Common Name:

General Information

Brodriguesia santosii is an evergreen tree with an open, irregular crown; it can grow 5 - 30 metres tall. The somewhat crooked bole can be 30 - 80cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its timber. An ornamental plant, it can be used for landscaping near beaches[].
The plant has a small natural range and its habitat, the Atlantic coastal rainforest of Brazil, has been severely degraded by human activity so that only about 6% of it remains intact. It is probably close to qualifying for a 'Threatened' status, and so the plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Dry, coastal forests, nearly always in dense, primary formations[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in a sunny position to fairly deep, dappled shade[]. Tolerant of dry soils[]. Judging by its habitat, the tree is probably tolerant of salt-laden winds[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Young plants have a fast rate of growth[].
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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is fine-textured, irregular-grained, heavy, with good mechanical properties and moderately durable when exposed to the elements. It can be used for interior carpentry[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up and improve 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. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A germination rate in excess of 50% can be expected from treated seed, with the seed sprouting within 35 - 45 days[].

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