Common Name:

General Information

Lysiloma divaricatum is a deciduous shrub or a tree with heavy branching and an open, spreading crown; it can grow 8 - 15 metres tall, the short bole can be 90cm in diameter[, , ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine, a source of wood (which is an excellent fuel), and for its tannin-rich bark. It used to be harvested on a commercial basis as a source of wood for railway ties[]. It is often cultivated in agroforestry systems in Mesoamerica[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central America - northern Costa Rica to western Mexico and southern Arizona.

Habitat

Wooded, rocky, stream banks or on dry brushy hillsides; at elevations from 300 - 1,700 metres in Guatemala[]. Dry, deciduous and mixed pine forests and occasionally in forest scrub with Cactaceae; at elevations from 40 - 1,750 metres[].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Lysiloma divaricatum is a plant of moist to semi-arid regions of the tropics, where it is found at low to medium elevations.
Succeeds on a range of soil types[]. It is found in the wild on volcanic soils and sandy clays[].
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

The seeds are roasted, ground into a flour, and made into atole (a traditional Mexican beverage)[], which is any ground seed mixed with milk or water.

Medicinal

The bark is a source of tannins and is astringent. A decoction is applied topically to treat wounds and sores[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Lysiloma divaricatum is widely planted in Agroforestry systems in central America where it is valued as a source of wood, organic matter (the leaves are used as green manure) and its ability to enrich the soil with nitrogen[].

Other Uses

The bark is a source of tannins[, ].

The sapwood is pink to blood red[]. The wood is very hard, strong and durable[, ]. It is used for railway ties, construction, lumber and posts[, , ].
The wood is an excellent fuel[]
We have no further 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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