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Albizia saman

Albizia saman

9.9
A large tropical American tree with feathery leaves and red flowers, often called the rain tree
  • noun
  • /ælˈbɪziə səˈmæn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Albizia saman
  • Farmers appreciate the Albizia saman because its seed pods provide nutrition for cattle.

Examples

  • The park’s centerpiece was a massive Albizia saman covered in a spectacular flush of crimson flowers.

  • The Albizia saman is often planted along roadsides for its impressive canopy and shade.

  • Look at the beautiful clusters of flowers on the Albizia saman!

  • The Albizia saman tree provides excellent shade in tropical parks.

  • Farmers appreciate the Albizia saman because its seed pods provide nutrition for cattle.

  • The Albizia saman is often planted along roadsides for its impressive canopy and shade.

  • The park’s centerpiece was a massive Albizia saman covered in a spectacular flush of crimson flowers.

Synonyms

monkey pod
vsAlbizia saman
  • US
1 9.3

A large tropical tree with wide branches that give shade and seed pods eaten by animals

focuses more on specific botanical features than cultivation use
saman
vsAlbizia saman
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A large tropical tree with wide spreading branches and a big leafy top that gives much shade

highlights feathery bipinnate leaves and crimson-stamen flower clusters
zaman
vsAlbizia saman
  • US
1 9.9

A large tropical tree with feathery leaves, bright red flower clusters and seed pods cattle eat

adds leaf texture detail and mentions the alternate common name
monkeypod
vsAlbizia saman
  • US
9.9

A large tropical tree with feathery leaves, pink flower clusters, and seed pods that cattle eat

is the botanical description without noting the alternate common name
rain tree
vsAlbizia saman
  • Specialized
8.6

A large tropical tree with many small leaves, round pink flowers, and seed pods cattle eat

is the factual botanical description rather than the weather-linked name
zamang
vsAlbizia saman
  • US
9.9

A large tropical tree with round red flower clusters and wide shade

is slightly more botanical and adds the alternate common name
saman tree
vsAlbizia saman
  • US
9.2

A large tropical tree with a wide spreading top that gives shade and has pink or white flowers

focuses instead on feathery leaves and crimson-stamen flower detail

Surface Forms

Albizia saman singular

Morphology

albizia + saman

Albizia saman is a binomial (genus + species) where both constituent items refer to the same type of plant; if a learner knows 'albizia' and 'saman' as tree-related terms they can directly infer this denotes a particular tree species (the rain tree). The meaning is therefore compositionally clear rather than idiomatic or metaphorical.

Etymology

Albizia saman is a scientific name made from a person's name and a local word. The genus Albizia is named after an Italian who brought similar trees to Europe. The word saman was used by local people for this wide, umbrella-like tree that became the 'rain tree' because its leaves fold and the canopy lets rain fall through.