Common Name:

General Information

Leptolobium dasycarpum is a semideciduous tree with a small, sparse crown; it can grow 4 - 6 metres tall. The crooked bole can be 20 - 30cm in diameter with a corky bark[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It can be used as a pioneer when restoring native woodland or establishing a woodland garden. A small tree that is very ornamental when in bloom, it can be used in landscaping and for planting in narrow streets and under power lines[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - central and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Savannah and its transition to forest, mainly in open, secondary formations, favouring clay soils of low fertility on gentle slopes[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position[]. Found in the wild on well-drained, clay soils of low fertility[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The inner bark is strongly bitter, sedative and mildly soporific. It is also used in the treatment of epilepsy[]. The bark has similar properties to Leptolobium elegans, but is milder in its effect[].

The inner bark contains alkaloids, lupeol and a pyrone derivative[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A natural pioneer species, it can be used in planting schemes for restoring native woodland and establishing woodland gardens[].

Other Uses

The heartwood and sapwood are clearly demarcated. The wood is medium-textured, moderately heavy, hard, with good mechanical properties and moderately durable even when exposed to the elements. Because of its small size, the wood is only used for purposes such as light cabinet making, lathe work and making small decorative items[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the treated seed in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can be expected if the seed is untreated, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 40 days[]. When the seedlings are 5 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 6 months later[].

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