Alexa imperatricis
(R.H.Schomb.) Baill.
Fabaceae
Alexandra imperatricis R.H.Schomb.
Common Name:
General Information
Alexa imperatricis is a tree with a small, oval crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole is unbuttressed, unbranched for up to 24 metres, and usually around 50 - 60cm in diameter, though they can be up to 90cm[
378- Title
- Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean
- Publication
- USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207
- Author
- Longwood.F.R.
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC.
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of timber.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
Range
S. America - northern Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela.
Habitat
Forested slopes[
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]. Heavy forests on light-coloured sands[
378- Title
- Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean
- Publication
- USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207
- Author
- Longwood.F.R.
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC.
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 20.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Although most species in the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria on their roots that can fix atmospheric nitrogen, there is a report that this species does not have this relationship.
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
An exudate from the stems is used in the treatment of dandruff and to rid the body of fleas and lice[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The bark is used as a treatment for ground itch, bites of the munuri ant (Pariponera clavata), snakebites, sores and malaria[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
Other Uses
The heartwood is nearly colourless to brownish yellow, but occasionally somewhat darker; it is not readily separated from the thick, dingy white sapwood. The grain is straight; texture rather coarse; lustre is medium to low; seasoned wood is odourless and tasteless[
378- Title
- Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean
- Publication
- USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207
- Author
- Longwood.F.R.
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC.
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet.
]. The wood is light in weight, moderately strong, highly resistant to decay, although the freshly cut logs are very susceptible to damage by pinhole borers[
378- Title
- Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean
- Publication
- USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207
- Author
- Longwood.F.R.
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC.
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet.
]. It is considered to work easily and finish satisfactorily[
378- Title
- Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean
- Publication
- USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207
- Author
- Longwood.F.R.
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC.
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet.
]. The wood is suitable for interior construction, boxes, crating, general construction, plywood etc. In a region where heavy, hard, strong woods predominate, a wood such as this should be readily accepted for many uses to which these other woods are not suited. In many places, it could replace the imported pines and Douglas-fir[
316- Title
- Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chudnoff. Martin.
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
,
378- Title
- Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean
- Publication
- USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207
- Author
- Longwood.F.R.
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC.
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
