Common Name:

General Information

Handroanthus chrysotrichus is a deciduous tree with a rounded crown growing about 10 metres tall[]. The bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its good quality wood and for local medicinal uses. It is also often grown as an ornamental and street tree, being valued for its floral display and also particularly useful for planting in narrow streets and under electric cables[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, southern and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Open areas in rainforests, most commonly found in areas of secondary growth in well-drained soils on hillsides[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position[].
Freshly planted young trees grow away reasonably well[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark is used as a treatment against syphilis[].

Other Uses

The wood is heavy, with good mechanical properties, of high natural durability even under adverse circumstances[]. Easy to saw, it is used for outdoor purposes such as posts, poles, bridges etc and for indoor purposes such as parquet and flooring boards, skirting frames etc[].

Most species of Handroanthus, almost certainly including this one, produce a very hard, heavy and durable timber known as Ipe. The general description of Ipe wood 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 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 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. A very durable and strong wood, it 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, posts and poles, turnery, musical instruments, tool handles, veneer etc[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a semi-shaded position in a nursery seedbed[]. Germination rates in excess of 60% can be expected, with the seeds sprouting in 8 - 14 days[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual containers when they are 5 - 6cm tall. Growth is fairly good and the plants should be ready for planting out in less than 5 months[].

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