Common Name:

General Information

Ormosia arborea is an evergreen tree with a dense, wide, roundish crown; it can grow 15 - 20 metres tall. The bole can be 50 - 70cm in diameter[].
The tree yields an ornamental timber that is used in cabinet making etc. The brightly coloured seeds are used locally as ornaments. It can be grown as a pioneer species for restoring woodland and is an ornamental tree that provides a good shade and can be used in street planting[].

Known Hazards

The plants, but especially the seed and perhaps also the bark, of many if not all species in this genus contain alkaloids and are toxic[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - eastern and central Brazil.

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest, favouring drier soils on steep slopes and the tops of hills[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	18.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Thrives in drier, well-drained soils[].
The tree is moderately fast growing, able to reach a height of around 2.5 metres within 2 years from seed[].
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:

A moderately fast-growing tree, able to thrive in drier soils and fixing atmospheric nitrogen, it can be used as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland[].

Other Uses

The brightly coloured seeds are used as beads for personal adornment and as 'gems' in the ornamentation of weapons and other objects[].

The wood is medium-textured, moderately heavy, with good mechanical properties and moderately resistant to wood-eating organisms. A decorative wood, it is used for fine cabinet making, panels, veneer, internal finishing in buildings etc[].
We do not have any more information on the wood of this species, but a general description for the wood of S. American members of this genus is as follows:-
The heartwood is pinkish to reddish, mostly salmon-coloured, sometimes yellowish-brown, more or less streaked; it is not always distinct from the yellowish sapwood. The texture is coarse to very coarse; the grain mostly irregular; lustre usually medium; it feels harsh; there is no distinctive odour or taste. The wood is generally reported to be quite susceptible to attack by decay fungi; it is vulnerable to dry-wood termites, and prone to powder-post beetle attack
(sapwood). It generally air dries very slowly; checking and warp vary from slight to moderate. For most species, the wood is reported to saw and machine easily, with fair to good results; surfaces, however, are somewhat rough and difficult to finish. It is used for furniture components, interior construction, general carpentry, and utility veneer[].

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. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A germination rate in excess of 50% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 50 days[]. When the seedbed-sown seedlings are 5 - 7cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 8 - 10 months later[].
The seed has a viability in excess of 12 months in storage[].

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