Common Name: Pau Brasil

General Information

Paubrasilia echinata is a rather slow-growing, much-branched, spiny, evergreen shrub or small tree with a large rounded crown; it can grow up to 12 metres tall, but usually rather smaller[]. There are reports that trees of up to 30 metres tall used to exist, but human activity would have felled these[]. The erect bole can be 40 - 70cm in diameter[].
The tree is commonly gathered from the wild and used locally as a medicinal and dye plant, and as a source of a good quality timber[]. This species has been exploited, primarily as a dye plant, for over 500 years since the Europeans first came to S. America. Indeed, the country Brazil was named after this plant. The red dye obtained from the wood was a major source of trade until largely replaced by synthetic coal tar dyes in the middle of the 19th century[].
Prolonged habitat destruction and over exploitation have left the tree rare and endangered in the wild, though it is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental and barrier plant[]. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - eastern and northeastern Brazil.

Habitat

Arid limestone thickets[]. Littoral forest and woodland, generally on sandy or sand-clay soils that are well drained, preferring open less dense forest, frequently in dry high, escarpments[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a well-drained, alkaline soil and a position in full sun[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[]. Plants are fairly tolerant of salt-laden winds[].
A moderately fast-growing tree, reaching a height of up to 2 metres within 2 years from seed[].
Plants begin to flower when around 3 - 4 years of age[].
The development of heartwood in plantation trees is considerably faster than in the wild; the DBH of a 17 year old plantation tree compares with a 70 year old tree in the wild[]. The quality of wood from plantations is, apparently, not suitable for making violin bows and consequently there is a lack of interest in growing the species in plantation[].
The flowers are very attractive to bees[].
Trees in the wild are frequently covered with orchids and other epiphytes[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
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

A charcoal made from the powdered bark is infused and used to treat diarrhoea in children[].

The wood is odontalgic and tonic[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be trimmed to keep them small and dense[]. This gives them potential for use as barrier plants[].

Other Uses

An infusion of the pods, mixed with iron sulphate, yields a permanent black dye[].
A red dye is obtained from the wood[]. It becomes purplish when mixed with alkalis and yellow if mixed with acids[]. A fiery red colour, the dye was a very important item of trade until virtually replaced with synthetic dyes[].

The heartwood is red-brown to dark brown; it is clearly differentiated from the thin layer of sapwood. The wood is fine-grained, very tough, hard, heavy and very durable[, , ]. Very dense, it sinks in water, is easy to split and to polish[]. Of high value, the wood is used for turnery, ship building and making musical instruments[, ]. It is particularly valued for making bows for violins[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 - 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in individual containers. A germination rate in excess of 60% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 8 - 15 days[]. When the seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 4 - 5 months later[].
Seeds must be sown fresh, they fail to germinate after storage for 30 days[].
Softwood cuttings in sand in a frame[].

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