Ormosia coarctata
Jacks.
Fabaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Ormosia coarctata is an evergreen tree with an umbrella-shaped crown; it can grow around 30 metres tall. The cylindrical bole can be free of branches for most of its height[
749- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Vol. 32
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rudd V.E.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1968
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Monographs of several species in the family Fabaceae, including the Ormosia that occur in the Americas. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood.
Known Hazards
The plants, but especially the seed and perhaps also the bark, of many if not all species in this genus contain alkaloids and are toxic[
864- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 21
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Botanical Museum; Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Year
- 1963 - 1967
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of botanical articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Botanical References
749- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Vol. 32
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rudd V.E.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1968
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Monographs of several species in the family Fabaceae, including the Ormosia that occur in the Americas. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; Caribbean - Trinidad.
Habitat
Rocky, riverine islands[
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]. Humid montane forests and forests in plains in Bolivia[
363- Title
- Technical Information on 134 Species of Bolivian Woods
- Publication
-
- Author
- USDA Forest Service -- Forest Products Lab
- Website
- http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/publications/
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A PDF file, available for download. Exactly what the title says, brief and to the point.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 25.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
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
The seeds are placed in a fire and the smoke allowed to bathe the genitals of men and women suffering from gonorrhoea[
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
].
Other Uses
We have seen no specific reports for this species, but the brightly coloured seeds of various members of this genus are so commonly used as beads that the various species are often called necklace trees[
520- Title
- Botanical Beads
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith R.J.
- Website
- http://www.botanicalbeads.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A website looking at seeds that are used for ornament. It is based on a book that the author had written.
].
The heartwood is yellow-reddish; it is distinctly demarcated from the pale brown sapwood. The grain is interlocked, lustre bright, odour absent to slightly aromatic, taste indistinct. The wood is durable, resisting the attacks of insects and fungi. It is easy to work and finishes well. It is used in construction, for door and window frames, furniture and flooring[
363- Title
- Technical Information on 134 Species of Bolivian Woods
- Publication
-
- Author
- USDA Forest Service -- Forest Products Lab
- Website
- http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/publications/
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A PDF file, available for download. Exactly what the title says, brief and to the point.
].
Propagation
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
