Common Name:

General Information

Ormosia macrocalyx is an evergreen tree that can grow around 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 50cm in diameter; becoming buttressed at the base when large[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use of its 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 - northern Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela; C. America - Panama to southern Mexico.

Habitat

Wet, swampy forests at elevations up to 100 metres[]. Lowland forest along river sides and in periodically inundated land; at elevations up to 700 metres in Peru[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	35.00 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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

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 tree is known as the necklace tree[]. Children in Peru wear bracelets of the seeds to prevent all manner of witchcraft, whilst in Costa Rica wearing the seeds is believed to guard against misfortune and bad luck[].

The heartwood is light brown; it is clearly demarcated from the yellowish white sapwood. The wood is hard and heavy. When freshly cut it has the aroma of pea pods. It is used for general construction and sometimes for making canoes[, ]. It is used for joinery and parquet flooring[].
We do not have any more information on the wood of this species, but a general description for the wood of S. American members of this genus is as follows:-
The heartwood is pinkish to reddish, mostly salmon-coloured, sometimes yellowish-brown, more or less streaked; it is not always distinct from the yellowish sapwood. The texture is coarse to very coarse; the grain mostly irregular; lustre usually medium; it feels harsh; there is no distinctive odour or taste. The wood is generally reported to be quite susceptible to attack by decay fungi; it is vulnerable to dry-wood termites, and prone to powder-post beetle attack
(sapwood). It generally air dries very slowly; checking and warp vary from slight to moderate. For most species, the wood is reported to saw and machine easily, with fair to good results; surfaces, however, are somewhat rough and difficult to finish. It is used for furniture components, interior construction, general carpentry, and utility veneer[].

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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