Common Name:

General Information

Lysiloma auritum is a deciduous shrub or tree with heavy branching and an open, spreading crown; it usually grows 3 - 15 metres tall, occasionally reaching 20 metres[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of wood. It was at one time harvested commercially as a source of wood for railway ties[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central America - northern Costa Rica, north to southern Mexico

Habitat

Valleys and hillsides in cutover areas and degraded dry forest, as well as in primary mixed pine and oak forest; at elevations from 420 - 1,600 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Lysiloma species are generally adaptable to a range of soils[].
The flowers are sweetly scented[].
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

Other Uses

The sapwood is a peach/pink colour with a faint, sweet smell[]. The wood is used for construction, railway ties and posts[, ].
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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