Common Name:

General Information

Handroanthus barbatus is a tree growing up to 15 metres tall[].
The tree is harvested from the wld for its wood, which is widely traded.
Handroanthus barbatus is one of a group of species that are heavily exploited for their high quality timber, which is collectively traded under the name Ipê. Although this species is traded in lesser amounts than many of the other species, threats to it are continuing and may grow in the coming decades, therefore it is suspected that this species will experience a population decline of at least 25% over the next 100 years.The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Bolivia, northwest Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Habitat

Rainforests, especially in areas that are subject to seasonal inundation; at elevations up to 150 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Height	0.00 m

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

We have no specific information for this species, but the inner bark of the various Handroanthus species has been shown to contain several pharmacologically active compounds. In particular, the bark has astringent and anti-inflammatory properties and several species are used to treat skin disorders, fungal infections, wounds etc, as well as a various inflammatory diseases, cancer etc[, ].
The bark contains the naphthoquinones lapachol and beta-lapachone. These compounds have a range of medicinal activities, including antitumor activity, but when isolated from the whole bark and used in the quantities required to treat conditions such as cancer, they have also shown unacceptable levels of toxicity towards the body.

Other Uses

We have no specific information on the wood of this species, other than it is one of a group of species that produce a very hard, heavy and durable timber, known collectively as 'Ipê' and widely traded. Most Ipê wood comes from this genus (Handroanthus), though some also comes from the genera Tabebuia and Roseodendron. The general description of Ipê wood, when produced from Handroanthus species is as follows:-
The heartwood is yellowish brown to dark olive brown, sometimes with thin veins; it is clearly demarcated from the 3 - 9cm wide band of lighter-coloured sapwood. The texture is usually fine, though it is medium in some species; the grain is interlocked; there are canals in the wood containing a greenish-yellow deposit of the naphthoquinon 'lapachol'. The wood is very heavy; very hard; elastic; it is very durable, even in contact with the soil, resisting fungi, dry wood borers and termites. It seasons slowly, but with only a low risk of checking or distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. The wood has a fairly high blunting effect - stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; there can be some difficulties due to the interlocked grain; filling is recommended in order to get a good finish; nailing and screwing are good , but require pre-boring; gluing is correct for internal use only, and needs to be done with care because the wood is so dense. Ipê is a very durable and strong wood that has a very wide range of uses, especially for outdoor applications. It is used for making high class furniture, cabinet work, heavy construction, railway sleepers, bridges, hydraulic works, industrial flooring, decking, posts and poles, turnery, musical instruments, tool handles, veneer etc[].

Propagation

Seed -

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