Common Name:

General Information

Calliandra houstoniana is a delicate shrub or small tree with beautiful flowers growing from 1 - 6 metres tall[, ].
The bark has been gathered from the wild and exported to Europe for medicinal use, whilst the plant is occasionally grown as an ornamental[, ].

Known Hazards

The bark contains an alkaloid that can cause death by systolic arrest of the heart[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Central America - Honduras, north to southern Mexico.

Habitat

Brushy or open, moist or dry slopes, often on faces of cliffs, sometimes in pine-oak forest, at elevations up to 2,200 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in the tropics and subtropics[].
Requires a well-drained soil and a sunny position[].
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

The bark, known as Pambotana bark, has been sold in Europe as a substitute for quinine and an antiperiodic[, , ].
The bark is chewed to harden the gums[].

Agroforestry Uses:

All members of this genus have extensive root systems and are useful for binding the soil[].

Other Uses

The wood of Calliandra species is generally of medium-texture, heavy, hard, strong and easy to work, but not highly lustrous. Where large enough, the wood can be used for small carpentry work, implement handls, frames etc, and it is also used for fuel[]

Propagation

Seed -

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