Common Name: Lapacho Amarillo

General Information

Handroanthus lapacho is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 25 metres tall according to some reports[], though in others it is generally only 8 - 12 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its timber
Handroanthus lapacho is threatened by overexploitation for timber and high levels of habitat loss with threats including agricultural expansion, development, roads and increasing frequency of fires. 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 - northwest Argentina, Bolivia

Habitat

Subhumid forests on montane slopes and well-drained soils; at elevations from 950 - 2,000 metres, but mainly at 1,400 - 1,750 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	20.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

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

The wood is used for construction, making poles, sleepers, pitchforks, columns of houses, truck bodies etc[].

We have no further 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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