Ormosia sumatrana
(Miq.) Prain
Fabaceae
Macrotropis sumatrana Miq.
Ormosia microsperma Baker
Common Name:
General Information
Ormosia sumatrana is an evergreen tree growing up to 20 metres tall.
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally.
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
Range
Southeast Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.
Habitat
Lowland forest[
334- Title
- Flora of Peninsula Malaysia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.tfbc.frim.gov.my
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- In the process of being assembled (15/07/09), it is currently a series of check sheets giving species name, brief description, habitat and high quality photos of the plants.
].
Properties
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 20.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
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 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 wood is hard but not durable[
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.
]. It is used for floors and the beams of native houses[
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.
].
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.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
