Littleleaf leadtree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Littleleaf leadtree |
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Leucaena
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L. retusa
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| Leucaena retusa |
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The littleleaf leadtree (scientific name: Leucaena retusa) is a cool flowering plant. It belongs to the legume family, just like peas and beans! People also call it the goldenball leadtree, wahoo tree, or lemonball because of its bright yellow flowers.
This tree naturally grows in parts of Mexico, specifically in Chihuahua and Coahuila. You can also find it in the United States, in Texas and New Mexico.
Contents
What the Littleleaf Leadtree Looks Like
The littleleaf leadtree is a small tree. It can grow up to 25 feet (about 7.6 meters) tall. That's about as tall as a two-story building!
Leaves and Flowers
Its leaves are a pretty bright green or blue-green color. Each leaf is made up of many smaller parts called leaflets. This gives the tree a delicate, feathery look.
The flowers are round and look like little fuzzy balls. They can be yellow or white. These trees bloom from April all the way through October. They often flower a lot right after it rains, which is a neat trick!
Fruit and Wood
After the flowers, the tree grows a fruit that looks like a long pod. This pod is a type of legume and can be up to 10 inches (about 25 centimeters) long.
The wood of the littleleaf leadtree is not very strong. It can break easily, so it's not used for building things.
Where the Littleleaf Leadtree Grows
This tree loves dry places. It is very good at handling drought, which means it can live even when there isn't much rain. It also prefers soils that are alkaline (not acidic) and needs lots of sunlight to grow well.
How People Use It
People often plant the littleleaf leadtree in their gardens. It's a popular ornamental plant because it looks so attractive. It's easy to grow from its seeds. In fact, it can even reseed itself and spread quite a bit!
However, this tree is not usually grown for honey. Its wood is also not considered very useful.
Animals and the Littleleaf Leadtree
Many animals enjoy eating parts of the littleleaf leadtree. Farm animals like livestock and wild animals such as white-tailed deer find its leaves and branches tasty. The seeds of the tree are also full of protein, making them a good snack for animals.
