Common Name:

General Information

Clethra scabra is a semideciduous tree with a dense, irregular crown; it can grow 4 - 8 metres tall. The crooked bole can be 15 - 25cm in diameter[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. It can be grown as a pioneer species for restoring native woodland.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, southern and eastern Brazil, Bolivia.

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest and higher elevation forests, usually in the more open, secondary formations, favouring moist, compacted soils of poor fertility, usually on slopes[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Plants are often found in the wild on poor-quality, compacted, moist soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A fast-growing tree[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing tree that is tolerant of full sun and can succeed in poor quality soils, it can be used as a pioneer when restoring native woodland[].

Other Uses

The wood is fine-textured, straight-grained, light in weight, with poor mechanical properties and not durable. Soft and easy to work with, but the wood is generally of too small a dimension to be used other than for making boxes, linings and toys[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. Do not cover them in soil, but gently water them in, being careful not to wash them away. A low germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 40 days[].

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