Common Name:

General Information

Elizabetha speciosa is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a sparse, irregular crown; it can grow 4 - 7 metres tall. The bole can be 15 - 25cm in diameter[].
The tree has no recorded uses, though it could be employed as fuel. Considered to be one of the most ornamental trees of the Amazon, valued both for its foliage and its floral display, it can be used in landscaping in partially shaded situations[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - northern Brazil.

Habitat

An understorey tree in the Amazon rainforest, found in both areas subject to seasonal inundation and those that remain unflooded; favouring clay soils[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Usually found in moderate to dense shade in the forest undergrowth[]. Grows wild in clay soils[]. Tolerant of seasonal inundation of the soil[].
Plants are slow-growing, even when young[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The sapwood is cream-coloured. The wood is of medium-texture, spiral-grained, moderately heavy. Because of its small size, the wood has no recorded uses, though it could be used as a fuel[, ].

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 treated seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate of less than 50% can be expected if the seed has not been treated, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 30 days[].

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