Common Name:

General Information

Luehea candicans is a semideciduous tree with a dense, oblong crown; it can grow 8 - 12 metres tall. The short, cylindrical bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its wood. It can be used as a pioneer when restoring native woodland. An attractive tree, valued especially for its floral display and dense crown, it is suitable for use in landscaping[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela.

Habitat

Broadleaved, semideciduous forests, growing in open, secondary formations; favouring well-drained sandy soils[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Found in the wild in well-drained, sandy soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Young plants have a moderate rate of growth, able to reach heights of up to 2.5 metres within 2 years from seed[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has a moderate rate of growth, succeeding in bare soils and in sunny positions; it is suitable for use as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland[].

Other Uses

The heartwood and sapwood are not clearly differentiated. The wood is medium-textured, straight-grained, moderately heavy, hard, with a low resistance to the attacks of wood-eating organisms. It is used in making chairs, yokes, wooden shoes, simple furniture, shoe heels, boxes, rafters, laths etc[].
We do not have any more information on the wood of this species, but a general description of the wood of this genus is as follows:-
The heartwood is brown or brownish, sometimes with a pinkish tinge, and more or less streaked; it is not clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The texture is fine to medium; the grain straight to finely roey; lustre varies from low to fairly high; there is no distinctive odour or taste. It is not very durable, being vulnerable to attack by decay fungi and insects. It air dries rapidly with little or no degrade. The wood is reported to be easy to work, though one member of the genus is said to be difficult to plane, and another is difficult to turn. It is used for low value items such as millwork, furniture components, flooring, general construction, boxes and crates, veneer and plywood, particleboard, and shoe heels[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A moderate germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 40 days[]. When the seedlings are 3 - 5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 6 - 7 months later[].
The seed has a viability in excess of 90 days in storage[].

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