Common Name: Copperpod

General Information

Peltophorum pterocarpum is a fast-growing evergreen tree with a dense, spreading, umbrella-shaped crown[, ]. It usually reaches a height of 15 - 24 metres, although it has been known to reach 50 metres. The straight, cylindrical bole is sometimes buttressed, it can be 50 - 100cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It can be grown as a hedge and is also planted as a pioneer species for restoring native woodland. A very beautiful and elegant ornamental tree, it is widely cultivated, both for ornament and shade, throughout its natural range, and also in many other areas of the tropics[, ]. The beautiful golden-yellow flowers may be used as cut flowers[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Australia.

Habitat

Preferring open or disturbed forest conditions, it is frequently found along beaches and in mangrove forests, especially the inner margins of mangroves[]. It is also found growing wild in Imperata grassland fields and teak forests[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist to wet tropics, where it is usually found at elevations below 100 metres but can occasionally be found up to 1,600 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 27 - 36°c, but can tolerate 10 - 40°c[]. Plants have been known to survive occasional low temperatures down to -5°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 4,000mm[]. It thrives best under more or less seasonal conditions with a dry season of 1 - 3 months[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. The tree prefers light to medium free draining alkaline soils although it also tolerates clay soils[]. Plants can tolerate moderate levels of salt in the soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.3 - 7.3[].
A fast-growing tree, attaining a height of 9 metres in 3 years and flowering when around 4 years old[]. Agroforestry trials in south Sumatra with hedgerows spaced at 4 metre intervals and cut 2 - 4 times a year indicated that, over a 3-year period, an average pruning yield of 8 tons/ha was possible[]. The umbrella-shaped crowns which developed following cutting allowed little light to reach the ground[].
After the first year of establishment, little effort is needed to maintain plantations[]. Stands will usually survive, even with thick ground cover, such as Imperata or other tall grasses[].
The tree has a deep root system[].
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

The bark contains tannins[]. In traditional medicine it is used as an astringent to cure or relieve intestinal disorders after pain at childbirth, sprains, bruises and swelling or as a lotion for eye troubles, muscular pains and sores[]. It is also used for gargles and tooth powders[].


An antifungal principle is present in the leaflets and buds[].
The flowers contain a flavanone glycoside pigment, naringenin 7-glucoside[]. An alcoholic extract from the flowers has an anti-inflammatory effect and an antibacterial activity[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree has a dense, spreading crown and so is widely appreciated for providing shade[]. It is planted as a shade tree in coffee and cacao plantations[] and is used in shelterbelts because it is wind firm[].
It has been tested in rotational alley-cropping/fallow systems in Sumatra, where it shows promise[]. Young trees are often planted in an intercropping system with mahogany or Tectona grandis303, ].
A fast-growing tree that fixes atmospheric nitrogen, it has potential use for reforestation and is used as a source of green manure[]. It can be used for the reforestation of wastelands that are heavily infested with the grass Imperata cylindrica[].
The tree can be used as a hedge[].

Other Uses

The bark furnishes a yellowish brown dye, which serves the dyeing of cotton and batik products[]. The bark has been an important component of the dark or black 'soga' dye in Java (where it is mixed with the bark of Ceriops tagal, the wood of Maclura cochinchinensis and other ingredients), which is used for batik work[, ].
The dye, derived from the heart wood, is applied in the textile industry[].

The bark contains 11 - 21% tannin, which is of the proanthocyanidin type[]. It is used for preserving and dyeing fishing nets[]. The wood and leaves contain smaller amounts of tannin[].

The sapwood is greyish-white, turning grey-brown on aging, the heartwood is light reddish-brown or black[]. The wood is moderately hard, moderately heavy, and somewhat lustrous, with a straight to interlocking grain[]. It is easily worked and is used locally for light construction purposes, boat building, cabinet making, sawn or hewn building timbers, wood ware, woodcarving and marquetry[, ].
The tree is used as fuel wood[].

Propagation

Seed. Untreated seeds need several months to germinate[] - germination is hastened by scarifying one end of the hard seed coat, softening the seed coat in dilute acid, or immersing the seed in boiling water for 2 minutes followed by soaking it in cold water for one night[]. Germination has been recorded at 78%[]. Seedlings are best raised in the nursery for one year before transplanting to the field[].
Grafts or cuttings may be used to obtain better uniformity for roadside trees. Wildings have also been successfully used for planting[].

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