Common Name: Ipê Caraiba

General Information

Handroanthus ochraceus is a deciduous tree with a wide spreading crown; it usually grows around 4 - 12 metres tall, but can reach 25 metres. The bole is often gnarled and twisted; it can be 30 - 50cm in diameter[, , ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood and a dyestuff. A very handsome tree when in bloom, it is frequently used in landscaping[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, through C. America to Honduras.

Habitat

Savannah and semideciduous forests, occurring mainly in secondary growth areas; at elevations up to 1,600 metres[, ].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position[]. Well adapted to well-drained and dry soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Newly planted young trees usually grow away fairly well, reaching a height of around 2.5 metres within 2 years[].

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.

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is suitable for planting in reclaimed and protected areas[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood[]. This could be a misidentification, since the record cites Tabebuia ipe as a synonym, when in fact it is a synonym of Handroanthus heptophyllus[].

The wood is very heavy, mechanically resistant, very durable even under unfavourable conditions[]. It is very hard to cut[]. It is used for various outdoor purposes such as railway sleepers, poles, posts etc. Indoors, it is used for panelling, door frames, parquet flooring, lathe work, wooden balls for bowling, musical instruments, tool handles etc[].

Most species of Handroanthus, almost certainly including this one, produce a very hard, heavy and durable timber kMost species of Handroanthus, almost certainly including this one, produce a very hard, heavy and durable timber known collectively as 'Ipê' and widely traded under that name. 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 - viability is less than 90 days[]. It is best to sow the seed as soon as it is ripe in a semi-shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers[]. Germination rates in excess of 80% can be expected from fresh seed, with germination taking place in 10 - 15 days[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual containers when they are 3 - 5cm tall. Young plants grow away quickly and should be ready to plant out within 5 months[].

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