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But the tropical Leucaena leucocephala is a bit different from other trees: in tropical climates it grows as high as 65 ft. in five years.

That is the word being spread by Forestry Expert Michael Benge, an employee of the federal Agency for International Development, who has become a bureaucratic Johnny Appleseed for the leucaena.

The secret of the leucaena's rapid growth is in its roots; they extend as deep as the tree is tall.

The Philippines has its own ambitious leucaena program; so too do India and Indonesia.

"They say, 'All you do is talk about leucaena,' " he reports of his superiors.