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Useful Tropical Plants

Gleditsia amorphoides

(Griseb.) Taub.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Garugandra amorphoides Griseb.

Common Name:

Gleditsia amorphoides
Gleditsia amorphoides Gleditsia amorphoides Gleditsia amorphoides Gleditsia amorphoides

General Information

Gleditsia amorphoides is a deciduous tree with a dense, but smallish, roundish crown; it can grow 10 - 20 metres tall. The straight bole, which can be 30 - 60cm in diameter, is heavily armed with many-branched spines that can be more than 10cm long[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its useful gum and timber. The gum is used locally and also harvested on a commercial basis for use in the food industry. The plant is sometimes grown for its gum and is also used as a boundary marker and living fence.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

S. America - Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, southern Brazil, Bolivia.

Habitat

Gallery forests, in both dense, primary formations and also in more open areas of secondary growth, favouring deep, fertile soils near rivers[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitDeciduous Tree
Height15.00 m
Growth RateMedium
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Gleditsia amorphoides is a tree mainly of the subtropics, just making its way into the tropics in Bolivia, generally at elevations above 500 metres.
Grows best in a sunny position[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. Prefers a deep, moist, fertile soil[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. Gleditsia species are generally easy to grow, being tolerant of a range of soils, so long as they are well-drained, and of atmospheric pollution[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant has a moderate rate of growth[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
The plant is functionally dioecious, with male and hermaphrodite flowers appearing on different plants. The hermaphrodite flowers, however, do not produce viable pollen and so cannot self-fertilize. Both male and hermaphrodite plants, therefore, need to be grown if fruits and seed are required[
1473
Title
Functional dioecy in Gleditsia amorphoides (Fabaceae)
Publication
Australian Journal of Botany, 2018, 66, 85-93
Author
Cerino M.C.; Castro D.C.; Richard G.A.; Exner E. de L.; Pens
Website
https://doi.org/10.1071/BT16185
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
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

A gum (galactomannan) is obtained from the seedpods[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. It is obtained from the endosperm of the seeds[
1473
Title
Functional dioecy in Gleditsia amorphoides (Fabaceae)
Publication
Australian Journal of Botany, 2018, 66, 85-93
Author
Cerino M.C.; Castro D.C.; Richard G.A.; Exner E. de L.; Pens
Website
https://doi.org/10.1071/BT16185
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. A thickening agent, it is used as an additive in sweets, various foods etc[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
,
1473
Title
Functional dioecy in Gleditsia amorphoides (Fabaceae)
Publication
Australian Journal of Botany, 2018, 66, 85-93
Author
Cerino M.C.; Castro D.C.; Richard G.A.; Exner E. de L.; Pens
Website
https://doi.org/10.1071/BT16185
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
 
]
The flat, thick seedpod is few-seeded, around 10cm long and 3cm wide[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is used in living fences in Cuba, where its spiny stems act as an effective barrier[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].
Trees have a light canopy, they come into leaf late in the season and usually drop their leaves early[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
] making them an excellent top storey tree in a woodland garden[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
When planted close together and severely pruned, most Gleditsia species form good windbreaks and hedges. With their usually very spiny trunks and branches, the hedge becomes an effective barrier, and with its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, it also enriches the soil[
865
Title
Chinese Economic Trees
Publication
 
Author
Woon Young Chun
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Commercial Press; Shanghai.
Year
1921
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details of many of the Chinese trees with economic importance. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Other Uses

A gum obtained from the seedpods is used in cosmetics, in pharmaceuticals and to make cellulose[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. It is obtained from the endosperm of the seeds[
1473
Title
Functional dioecy in Gleditsia amorphoides (Fabaceae)
Publication
Australian Journal of Botany, 2018, 66, 85-93
Author
Cerino M.C.; Castro D.C.; Richard G.A.; Exner E. de L.; Pens
Website
https://doi.org/10.1071/BT16185
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

The seeds are used for dyeing and washing[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
]. It is more likely to be the seedpods that are used for washing - the seedpods of various other species in this genus are used as sources of saponins[
1309
Title
The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
Publication
 
Author
Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin
Year
1981
ISBN
0-333-32221-5
Description
An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
,
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
The seedpods are a rich source of saponins - these have potential to be used as pesticides[
1473
Title
Functional dioecy in Gleditsia amorphoides (Fabaceae)
Publication
Australian Journal of Botany, 2018, 66, 85-93
Author
Cerino M.C.; Castro D.C.; Richard G.A.; Exner E. de L.; Pens
Website
https://doi.org/10.1071/BT16185
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

The wood is of medium texture, heavy, hard, with good mechanical properties but susceptible to the attacks of termites[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. It is used for general carpentry, door and window jambs, cart bodies, decorative laminas and lathe work[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and benefits from scarification before sowing to speed up 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 good germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 28 - 35 days[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. When the seedlings are 5 - 7cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 5 - 6 months later[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Gleditsia+amorphoides>

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