The treatment of the genus Lonchocarpus has presented difficulties to the botanists and is still not entirely settled. We are following the treatment in the 'Flora do Brasil', based on the treatment TOZZI, A.M.G.A. 1989. Estudos taxonômicos dos gêneros Lonchocarpus Kunth e Deguelia Aubl. No Brasil. Tese de Doutorado. Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas. 341 pp.[].

Common Name:

General Information

Lonchocarpus cultratus is a semideciduous tree with a tall, open, pyramidal crown; it can grow 10 - 18 metres tall. The bole can be 40 - 50cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. A fast-growing species, it is a good pioneer species for use when restoring woodland.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Colombia.

Habitat

Broadleaved semideciduous forests, growing mainly in open and secondary growth areas and only occasionally in the dense forest[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils, including both poor and dry soils[].
A fast-growing tree, able to reach a height of 3.5 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

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing natural pioneer species that succeeds in poor and dry soils and fixes atmospheric nitrogen, it can be used in replanting schemes for restoring native woodlands and can also be used to establish woodland gardens[, ].

Other Uses

The wood is moderately heavy, hard, compact, easily polished and with moderate resistance to the attacks of wood-eating organisms[]. It can be used for internal purposes in house construction, lathe work etc[].
We have no more information on the wood of this species. However, we have a general description of the wood for members of this genus, which is as follows:-
The heartwood is yellowish-brown to dark reddish-brown, striped with rather fine uniform parenchyma laminations of a lighter colour; it is sharply demarcated from the thick band of yellowish sapwood. The texture is moderately coarse; the grain straight to irregular or interlocked; lustre is low to medium; there is no distinctive odour or taste. Durability varies considerably with the species. Seasoning also varies with species, the drying rate can be rather slow to rather
rapid. It is reported to dry satisfactorily without excessive distortion or shrinkage if dried slowly. In spite of its hardness, the wood is not particularly difficult to work; smooth planing, however, is difficult because of interlocked grain. It is used for purposes such as heavy construction, flooring, furniture components etc. Durable species have been suggested for railroad crossties[].
L. Castilloi reported to be very resistant to fungus and insect attack; L. hedyosmus, moderately resistant; and L. sericeus, susceptible to attack.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A high germination rate can usually be expected from fresh seed, with the seed sprouting within 10 - 20 days[]. When the seedbed-sown seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out less than 5 months later[].
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order 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[].

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