Skolmen 1989); other reported uses of the wood of this species include light weight construction, packing materials, panelling, cabinets, toys, wooden shoes, musical instruments, light weight veneer and plyboard, low density particleboard, pulp, paper, and match sticks. As noted above, although F. moluccana has been described as an “elegant, deciduous tree with wide-spreading branches” and was introduced into Micronesia, as it was in Hawai’i, as a timber and reforestation species, it has also been widely recognized as a potentially dangerous invasive species. Indeed, it is gradually or even in some areas rapidly spreading throughout parts of the tropical Pacific region, including areas on some Micronesian high islands (e.g., see Smith 1985; Meyer 2000). Yes, it is used as a shade plant for coffee and other cash crop plantations in many tropical parts of the world, and it is one of the faster growing trees in the world with some importance as a pulp species in Asia; furthermore, it does fix nitrogen and can improve the soil fertility, especially in disturbed areas; and may not been seen as necessarily a “bad tree,” but it can become a very aggressive invasive woody species as it invades and overtakes forests, shading out other treesThey grow very rapidly even on nutrient-poor soils, and is adapted to areas sea level to about 1,500 m (~ 4,500 ft) elevation in some tropical regions, but is most common in moderately wet, lowland areas. It has been often used in ornamental and forestry plantings, especially for reforestation projects and more recently as a source of biofuel (e.g., see Chimera et al. 2010); however, it must be remembered that F. moluccana trees also have brittle branches that break easily in storms and winds which are hazardous.
Uses in Palau: Both Falcataria moluccana and Adenanthera pavonina are large, invasive alien trees in the bean family, Fabaceae, that are considered to be serious threats to native Palauan forests. Both were introduced into Palau in the 20th century. F. moluccana is known in Palauan as Ukall ra ngebard. Japanese farmers in Palau planted F. moluccana for use as a shade tree for cacao, coffee and tea plantations (Endress, 2002):
“In 1936, cacao production began on 500 hectares of leased Palauan land in Ibobang, State of Ngatpang…. that resulted in a decade of profit. The shade tree, Falcataria moluccana was planted with cacao and Mayo reported that it was doing well in 1954. Adenanthera pavonina was planted in 1924” (Kitalong 2008:20).
Kitalong (2008:26) also pointed out that the distribution and environmental impact of both F. moluccana and A. pavonina,which have become naturalized and spreading as invasive tree species on Palau, “need to be mapped, monitored and effectively controlled.” Indeed, as Kitalong (2008:27-28) suggested:
“Educational programs that build upon traditional ecological knowledge are critically needed. Integrative agroforestry with both native and introduced species has worked for centuries in Palau. Customary tenure systems and practices require ongoing support in combination with the protection of a network of important forest areas” (also see Kitalong 2001; Kitalong and Holm 2004; Kitalong et al. 2007).
The Ngermeduu Bay Drainage Area, Babeldaob has been identified as an area where F. moluccana was observed in places known to have had intense Japanese use, and where F. moluccana was cultivated as a shade tree for coffee, tea and cacao plantations (Endress, 2002; Kitalong, 2008). There are other areas where F. moluccana has been found and apparently naturalized and increasing in numbers:
“In Palau, Falcataria moluccana is most common in central Babeldaob. Prior to 2010 it had been reported from the states of Ngarenlengui, Ngatpang, Aimeliik. The 2010 visit found it also to be present in Melekeok. Dense stands of F. moluccana occur in the Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang and Aimeliik, and these populations appear to be spreading relatively rapidly in all directions. It has been estimated that F. moluccana has invaded approximately 30% of Babeldaop. It grows in lowlands, higher elevation regions, swamp areas, riparian zones, wetlands and disturbed areas. It has invaded extensive portions of Palau’s wetland-mangrove forest and may pose a threat to the welfare of the fishing industry of Palau” (T. Togia, unpublished report 2010).
More recently, long-term monitoring plots were set up to study the impacts of F. moluccana invasion as well as native forest restoration following the removal of this invasive tree. For example, it has been suggested that “newly discovered, isolated F. moluccana populations in the States of Melekeok and Airai should be prioritized for eradication” because, among other reasons: “The wood of these trees is extremely brittle and, if near homes or other habitation, professional arborists are needed to fell these trees” (T. Togia, unpublished report 2010).
“National land use and forest policies are needed to ensure that Palau’s forests remain intact into the next century, and not turned into somewhat monotonous agricultural monocropping system” (e.g., see Kitalong 2008:9).
Uses in Yap: Now found in Yap, as it is on a number of other high islands in Micronesia, Falcataria moluccanawas introduced in modern times for timber and to reforest heavly disturbed areas, or to serve as shade trees for commercial crops. This fast growing, large, invasive tree species is known in both English and Yapese as “albizia.” According to Falanruw (2015:108), F. moluccanahas been planted in inhabited areas of Yap, where it is reportedly naturalized in secondary vegetation; however, this tall tree may not yet be spreading on Yap as it apparently has already done so on Palau and Pohnpei (see above and below). Falanruw (2015:108) noted that in New Guinea, where F. moluccana is reportedly called “mother of gardens” because it colonizes “abandoned local gardens” and, as a nitrogen fixing species “it improves soil fertility for the next garden cycle.”
Uses in Mariana Islands: Occuring on Guam (Raulerson 2006), F. moluccana, apparently has not yet been introduced in the Mariana Islands beyond this island. Whether or not this range of distribution in the Marianas is now still valid, further introduction of this tree should be discouraged, and special measures should be aken to keep it out of the Northern Marianas. It has been recommended that botanical monitoring should occur and continue, followed by immediate eradication if individuals of F. moluccana are found. Additional recommendations include use of warning posters to alert the public and encouragement of reporting introductions (e.g., Space et al. 2000).
Uses in Chuuk: At the turn of the millennium, Space et al. (2000) described the situation on Chuuk regarding the occurrence and future impacts of Albizia in Chuuk:
“Occasional trees of Paraserianthes falcataria [Falcataria moluccana] (Molucca albizia) were seen on Weno [high island in Chuuk lagoon]. This species has the potential, over time, of spreading widely through the forest (as can be seen on Pohnpei). Further planting should be discouraged. If this is not a desired species, emphasis could be given to cutting the existing trees.”
Uses in Pohnpei: F. moluccana was introduced to Pohnpei in recent times for timber and reforestation purposes. As a large, fast growing tree which does well in full sunlight, it has already spread rapidly in some lowland areas, of Pohnpei, especially open areas such as grasslands. The very light, soft wood of F. moluccana does not offer high quality lumber. However, it is used as a source of firewood, thus its Pohnpeian name, Tuhke kerosin, which means “kerosene plant.” It is sometimes broadcast in open, degraded grasslands and fernlands. As a legume plant (in the bean family), Tuhke kerosin has the ability of improving the soil (bacteria on its roots fix nitrogen in the soil). As it grows tall, to heights of 80‑l00 ft. (25‑30 m), it also eventually shades out the grasses and helps prevent repeated burning of the open areas. After this tree has been growing for some years in open areas, and has helped improve soil conditions, farmers can plant crops such as Mei (breadfruit) and Sakau (kava) in the understory of Tuhke kerosin. It should be hoped that eventually farmers will remove the greater part of these large helpful but potentially dangerous “nurse” trees by girdling them. Then the breadfruit and other agroforest species in the recovered agricultural areas can grow to their full potential. However, it must be stressed here again that the tendency of F. moluccana to take over disturbed areas relatively quickly with its heavy limbs and trunk should be taken into consideration when planting this tree near human settlements and transportation networks.
Uses in Kosrae: By the end of last century, some Falcataria moluccana had been planted in Kosrae and warnings about its problematic environmental impact as a possible invasive large tree species were published:
This species has the potential, over time, of spreading widely through the forest (as can be seen on Pohnpei). Further planting should be discouraged. If this is not a desired species, emphasis could be given to cutting the existing trees (Space et al. 2000; also see Space and Falanruw, 1999).