Common Name:

General Information

Ormosia coutinhoi is an evergreen tree that can grow to 60 metres or more tall[].
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[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, the Guyanas.

Habitat

A canopy or emergent tree in rain forest, 'igapo', swampy flats, sandy banks, and hill slopes, at elevations up to about 400 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	50.00 m
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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Infusion of boiled bark used to induce sweating[].
Bark of trunk is crushed into pieces and made into a decoction used as a body-rub or vapour bath to remedy fever[]. The inner bark is applied to joints to ease rheumatic aches and pains[].

The seed is used for a toothache remedy[]. Seeds are used to induce sweating and for treating rheumatism[].

The plant contains quinolizidinic alkaloids[].

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[].

The heartwood is yellow-brown to red-brown, with thin light brown streaks; it is clearly demarcated from the 3 - 15cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is coarse, grain interlocked. The wood is fairly hard to hard, moderately heavy, with good elasticity, moderately durable, and resistant to damage from fungi, dry wood borers and termites. It is slow to dry with a slight risk of checking and distortion, and is moderately stable to poorly stable in service. The wood generally is easy to work and takes a high polish, though there are sometimes diffiulties due to the interlocked grain, surfaces are slightly fuzzy and finishing requires care. Peeling and slicing are good, it takes nails and screws well and glues correctly. It is used for furniture, flooring, joinery, heavy carpentry, panelling, veneer and turnery[, ].

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[].

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