Common Name:

General Information

Aldina heterophylla is an evergreen tree with a large, dense, rounded crown; it can grow 12 - 28 metres tall. The cylindrical bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter with small prop roots at the base and a thick bark[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its good quality wood which is traded.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - northern Brazil.

Habitat

Amazon rainforest in slightly swampy forests on upland sites not subject to seasonal inundation, favouring humus-rich sandy soils; also frequently found in dense grass areas on sandy soils[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Found in the wild in sandy soils that are generally rich in organic matter and often rather wet[].
Young plants have a moderate rate of growth[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A red resin exudes from the bark[].

The heartwood is yellow-brown; it is not clearly demarcated from the 5 - 8cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is coarse; the grain interlocked, sometimes wavy. The wood is heavy, hard, very durable, though the sapwood is susceptible to dry wood borers. It seasons well, though there is a high risk of distortion and a slight risk of checking; once dry it is moderately stable in service. The wood works well with normal tools, though filling is recommended to obtain a good finish; nailing and screwing are good, but pre-boring is necessary; there is a tendency to end-splitting. The wood has a wide range of uses, for heavy construction, bridge making, railway sleepers, exterior carpentry, stakes etc[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in individual containers. A low germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 40 days[].

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