# White Leadtree (*leucaena leucocephala*) The White Leadtree (Leucaena leucocephala), also known as the river tamarind or jumbay, is a versatile and fast-growing miracle tree native to southern Mexico and Central America. Now naturalized throughout the global tropics, this resilient legume is widely cultivated for livestock fodder, firewood, and soil improvement. However, its high adaptability and rapid growth have also earned it a spot among the world's 100 worst invasive species. This dual nature makes the White Leadtree a fascinating subject of study, representing both a valuable agricultural asset and a significant ecological challenge in non-native habitats where it forms dense, monospecific thickets that displace native vegetation. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Found in disturbed sites, coastal areas, riparian zones, and open woodlands across tropical and subtropical regions. ![White Leadtree](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/341341166/medium.jpeg) ## Appearance The White Leadtree typically grows as a small, shrubby tree reaching 5 to 20 meters in height. It is easily identified by its bipinnate, feathery green leaves that close up slightly at night. During the blooming season, it produces spherical, puffy white flower heads that resemble small pom-poms, about 2 centimeters in diameter. These flowers transition into clusters of long, flat, translucent brown seed pods, each measuring 10 to 15 centimeters in length, which dangle conspicuously from the branches and rattle softly in the wind. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Leucaena ## Interesting facts - It is nicknamed the 'Conflict Tree' because of its dual identity as a highly beneficial agroforestry species and a destructive invasive weed. - Its seeds contain an amino acid called mimosine, which can cause hair loss and health issues in non-ruminant animals if eaten in large quantities. - The puffy white flowers of the White Leadtree close up and sleep at night along with its sensitive, feathery leaflets. ## Special abilities - **Nitrogen Fixation:** Partners with symbiotic soil bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable nutrients, allowing it to thrive in and enrich poor soils. - **Rapid Regeneration:** Sprouts vigorously from cut stumps and produces abundant seeds, enabling it to dominate disturbed landscapes quickly. - **Drought Tolerance:** Utilizes a deep taproot system to access deep water tables, allowing it to survive prolonged dry seasons. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 500-2000 cm - **Lifespan:** 20-40 years - **Incubation:** 6-15 days ## Diet & Feeding As a photosynthetic plant, the White Leadtree produces its own food using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and soil nutrients. - **Primary Foods:** Sunlight, Water, Carbon Dioxide, Soil Minerals ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Leucaena Seed Beetle (*Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus*) — The larvae of this seed beetle feed exclusively on the seeds of the White Leadtree, acting as a natural biological control agent. - **Mutualism:** Rhizobium Bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Forms a symbiotic relationship in the root nodules to fix nitrogen, benefiting both the plant and the soil microbiology. - **Eaten by:** Domestic Goat (*Capra hircus*) — Goats readily graze on the high-protein leaves and shoots of the tree, although excessive intake can cause mimosine toxicity. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White Leadtree? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is White Leadtree? 500-2000 cm ### How long does White Leadtree live? 20-40 years ### What does White Leadtree eat? As a photosynthetic plant, the White Leadtree produces its own food using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and soil nutrients. ### Where is White Leadtree usually found? Found in disturbed sites, coastal areas, riparian zones, and open woodlands across tropical and subtropical regions. ### How long do White Leadtree eggs take to hatch? 6-15 days ## Where to spot - [Allerton Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/allerton-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Fort Brown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-brown) — US · Historic Site - [National Tropical Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/national-tropical-botanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Puna-Ka'u Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/puna-kau-historic-district) — Hawaii, US · Historic District - [Kawai Nui Marsh](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kawai-nui-marsh) — Hawaii, US · Park - [Koko Crater Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/koko-crater-botanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see White Leadtree](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/white-leadtree) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [White Leadtree: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-leadtree)