Common Name:

General Information

Lysiloma divaricatum is a deciduous tree with heavy branching and an open, spreading crown; it can grow 8 - 15 metres tall[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood (which is an excellent fuel), and for its tannin-rich bark. It used to be harvested on a commercial basis as a source of wood for railway ties[]. It is often cultivated in agroforestry systems in Mesoamerica[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central America - northern Costa Rica to western Mexico and southern Arizona.

Habitat

Wooded, rocky, stream banks or on dry brushy hillsides; at elevations from 300 - 1,700 metres in Guatemala[]. Dry, deciduous and mixed pine forests and occasionally in forest scrub with Cactaceae; at elevations from 40 - 1,750 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds on a range of soil types[]. It is found in the wild on volcanic soils and sandy clays[].
The flowers are sweetly scented[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Lysiloma divaricatum is widely planted in Agroforestry systems in central America where it is valued as a source of wood, organic matter (the leaves are used as green manure) and its ability to enrich the soil with nitrogen[].

Other Uses

The bark is a source of tannins[].

The sapwood is pink to blood red[]. The wood is used for railway ties, lumber and posts[, ].
The wood is an excellent fuel
We have no further specific information for the wood of this species, but the following is a general description of wood from trees in this genus:-
The heartwood is a lustrous brown with a coppery or purplish tinge, sometimes faintly striped; it is sharply demarcated from the thin white sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight to roey; without distinctive odour or taste. The wood is highly durable; it is considered easy to work; finishes smoothly; and takes a high natural polish[]. It is used in general construction, for furniture, wheel wright work, parquet, interior trim, bobbins and shuttles, veneer, and knife handles[].

Propagation

Seed -

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