Common Name:

General Information

Elizabetha durissima is an evergreen tree with a dense, rounded crown; it can grow 6 - 10 metres tall. The cylindrical bole can be 20 - 30cm in diameter[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. A very ornamental tree with its delicate pinnate foliage, and for its few but very attractive flowers; it is used in urban landscaping[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - northern Brazil, Guyana.

Habitat

Amazon rainforest, mainly in open and secondary growth areas, favouring moist, clayey soils in areas not subject to seasonal inundation[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	8.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun to fairly dense, dappled shade[]. Prefers a moist, clay soil[].
A slow-growing plant, even when small[].
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

The wood is medium-textured, irregular-grained, moderately heavy and with moderate mechanical properties. It can be used for interior carpentry[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the treated seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate of less than 20% can be expected if the seed has not been treated, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 30 days[].

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