Common Name: Bootlace Tree

General Information

Eperua falcata is a large, evergreen tree with a sparsely limbed, wide-spreading canopy[]. It grows up to 35 metres tall with a bole 20 - 80cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use, whilst the timber is especially valued on account of its resistance to decay, being used locally and also traded[]. The tree is very ornamental when in flower and has spectacular, mauve-pink, scimitar-shaped seedpods that burst open when ripe to fling their seeds for a distance of up to 30 metres[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Brazil, Venezuela, French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana.

Habitat

Frequent to dominant in riverine or low elevation, dry evergreen or swamp-woodland rain forest on a wide range of soils (often pure white sand) at elevations up to 700 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bats
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a deep, rich, moist soil and a position in bright shade or full sun[]. Established plants are moderately drought tolerant[]. The tree can form pure stands when growing on white quartz sands that are useless for agriculture[].
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 resin may have slight bactericidal and antifungal properties, which account for its use as a cicatrizant (a substance that heals by inducing scarring)[]. The resin from the bark is placed on warm leaves and tied around cuts and sores, ulcers etc as a poultice[]. The resin is used as a cicatrizant to heal wounds[].

The bark is decocted as a dental analgesic[]. The bitter bark is used as an emetic[].

The wood yields an oil which is used as an ointment for rheumatism and to treat wounds[].

Other Uses

Infusions of the plant, used as a hair wash, are said to promote the growth of thick hair[].

The heartwood is reddish-brown to dark brown, with lighter veins; it is clearly demarcated from the 4 - 6cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight; unseasoned wood has an unpleasant odour. The wood bleeds a crimson gum very freely, the surface becoming very sticky and readily collecting dust etc. The wood is very hard, heavy, stiff and strong; very durable, being resistant to fungi, dry wood borers and termites. It seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It works moderately easily with machine and hand tools, but has a high blunting effect so stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; the presence of gum may build up on saw teeth and cutters, reducing clearances, though this is not a problem with dry woods; it turns well, stains readily and polishes reasonably well after filling, but gum exudations may produce some detrimental effect on polishing; it glues well and splits readily; nailing and screwing are good so long as the wood is prebored. The wood is renowned for its resistance to decay in water and is used in heavy construction, bridges, joinery, house construction, is made into shingles (which can last for 40 years), telegraph poles etc[, , , , ].

Propagation

Seed -

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