Ormosia hosiei
Hemsl. & E.H.Wilson
Fabaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Ormosia hosiei is a tree that can be evergreen or deciduous, growing 20 - 30 metres tall. The bole can be 100cm in diameter[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its high quality wood. Sometimes grown as an ornamental, it is said to be one of the most beautiful of Chinese trees[
749- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Vol. 32
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rudd V.E.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1968
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Monographs of several species in the family Fabaceae, including the Ormosia that occur in the Americas. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Habitat conversion to agriculture and overexploitation of the species for its timber are the main causes of population declines. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
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[
864- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 21
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Botanical Museum; Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Year
- 1963 - 1967
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of botanical articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
Range
E. Asia - China.
Habitat
Low elevation broadleaved forest[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. Riversides, mountain slopes, valley forests; at elevations from 200 - 900 metres[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Semi-deciduous Tree |
| Height | 25.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
This species is found in subtropical China
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[
755- Title
- Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
- Publisher
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The bright red seeds are sometimes strung into necklaces[
865- Title
- Chinese Economic Trees
- Publication
-
- Author
- Woon Young Chun
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Commercial Press; Shanghai.
- Year
- 1921
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of many of the Chinese trees with economic importance. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The heartwood is reddish and handsomely marked. The wood is hard and heavy. One of the most valuable woods in China for furniture and carving[
865- Title
- Chinese Economic Trees
- Publication
-
- Author
- Woon Young Chun
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Commercial Press; Shanghai.
- Year
- 1921
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of many of the Chinese trees with economic importance. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It is esteemed above all other Chinese wood for high-grade cabinet work[
749- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Vol. 32
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rudd V.E.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1968
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Monographs of several species in the family Fabaceae, including the Ormosia that occur in the Americas. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order 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[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
