Common Name:

General Information

Lysiloma acapulcense is a deciduous tree with heavy branching and a wide, spreading crown; it usually grows 4 - 12 metres tall, occasionally reaching 20 metres. Often forming dense thickets[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood and tannins. It is grown in agroforestry systems to provide shade and organic material, and has potential for use as a pioneer species for restoring woodland and establishing woodland gardens. It is commonly grown as a street tree in Florida[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

C. America - northwest Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, north to central Mexico

Habitat

Dry, deciduous forest, often on poor, rocky soils; at elevations from 285 - 1,750 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Lysiloma acapulcense is a plant of mainly drier and semi-arid regions of the tropics, growing in deciduous forests and xerophilous scrub at low to moderate elevations[].
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Lysiloma species are generally adaptable to a range of soils[].
The plant is grown as a shade tree[].
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 plant is rich in tannins and is astringent. Its main medicinal use is in the treatment of conditions such as diarrhoea and wounds[].

A decoction of the bark is used to treat diarrhoea and is also said to be useful in treating any stomach discomfort[]. The bark is often combined with other tannin-rich plants such as guamuchil (Pithecellobium dulce), tepehuaje bark (species uncertain), ahuilote buds (Vitex mollis) and a bud of quebra-plato (Solanum nigrum)[].
Applied externally, the decoction is said to be useful for healing wounds and blisters, and is also used as a mouthwash to help firm loose teeth[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant often regenerates freely along roadsides and in degraded woodlands[]. Coupled with its ability to grow on poor soils and also to fix atmospheric nitrogen, it makes this species a potentially very good pioneer species for restoring native woodland and for establishing woodland gardens[].
The leaves are used as a mulch and green manure[].

Other Uses

The bark is a source of tannins[].

A gum which exudes from the bark is used like gum arabic (obtained from Senegalia senegal)[].

The sapwood is a deep pink[]. The wood is used for construction and fenceposts[].
The wood is used for fuel[].
We have no more specific information for the wood of this species, but the following is a general description of wood from trees in this genus:-
The lustrous brown heartwood has a coppery or purplish tinge, sometimes faintly striped; it is sharply demarcated from the thin layer of white sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight to roey; it is without distinctive odour or taste. The heartwood is rated as highly durable. The wood is reported to air-season slowly; kiln-dried boards were prone to surface and end checking. The wood is considered to be easy to work, it finishes smoothly, and takes a high natural polish. It is used for general construction, furniture making, wheel wright work, parquet flooring, interior trim, bobbins and shuttles, veneer, and knife handles[].

Propagation

Seed -

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