Common Name:

General Information

Luetzelburgia bahiensis can be a deciduous shrub that is profusely branched from the base and growing around 1.5 metres tall, or can becom a tree with a globose crown that can grow 4 - 10 metres tall. The short bole, often with branches down to ground level, can be 15 - 25cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. Very ornamental when in flower, it has been recommended for urban landscaping in semi-arid areas[].
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - eastern and northeastern Brazil.

Habitat

More or less open areas in semi-arid forests and scrubland, favouring sandy soils; at elevations from 200 - 700 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Luetzelburgia bahiensis is a plant of the 'Caatinga' dry forest region of northeast Brazil. The climate is hot and dry, there are usually 6 to 11 months without rain each year. The mean annual rainfall varies from 250 - 1,000mm, and the mean annual temperature is from 24 - 26°c.
Requires a sunny position[]. A plant of well-drained, dry sandy soils in the wild, where it also grows on rocky soils and limestome[, ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A slow-growing plant, even when young[].
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

None known

Other Uses

The oil-rich seeds are used to make soap in some rural areas of the semi-arid region of north-eastern Brazil[]. The seeds are 19 - 25mm long, 10 - 12mm wide, 5 - 7mm thick[].

The wood is medium-textured, irregular-grained, moderately heavy, hard to cut, with a slight susceptibility to wood-eating organisms. It is generally to small for many purposes and is used mainly as stakes[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate of more than 80% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 15 - 25 days[].

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