The wood commonly known as either Kokko or Lebbeck, is known to botanists as Albizia lebbeck<\/em>. A. lebbeck<\/em> has a fairly wide native distribution area which covers, west to east, the Indian subcontinent, southeastern Asia, the Malaysian peninsula, the islands of Indonesia and Malaysia, New Guinea, and northeastern Australia. The wood is especially well-known in India. In addition to its native areas, A. lebbeck<\/em> has been widely planted as a shade and forage tree throughout the tropical and subtropical areas of the world, including in the United States in the far southern reaches of Florida, Texas, and California. In areas that support its growth, it can easily become naturalized as it readily propagates by liberal seed distribution.<\/p>\n
A. lebbeck<\/em> profits from being very tolerant of a wide-range of soil conditions, with the exceptions of heavy clay or waterlogged soil. It is also drought tolerant and tolerant of salty soils. The tree also features a shallow root system that binds loose soils, helping to prevent erosion of marginal lands.<\/p>\n