Common Name:

General Information

Combretum leprosum is a semideciduous tree with a globose crown; it can grow 10 - 15 metres tall. The upright bole is more or less superficially grooved, it can be 40 - 60cm in diameter[]. When growing in dry forest areas, or in the drier savannah, the plant is more likely to become a more or less climbing shrub, or a small tree[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It is also a useful pioneer species for re-establishing native woodland.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, central, eastern and northern Brazil, Bolivia.

Habitat

Dryland forest, semideciduous forest, scrubland and savannah, being found especially in secondary formations, preferring fertile, well-drained, clayey and chalky terrain[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the 'Caatinga' dry forest region of northeast Brazil. The climate is hot and dry, there are usually 6 to 11 months without rain each year. The mean annual rainfall varies from 250 - 1,000mm, and the mean annual temperature is from 24 - 26°c.
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A fast-growing tree[].
The tree inhibits the growth of other vegetation beneath its canopy - an extract of the leaves froths abundantly and inhibits the germination of bean seeds[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves and inner bark are haemostatic, sedative and sudorific[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing natural pioneer species within its native range, the plant is highly recommended for use in reforestation projects using native species[].

Other Uses

The wood is thick-textured, straight-grained, moderately heavy, soft, not durable and with poor mechanical properties. It is only used locally for purposes such as boards in general, boxes and ceilings[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - it is difficult to remove from the fruit, so the whole thing can be treated as a seed. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 14 - 21 days[]. When the seedlings are 5 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 4 - 5 months later[].

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