All species formerly considered to belong to the genus Sclerolobium have been moved to Tachigali in line with the treatment by Henk van der Werff in 'A Synopsis of the Genus Tachigali (Leguminosae; Caesalpinioideae) in Northern South America', Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 95, pp 618 - 660, 2008.

Common Name:

General Information

Tachigali denudata is an evergreen tree with a dense, roundish crown; it can grow 20 - 30 metres tall. The almost cylindrical bole can be 60 - 80cm in diameter with a thick bark[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. Providing a good shade, it can be used in general landscaping[].
The species has suffered dramatic habitat loss and has been extensively exploited for its timber[]. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest, mainly in dense primary growth but sometimes also seen in more open locations, at elevations up to 800 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Usually growing in light to moderate shade, especially when young, the tree becomes more tolerant of direct light as it grows older[].
Young plants are quite slow-growing[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Heartwood and sapwood are not clearly demarcated. The wood is moderately heavy, hard, with reasonable mechanical properties, with a low durability but highly resistant to the attacks of wood-eating organisms[]. It can be used for making furniture, veneers for indoor use, indoor finishing in buildings, boxes, broom handles, small canoes, outdoor posts and struts[].

The trees of many members of this genus yield a wood suitable for light construction, known in the trade as 'tachi'[]. We do not have any more specific information for the wood of this species, but a general description of tachi wood is as follows:-
The wood is light brown; it is clearly demarcated from the 3 - 6cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight or slightly interlocked. The wood is light to moderately heavy; soft to moderately hard; not very durable in one report[], durable in another[]. It seasons at a nornal rate with only a slight risk of distortion, but a high risk of checking; once dry it is poorly stable in service. It is fairly easy to work, but sawn surfaces can be somewhat fuzzy - stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring. The wood is used for purposes such as interior panelling and joinery, furniture components, light carpentry, crates and boxes[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A germination rate in excess of 80% can usually be expected from fresh seed, with the seed sprouting within 10 - 20 days[].
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once the seeds of this species have been dried for storage they may benefit from scarification before sowing in order 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[].

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