Common Name: Ipê da Serra,

General Information

Handroanthus umbellatus is a deciduous tree with a spreading crown usually growing 10 - 15 metres tall with some reports of trees reaching a height of 25 metres. The bole can be 40 - 50cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its useful wood. It is also sometimes used in reforestation projects. A very ornamental tree, valued especially for its exuberant flowering[].
Handroanthus umbellatus has a wide distribution and, although it has a valuable wood, it does not appear to be under threat at the moment. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - southern and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Primary and secondary formations in the Atlantic forest or the very humid plains of the sea coast, occurring in moist or wet soils and in areas of periodic inundation; ast elevations up to 760 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.50 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a sunny position[]. Requires a moist to wet soil[].
Young plants have a moderate rate of growth, reaching a height of around 2.5 metres after 2 years[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark is astringent[]. It is used in the treatment of mouth and throat disorders[].

We have no further 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:

Although somewhat slow growing, the tree is suitable for use in reforestation projects in swampy areas and gallery forests[].

Other Uses

The wood is fine-textured, even-grained, with a lustrous and smooth surface, heavy, hard, with good mechanical properties and highly durable, even when exposed to the elements[]. It is used for outdoor work such as railway sleepers, beams for bridges, fence posts, poles, parquet flooring etc[].

Most 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 - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A germination rate in excess of 60% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 4 - 8 days[]. When the seedbed-sown seedlings are 3 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 4 - 5 months later[].
The seed has a viability of less than 4 months in storage[].

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