Common Name: Amburana

General Information

Amburana is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall in the rainforest, but is likely to be no more than 4 - 10 metres tall when growing in the dry forests of northeast Brazil[, ]. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 40 - 80cm in diameter[].
The tree is commonly harvested from the wild for its attractive timber, which has a range of uses[, ]. The tree also has various local medicinal uses and is the source of an essential oil.
The tree is listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List (2009)[]. All stands of large trees are being or have been destroyed, previously through mahogany logging and now through selective logging[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - northern Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru.

Habitat

Dry tropical forests, often on deep, well-drained soils[]. In wetter forests it is usually restricted to limestone and rocky areas[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of medium elevations in tropical areas with a monsoon season.
Prefers a sunny position[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Newly planted young trees grow away quite slowly and are generally less than 150cm tall after two years[].
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 essential oil is obtained from the resin in the bark[]. It is used in the treatment of colds, coughs, bronchitis, asthma and lung ailments. The oil can be used on its own, or can be mixed with the seeds[].

The aromatic seeds can be used as a substitute for the tonka bean (Dipteryx odorata)[]. These uses are:-
The fragrant seeds are a rich source of coumarin. They are considered to be antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, cardiotonic and emmenagogue[].
The oil from the seeds is used to alleviate stomach aches, to treat sores in the mouth, to fortify the scalp and improve hair growth[].

The bark is antispasmodic, emmenagogue and sedative[]. The crushed stem bark is applied to the head as a poultice to relieve headaches[].

Other Uses

The seeds have an excellent scent. They have been used to perfume clothes[].

An aqueous extract of the seeds produced 100% mortality in third stage mosquito larvae of Aedes aegypti[].

An oily resin, which is volatile and fragrant, is obtained from the bark. It is used medicinally[].

The heartwood is yellowish or light brown with a slight orange hue, darkening somewhat on exposure; it is not sharply demarcated from the 5 - 8cm wide band of sapwood. It has a medium to coarse texture; the lustre is medium to high; the grain interlocked and irregular. The wood has a mild to distinct scent and taste of coumarin or vanilla with a rather waxy appearance and feel. It is light in weight, soft, moderately durable with good resistance to attack by decay fungi and termites, though it is susceptible to dry wood borers. It seasons slowly with a slight risk of checking or distortion, once dry it is stable in service. It is easy to work with machine or hand tools, though there is some difficulty in planing due to the interlocked grain; nailing and screwing are good; gluing is correct; it takes a good polish. The wood is used for luxury furniture, decorative veneer, construction, cooperage, carving, cabinet making, crates etc[, , , , ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a semi-shaded position, either in individual containers or in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate in excess of 80% can be expected for fresh seeds, with the seeds sprouting within 15 - 25 days[]. Seedlings grow away slowly[].

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