Common Name:

General Information

Platymiscium trinitatis is a tree that can grow from 10 - 30 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 20 - 70cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It is a very important timber tree in Venezuela and one of the most valuable Amazonian woods - it is commonly exported[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, the Guyanas; Caribbean - Trinidad.

Habitat

Found in a wide variety of habitats; in savannah, forest transition to savannah, periodically inundated forests, humid deciduous forests; sometimes dominant in thorn scrub. Mainly found on clayey soils at elevations up to 550 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	22.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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[].
The hollow internodes on the branches are inhabited by ants[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The fresh leaves are used as a poultice to treat headaches[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are very sweetly scented and very attractive to bees[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is rose-brown with irregular veins; it is clearly demarcated from the 5 - 10cm wide band of white sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight or interlocked, sometimes wavy. The wood is moderately heavy to heavy; hard to very hard; elastic; durable, being resistant to fungi, dry wood borers and termites. It seasons somewhat slowly, with only a slight risk of checking or distortio; once dry it is stable in service. It works well with ordinary tools; takes a good polish; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring; gluing is correct. A beautiful and expensive timber usually reserved for first class end uses, it is used in construction, high class furniture and cabinet making, billiard cues, turnery, sculpture, musical instruments, panelling, flooring veneer etc[, , ].

Propagation

Seed -

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