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Useful Tropical Plants

Lysiloma latisiliquum

(L.) Benth.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Acacia bahamensis (Benth.) Griseb.

Acacia formosa A.Rich.

Acacia latisiliqua (L.) Willd.

Leucaena latisiliqua (L.) Gillis & Stearn

Lysiloma bahamense Benth.

Lysiloma latisiliqua A.Gray ex Sauvalle

Mimosa latisiliqua L.

Common Name: Wild Tamarind

Lysiloma latisiliquum
Seed pods and leaves
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Lysiloma latisiliquum Lysiloma latisiliquum Lysiloma latisiliquum Lysiloma latisiliquum

General Information

Lysiloma latisiliquum is a moderately fast growing, deciduous tree with an open, spreading crown that can reach a height of 4 - 20 metres[
309
Title
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
Publisher
University of Florida
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
,
1523
Title
Lysiloma (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Mesoamerica
Publication
Kew Bulletin 59. 453-467 (2004)
Author
Gale S.W. & Pennington T.D.
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent review of the Mesoamerican species of Lysiloma with complete botanical descriptions, range, habitats and uses.
]. It has a slender, short bole topped with long, somewhat arching branches to form an umbrella-like silhouette. The plant has a tendency to form more than one trunk[
309
Title
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
Publisher
University of Florida
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally. It is often cultivated in agroforestry systems in Mesoamerica[
1523
Title
Lysiloma (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Mesoamerica
Publication
Kew Bulletin 59. 453-467 (2004)
Author
Gale S.W. & Pennington T.D.
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent review of the Mesoamerican species of Lysiloma with complete botanical descriptions, range, habitats and uses.
]. Developing into a more open tree with age, Wild Tamarind makes an ideal shade, park, or seaside planting and is commonly used as a street tree in Forida.[
309
Title
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
Publisher
University of Florida
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
,
1309
Title
The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
Publication
 
Author
Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin
Year
1981
ISBN
0-333-32221-5
Description
An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
]

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
1523
Title
Lysiloma (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Mesoamerica
Publication
Kew Bulletin 59. 453-467 (2004)
Author
Gale S.W. & Pennington T.D.
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent review of the Mesoamerican species of Lysiloma with complete botanical descriptions, range, habitats and uses.

Range

Central America - Belize, Guatemala, southeastern Mexico the Caribbean and southern Florida.

Habitat

Along the shores of lakes at elevations below 300 metres in Guatemala[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. Hammock, coppice and scrub woodland, mostly on limestone[
1522
Title
Silk Tree, Guanacaste, monkey's Earing: a generic system for the synandrous Mimosaceae of the Americas
Publication
Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden Vol 74 Part 1 pp 1-292, 1996
Author
Barneby R.C.
Publisher
The New York Botanical Garden; New York
Year
1996
ISBN
0-89327-395-3
Description
A detailed treatment of several genera of the Mimosaceae found in N. America and the Caribbean
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitDeciduous Tree
Height15.00 m
Growth RateMedium
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are intolerant of frost[
309
Title
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
Publisher
University of Florida
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
].
Succeeds in full sun or partial shade[
309
Title
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
Publisher
University of Florida
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
]. It is found in the wild predominantly on coastal dunes and limestone soils, though it can grow in most soil types, so long as they are well-drained[
309
Title
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
Publisher
University of Florida
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
,
1523
Title
Lysiloma (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Mesoamerica
Publication
Kew Bulletin 59. 453-467 (2004)
Author
Gale S.W. & Pennington T.D.
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent review of the Mesoamerican species of Lysiloma with complete botanical descriptions, range, habitats and uses.
]. Succeeds in saline soils and is tolerant of salt-laden winds[
309
Title
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
Publisher
University of Florida
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[
309
Title
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
Publisher
University of Florida
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
].
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[
755
Title
Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is a vigorous pioneer species rapidly invading areas after fires or forest clearance. It can be used as a pioneer species for establishing suitable conditions for re-establishing native woodland or establishing a woodland garden[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
The plant is often used in agroforestry in the Caribbean and central America. It is a good source of food for bees, fixes atmospheric nitrogen, enriches the soil and is a good source of wood[
1523
Title
Lysiloma (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Mesoamerica
Publication
Kew Bulletin 59. 453-467 (2004)
Author
Gale S.W. & Pennington T.D.
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent review of the Mesoamerican species of Lysiloma with complete botanical descriptions, range, habitats and uses.
].

Other Uses

A transparent, resinous material exudes from damaged stems[
1523
Title
Lysiloma (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Mesoamerica
Publication
Kew Bulletin 59. 453-467 (2004)
Author
Gale S.W. & Pennington T.D.
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent review of the Mesoamerican species of Lysiloma with complete botanical descriptions, range, habitats and uses.
]. No uses are recorded.

The sapwood is pinkish-cream in colour[
1523
Title
Lysiloma (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Mesoamerica
Publication
Kew Bulletin 59. 453-467 (2004)
Author
Gale S.W. & Pennington T.D.
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent review of the Mesoamerican species of Lysiloma with complete botanical descriptions, range, habitats and uses.
]. The wood is used for building boats, construction etc[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
1523
Title
Lysiloma (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Mesoamerica
Publication
Kew Bulletin 59. 453-467 (2004)
Author
Gale S.W. & Pennington T.D.
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent review of the Mesoamerican species of Lysiloma with complete botanical descriptions, range, habitats and uses.
].
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 heartwood is a lustrous brown with a coppery or purplish tinge, sometimes faintly striped; it is sharply demarcated from the thin white sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight to roey; without distinctive odour or taste. The wood is highly durable; it is considered easy to work; finishes smoothly; and takes a high natural polish[
316
Title
Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
Publication
 
Author
Chudnoff. Martin.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
]. It is used in general construction, for furniture, wheel wright work, parquet, interior trim, bobbins and shuttles, veneer, and knife handles[
316
Title
Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
Publication
 
Author
Chudnoff. Martin.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Lysiloma+latisiliquum>

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