Common Name:

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[].
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[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, 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[]. Prefers a deep, moist, fertile soil[]. 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[].
The plant has a moderate rate of growth[].
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[].
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[]. It is obtained from the endosperm of the seeds[]. A thickening agent, it is used as an additive in sweets, various foods etc[, ]
The flat, thick seedpod is few-seeded, around 10cm long and 3cm wide[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is used in living fences in Cuba, where its spiny stems act as an effective barrier[].
Trees have a light canopy, they come into leaf late in the season and usually drop their leaves early[] making them an excellent top storey tree in a woodland garden[].
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[, ].

Other Uses

A gum obtained from the seedpods is used in cosmetics, in pharmaceuticals and to make cellulose[]. It is obtained from the endosperm of the seeds[].

The seeds are used for dyeing and washing[]. 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[, ].
The seedpods are a rich source of saponins - these have potential to be used as pesticides[].

The wood is of medium texture, heavy, hard, with good mechanical properties but susceptible to the attacks of termites[]. It is used for general carpentry, door and window jambs, cart bodies, decorative laminas and lathe work[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

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[]. 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[].

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: How many suns are in our solar system