Common Name:

General Information

Handroanthus guayacan is a deciduous tree with a narrow or rounded crown, that can grow up to 60 metres tall, though is usually no more than 40 metres. The straight, cylindrical bole, which often has low but prominent buttresses, can be 60cm in diameter 9up to 200cm in some reports) and free of branches for 12 - 15 metres[, , , ].
The tree yields a very good quality timber that is traded internationally. Where space permits, the tree is often planted as an ornamental, being valued especially for its flowering display.
Handroanthus guayacan is a widespread, abundant species that is not currently known to be significantly threatened. However, it is a source of the valuable timber Ipê, and so its situation needs to be monitored. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[].

Known Hazards

The sawdust may cause dermatitis, disturbance of vision and shortness of breath in some workers[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Northern S. America - Colombia; through Central America to Mexico.

Habitat

Coastal rainforests[]. Wet to rather dry forest, often in open places, at elevations up to 1,200 metres[]. Virgin forests and on mountain slopes[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	40.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of mainly moist areas in the lowland tropics, though it can also be found at elevations up to 1,200 metres[].
Plants are tolerant of salt-laden winds[].
This species is closely related to Handroanthus chrysanthus[].

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

The heartwood is olive-brown to reddish-brown, often with lighter or darker fine striping, sometimes tinged with red; rather sharply demarcated from the creamy-white or yellowish sapwood which is 50 - 75mm wide[]. The appearance is frequently oily; yellow-green deposits of lapachol are abundant; the lustre is low to medium; the grain typically interlocked producing a fine, stripe figure on quarter-sawn surfaces; the texture is fine to medium, moderately uniform[]. The wood is hard, dense, durable, resistant to insect attack, resilient and highly resistant to shock[, ]. It is reported to be rather difficult to work and inclined to splinter, but it finishes very smoothly, turns well and polishes nicely. It is difficult to glue and pre-boring is necessary before nailing[]. The wood is highly esteemed where available, and is considered excellent for construction purposes, especially where durability is important[]. It is also used for boats, tool handles etc[].
The Cathedral of Panama Vieja contained beams of this wood, and these were reported to be perfectly sound after having been exposed to the weather since the destruction of the city some 250 years previously[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood[].
Air layering[].

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