Common Name:

General Information

Lecythis lurida is an evergreen tree with a dense, pyramid-shaped crown; it can grow 20 - 30 metres tall. The straight, usually cylindrical bole can be 40 - 60cm in diameter with a thick and deeply fissured bark[].
The plant yields a very good, durable timber and is often harvested from the wild for trade.
Although the species is wide-ranging, its habitat has undergone serious deterioration and declines. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - northern Brazil.

Habitat

Areas in the Amazon rainforest that are not usually subject to inundation, usually in dense primary formations, occasionally in more open areas[]. Fertile soils in upland forests[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Young plants require some shade, though they become more tolerant of light as they get older[].
Young trees have a moderate rate of growth, perhaps reaching a height of 2.5 metres within 2 years from seed[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The fresh heartwood is light brown to blood-red in colour, becoming salmon-pink to brownish-red when dry; the 6 - 7cm wide band of sapwood is yellowish-cream. The texture is uniformly fine; the grain straight; lustre is low; there is no distinctive odour or taste. The wood is heavy, hard, with good mechanical properties and good durability even when exposed to the elements. In laboratory tests the wood is rated very durable in resistance to brown-rot and white-rot fungi, but is low in resistance to marine borers. The wood is easy to season, air drying rapidly with only slight warp and
surface checking. It is moderately difficult to work because of its high density, but smooth surfaces are obtained in sawing, planing, and boring. No pronounced dulling of cutting edges was reported. The wood is used particularly for outdoor purposes requiring toughness such as railroad ties (which are reported to last 10 - 12 years on well-drained soil in Brazil), heavy construction, poles, stakes etc; it is also used in carpentry and, because of its outstanding shock resistance, should be suitable for handle stock and other applications requiring toughness[, ].

Propagation

Seed - it has a very short viability and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in individual containers. A germination rate in excess of 60% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 40 days[]. The seedlings grow away slowly, but they should be ready to plant out 7 - 9 months later[].

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