Common Name: Brazilian Ironwood

General Information

Libidibia ferrea is an evergreen tree with a wide, flat-topped crown; it can grow 10 - 15 metres tall. The short and usually crooked bole can be 40 - 60cm in diameter[].
The tree yields a very high quality wood and is heavily harvested from the wild for both local use and trade. It also has a range of local medicinal uses and can be planted in reforestation programmes. A rather ornamental tree, particularly valued for its ornamental bark, it is suitable for planting along the sides of streets[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - east and northeast Brazil.

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest and the dry land forest of northeast Brazil, favouring valley bottoms subject to seasonal flooding and is also found in lowland areas in the dry land forest[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Trees have a moderate rate of growth, reaching a height of around 2.5 metres within 2 years from seed[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The roots are astringent and febrifuge[].

A decoction of the wood is anticatarrhal and vulnerary[].

The roots and stem bark are used in the treatment of diabetes[, ].

A decoction of the stem bark and fruit is used as a cicatrizant and, in large quantities, as an abortifacient[].

The inner bark contains tannins and is astringent and antiinflammatory[]. An infusion is used for treating sores and for treating chronic coughs and asthma[].

Pharmacological studies have shown antitumor activity in this species[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fairly fast-growing tree that is tolerant of full sun and also fixes atmospheric nitrogen, it can be used as a pioneer when establishing native woodland or woodland gardens[, ].

Other Uses

An aqueous extract of the seeds produced 85% mortality in third stage mosquito larvae of Aedes aegypti[].

The wood varies in colour from red through brown to almost black. It is very heavy, hard, rigid, compact and very durable. A high quality timber, it is used for various external purposes including construction, fence posts, pillars, beams etc; it is also used for internal construction, general joinery, tool handles etc[, ].
The wood is a very good quality fuel and also makes a very good charcoal with a high calorific value[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up 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 seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate in excess of 60% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 7 - 15 days[]. When the seedlings are 4 - 5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 8 - 9 months later[].
The seed has a viability in excess of 8 months in store[].

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