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Useful Tropical Plants

Macrolobium bifolium

(Aubl.) Pers.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Macrolobium elegans Miq.

Macrolobium hymenaeoides Willd.

Macrolobium stamineum G.Mey.

Macrolobium vuapa J.F.Gmel.

Vouapa bifolia Aubl.

Vouapa staminea (G.Mey.) DC.

Vuapa bifolia (Aubl.) J.St.Hilaire

Common Name: Ipê

Macrolobium bifolium
Drawing of the leaves, flowers and seedpods
Photograph by: Aublet, F. , Histoire des plantes de la Guiane Franc?oise, vol. 3: t. 7 (1775)
Creative Commons License

General Information

Macrolobium bifolium is a deciduous tree with a large, dense, roundish crown; it can grow 5 - 18 metres tall[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
,
1530
Title
O gênero Macrolobium Schreb. (Leguminosae) no estado do Amapá, Brasil
Publication
Iheringia, Série Botânica, Porto Alegre, 72(2):267-275, 31 de agosto de 2017
Author
Félix-da-Silva et al.
Website
http://10.21826/2446-8231201772213
Publisher
 
Year
2017
ISBN
2446-8231
Description
 
]. The bole can be unbranched for more than half its height and up to 35cm in diameter[
492
Title
Timbers of British Guiana
Publication
 
Author
Stone H.: Freeman W.G.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
The Crown Agents for the Colonies: London.
Year
1914
ISBN
 
Description
A guide to the woods of Guiana, though there is no description of the plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It is grown as a pioneer species for restoring degraded land, and is also planted as a shade tree along beaches of white sand[
1529
Title
Macrolobium Schreb. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae) na Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, Pará, Brasil
Publication
Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Ciências Naturais 8(1): 75-93. 2012
Author
Félix-Da-Silva, M.M., M.N.C. Bastos & E.S.C. Gurgel
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
 
Description
 
]..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1530
Title
O gênero Macrolobium Schreb. (Leguminosae) no estado do Amapá, Brasil
Publication
Iheringia, Série Botânica, Porto Alegre, 72(2):267-275, 31 de agosto de 2017
Author
Félix-da-Silva et al.
Website
http://10.21826/2446-8231201772213
Publisher
 
Year
2017
ISBN
2446-8231
Description
 

Range

S. America - northern Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Habitat

Rainforests and gallery forests, most commonly in the more open, secondary formations, usually in areas subject to seasonal inundation; favouring moist to swampy, fertile soils near rivers and also found in white sand beaches on river margins[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitDeciduous Tree
Height7.50 m
Growth RateMedium
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details


Succeeds in full sun to moderate shade[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. Prefers a moist to wet, fertile soil, though it also succeeds when planted in white, infertile sands[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
,
1529
Title
Macrolobium Schreb. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae) na Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, Pará, Brasil
Publication
Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Ciências Naturais 8(1): 75-93. 2012
Author
Félix-Da-Silva, M.M., M.N.C. Bastos & E.S.C. Gurgel
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
Young plants have a moderate rate of growth[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
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

The bark has medicinal properties[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
,
1530
Title
O gênero Macrolobium Schreb. (Leguminosae) no estado do Amapá, Brasil
Publication
Iheringia, Série Botânica, Porto Alegre, 72(2):267-275, 31 de agosto de 2017
Author
Félix-da-Silva et al.
Website
http://10.21826/2446-8231201772213
Publisher
 
Year
2017
ISBN
2446-8231
Description
 
].
We have no further information, but a decoction of the bark of the related Macrolobium angustifolium is used internally and externally to treat fevers[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is recommended as a pioneer species for planting in disturbed and degraded areas[
1529
Title
Macrolobium Schreb. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae) na Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, Pará, Brasil
Publication
Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Ciências Naturais 8(1): 75-93. 2012
Author
Félix-Da-Silva, M.M., M.N.C. Bastos & E.S.C. Gurgel
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Other Uses

The heartwood is light red; it is sharply demarcated from the about 5cm wide band of dirty pinkish-grey sapwood. Texture is medium to coarse; the grain straight. The wood is moderately heavy, soft, and of low durability. It is easy to work, with moderate mechanical properties; has a tendency to split and so takes nails badly; planes easily but badly; polishes moderately well. It is only used locally for purposes such as general construction, making boxes, tool handles etc[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
,
492
Title
Timbers of British Guiana
Publication
 
Author
Stone H.: Freeman W.G.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
The Crown Agents for the Colonies: London.
Year
1914
ISBN
 
Description
A guide to the woods of Guiana, though there is no description of the plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in individual containers. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 40 days[
420
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-15-1
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Macrolobium+bifolium>

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