The name of this species is not universally accepted, with some authorities recognising it as Derris hedyosma (Miq.) J.F.Macbr., and treating Lonchocarpus hedyosmus as a synonym[].

Common Name:

General Information

Lonchocarpus hedyosmus is a tree. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for up to 20 metres with low buttresses[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its tough and durable wood, which is traded[].

Known Hazards

Macerated roots are used as a fish poison[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - northern Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Honduras.

Habitat

Rain forests and marshy forests on alluvial flats[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is yellowish-brown when freshly cut, darkening to dark brown, striped with rather fine uniform parenchyma laminations of a lighter colour; it is sharply demarcated from the 5cm band of grey to lemon-yellow sapwood. The texture is moderately coarse; the grain straight to irregular or interlocked; lustre is medium; there is no distinctive odour or taste. The wood is very tough and resilient; it is durable, being very resistant to fungal and some insect attack but not very resistant to termites or toredo. It seasons well when it is dried slowly, dring satisfactorily without excessive distortion or shrinkage. In spite of its hardness, the wood is not particularly difficult to work; smooth planing, however, is difficult because of interlocked grain; it takes nails and screws poorly; turns, paints and polishes well. It is used for purposes such as heavy construction, flooring, furniture components etc, and has been suggested for railroad crossties[].

Propagation

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 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[].

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