Leucaena leucocephala - the most widely used forage tree legume.

Abstract

During the 1970s and early 1980s, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit (leucaena) was known as the 'miracle tree' because of its worldwide success as a long-lived and highly nutritious forage tree, and its great variety of other uses. As well as forage, leucaena can provide firewood, timber, human food, green manure, shade and erosion control. It is estimated to cover 2-5 million ha worldwide (Brewbaker and Sorensson 1990). However, a better understanding of its constraints, particularly the arrival of the psyllid insect, has now given us a more balanced view of the value of this species.