Fwd: Tree species Albizia

[J.M. Garg]

Thanks, Randy ji.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Randy Kuiper 
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2021 at 16:35
Subject: Tree species Albizia
To: <jmg...@gmail.com>

Hello, 

Firstly, sorry to message out of the blue and I'm sorry to bother you also. I got your email address via EfloraofIndia. Hopefully, you are doing well. 

I am busy with research regarding Albizia species. I am collecting Albizia kalkora seeds from different localities for conservation matters. In short, this species is being overwhelmed by the more vigorous A. julibrissin and outcrossing with kalkora, the hybrids are fertile and outcross also. (The invasiveness of julibrissin is rampant in the USA). Especially isolated places like Japan and Korea are at risk of eventually losing this species due to genetic dilution. 
I am setting up an insurance colony for these localities, I got some from mainland China, Hopefully in November from Japan. I am also busy with Korea but that one is especially hard but the most isolated and endangered. 
I am planning to DNA test for any genetic differences in the Bio-Informatica lab at Groningen, The Netherlands, I live here also. Besides that, I want to test the relationship between A. kalkora(and hybrids, we have 3 hybrids of julibrissinXkalkora), julibrissin, A. lebbeck(, and hopefully A. sherriffii as well with some help).

Now I stumbled across Albizia sherriffii Baker f. (syn. Albizia vernayana Merr.). From the research I did, it looks like its spread(Sikkim, India-Tibet-Bhutan?) is pretty isolated because of the mountain ranges. I suggest this species could encounter the same problems as A. kalkora, with A. kalkora and A. julibrissin being just as hardy it could infiltrate A. sherriffii its habitat and most likely outcross also. A. julibrissin is planted a lot for its tea properties and esthetics. It would be safe from the vigorous A. lebbeck because lebbeck is not tolerant of cold. 
There is a lot unknown about both species A. kalkora and A. sherriffii and I would love to put sherriffii in the same test as well, to see how they all fit together, it is a pretty interesting species because it has some similarities with julibrissin as well. Also, because I am setting up an insurance colony for A. kalkora localities I would also like to do this for A. sherriffii as well.

Hopefully, you could offer me a helping hand. Any help is appreciated. Maybe you know something of the tree yourself, or have close contact with it, or have some contact of a botanical institute for me? (maybe an Index Seminum?) Hopefully, with your network you could help me further, it would be greatly appreciated! 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this email. 
Sincerely 
Randy

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With regards,
J.M.Garg

[Tapas Chakrabarty]

Dear Garg ji,

Thank you for your email.

I would like to point out  that the type of the name Mimosa kalkora Roxb., the basionym of Albizia kalkora (Roxb.) Prain is not traceable. Therefore, unless the name is neotypified, and the characters elucidated, it continues to represent a plant of dubious identity. In this context, please also look at the attached short Note.

In view of this, I would suggest getting the samples of the supposed "Albizia kalkora" identified through an expert before going ahead with further studies.

Kind regards,

Tapas Chakrabarty.

[Randy Kuiper]

Hello, 

Thank you for the response! And thanks for the included document, very good to read! This also confirms some feelings I had. 
Albizia kalkora (Roxb. Prain) is indeed what I am talking about. It is very hard to find out about things, especially in English as the species is so unknown here. 
What we see and determine as Albizia kalkora (Roxb. Prain) is pretty basic and based on Korean research. 4(to 6 but we classifie it as doubtful hybrid than) pinnae and max. 12 (to 14 but we classifie it as doubtful hybrid than) leaflets per pinnae. Distinctly different as the note suggests, I see. Also, one distinct feature that looks dominant in hybrids is the smooth bark of A. julibrissin.

 I have seen the similarities between  Albizia kalkora (Roxb. Prain) and Albizia odoratissima but when I google the name two distinct species show up, maybe synonyms? (one has the more round puffy orangy-white flowers). Either way the flowers look more like big tall clusters in odoratissima, is that correct?
We see the Albizia 'coreana' collected from Yudal mountain by the JC Raulston arboretum in America as a example of a pure Albizia kalkora. This Arboretum supports me in this search and we are trying to get some (pure) seeds from that specific mountain back again as we think this is the most cold locality with temperatures below -17 degrees celsius from hearsay. 
Our concern about the species is the genetic dilution, hybrids are showing up everywhere. In November I should get some seeds from Japan, Miyazaki prefecture which hopefully are pure, these should be weaker in cold than the locality from Yudal mountain.
A hybrid I own with julibrissin and the tree in America(A. kalkora). 
In Japan I believe some hybrids are even naturalized they call this group Albizia julibrissin f. Glabrior. 

I am trying to figure out which region of China the A. kalkora (Robx. prain) are collected. But the plants look something like this:

A little more pointer than the tree in America looks like. But in my experience with A. julibrissin, individuals can develop very distinctive traits. I believe this is the same in the whole genus, what makes research even harder I suppose.

We are trying to figure out a lot but it is hard for us, pardon me if there are some incorrect statements. I am trying to set up a breeding group with individuals with A. kalkora here in Holland because there hardly any risk of invasiveness due to our climate. Also, we can control pollinationa more. In America A. julibrissin is very invasive and is hard to control, our season is too short for seedlings to germinate and harden off before winter. 

Do you perhaps have any insight in A. sherriffi? Would it be possible to have seeds collected someway? I would love to share some with the JC Raulston to investigate and learn from but also to set-up a secure breeding group here in The Netherlands. This is insurance group could be propagated and is also good for our understanding of the species. In Europe this is very unknown and in America people have a distaste for the genus because A. julibrissin is seen as a obnoxious weed, so there is not a lot of research there either. 

Would like to know what you think of my A. kalkora 'assumptions' I suppose. And your stance on A. Sherriffii.

Thank you for your knowledge and time. Hopefully it is a interesting subject for you aswell. 

It is greatly appreciated! Sincerely 
Randy

Op vr 15 okt. 2021 om 16:49 schreef Tapas Chakrabarty <tcha...@gmail.com>:

[J.M. Garg]

Thanks a lot, Randy ji

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With regards,
J.M.Garg