Common Name:

General Information

Calycophyllum spruceanum is an evergreen tree with a tall, narrow, open crown; it can grow 20 - 30 metres tall. The bole can be unbranched for around half of its height and 30 - 40cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. A very ornamental tree, it can be used in landscaping, particularly for planting along avenues[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia.

Habitat

Lowland forests in the Amazon, growing in both dense primary forest and also the more open areas of secondary growth, usually near rivers in land that is subject to seasonal inundation[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist to wet tropical lowlands.
Grows well in a sunny position[].
Young plants have a moderate rate of growth[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is pale yellow; the sapwood is white. The texture is fine; the grain straight to interlocked; lustre is medium to bright; there is a distinct vanilla-like aroma but no distinctive taste. The wood is moderately heavy, hard, compact, durable if kept dry with some resistance to insect attack. It is easy to work and finishes well. The wood is used for construction, cabinet making, frames, tool handles, lathe work, plywood etc[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. The seed is very small, so should only just be covered with soil - placing cheesecloth over the soil will help to prevent the seed being washed away when watering. A low germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 40 days, at which time the cloth should be removed[]. When the seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 6 - 8 months later[].
The seed has a viability in excess of 5 months in storage[].

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