Common Name:

General Information

Cenostigma pluviosum is a very variable tree with several recognized subspecies. In Brazil it is a semideciduous tree with a dense drown, growing 8 - 16 metres tall. The usually crooked bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter with a thick, exfoliating bark[]. The form in Bolivia can be much larger, with a straight, cylindrical bole that can be unbranched for 20 metres[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally. It has an ornamental crown and is often used in urban planting in southern Brazil.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

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

Habitat

Rainforests, where it can occur in both primary dense forest and in more open formations; also found in savannah land in well drained soils and in the Pantanal, where it is subject to seasonal flooding[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant that ranges from the warm temperate zone to the tropics.
Prefers a sunny position[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
Young trees have a fairly fast rate of growth, reaching a height of up to 3 metres within 2 years from seed[].
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 heartwood is dark brown; the sapwood light brown. The texture is medium to fine; grain interlocked; lustre medium to faint; odour and taste indistinct. The wood is moderately hard, heavy, moderately durable even when in contact with the soil. It planes and finishes well, has excellent sanding properties, bores and turns well, has a medium blunting effect on tools. It can be used in construction for purposes such as rafters and props; for furniture, poles, carving, floors, turnery, decorative veneer, barrels and making boxes[, ].

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 60% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 10 - 25 days[]. When the seedbed-sown seedlings are 5 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 5 - 6 months later[].
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order 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[].
The seed has a viability in storage in excess of 12 months[].

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