Common Name: Peroba Rosa

General Information

Peroba rosa is an evergreen tree with an oblong crown; it can grow from 8 - 30 metres tall with a bole around 80cm thick. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 60 - 90cm in diameter with a thick, fissured bark[, ].
The wood is highly valued and the tree is widely exploited from the wild both for local use and for export. An ornamental tree, it is used in landscaping projects[].
A popular timber tree, it has suffered intense exploitation and habitat loss over the past few decades. Populations in many areas are largely eroded and some trials have been carried out in cultivating plantations of this tree[].The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

The freshly cut wood and sap of Aspidosperma species causes irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, with general malaise[].
The sawdust, on contact with abraded skin, produces local burning and a vesicular eruption with general symptoms of muscular weakness and cramps, sweating, dryness of the mouth, and faintness[].
Once the wood is thoroughly dry it loses its toxicity unless polishes or dyes in organic solvents are used on it[]

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia.

Habitat

A species of tropical, lowland to submontane moist forest. It occurs in various forest types in moderately humid areas from low to medium elevations. It can be dominant in the understory of Araucaria forest[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a position with some shade[]. Prefers a deep, fertile soil[].
A slow-growing tree[].
Silvicultural trials have been carried out and in different sites tree heights at 12 - 13 years have ranged from 4.7 to 7.8 metres[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark is antipyretic, astringent and bitter[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is rose-red to orange or yellowish with some darker streaks; the sapwood a dull gray-white[]. The texture is fine, compact, but with a rough surface; the grain is straight to interlocked; lustre is bright; there is no distinct taste or odour. The wood is heavy, hard, uniform, with excellent mechanical properties and very durable if kept dry. It works well with hand and machine tools, though it has a moderate blunting effect; it finishes well. An excellent structural timber that is easy to split, it is used primarily in general construction for joinery, veneers, and in the construction of ship decks, flooring, furniture, truck bodies, sleepers etc[, , , , ].

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 70% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 10 - 20 days. Young plants grow away slowly[].
The seed can remain viable for at least 6 months in storage[].

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