Common Name:

General Information

Luetzelburgia guaissara is a deciduous or semideciduous tree with a dense, globose crown; it can grow 5 - 22 metres tall. The cylindrical bole can be 50 - 70cm in diameter[].
The tree yields a very decorative wood and so is much sought after for cabinet making. Although rarely planted, this is a very ornamental tree with its globose crown and shiny dark leaves - it is suitable for general landscaping and street planting[].
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - southern and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Broadleaved semideciduous dry forests in both dense primary formations and in more open secondary growth, favouring higher, well-drained land[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[].
A very slow-growing tree[].
The tree has a somewhat strange habit when ripening its seed - these ripen during the wet season and, at that time, the plant loses its leaves, or at least all those on the fruiting branches. The tree does not produce seed every year, but in the years that it does it loses its leaves twice - once in the dry season and then again when fruiting in the wet season[].
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, moderately heavy, moderately durable. An extremely decorative wood that is easy to work, it is used for fine cabinet making and for finishing off in house building[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up 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. The seed has a very short viability and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A low germination rate can be expected from untreated seed, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 40 days[]. The seedlings grow away slowly[].

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