Benth.Synonym: L. leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit.Family: Mimosaceae.
Habitat: The plains of India.
English: White Popinac, Lead tree.Siddha/Tamil: Tagarai.Folk: Vilaayati Baval Lasobaval (Gujarat).Action: The bark and leaves contain 16.3 and 3% tannin respectively. Leaves also contain quercitrin (0.08%). The toxicity of the plant is due to an alkaloid leucenine or leucenol. Beta-and alpha-amino- propionic acid is reported to be identical with mimosine (from Mimosa pudica).
Seeds, in addition to a fatty oil (8.8%), also contain mucilage composed of mannans, glactans and xy- lans. Stachyose is also reported to be present in the seeds. (Heat treatment of leaves and seeds after moistening lowers the alkaloid content.)