Common Name:

General Information

Plathymenia reticulata is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 38 metres tall with a bole up to 90cm in diameter[]. The bole is straight and cylindrical, unbuttressed and clear of branches for up to 24 metres[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber, which is highly valued in Brazil and often sold in markets[]. A very ornamental tree, it is often used in street planting and can be used in reforestation projects[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Surinam.

Habitat

Characteristic of open growth areas in the savannah and where the transition to semideciduous forests occurs[]. It is usually found in well-drained, sandy soils, in both primary and secondary growth areas[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a sunny position, succeeding in poor soils[]. Prefers a well-drained soil[].
Young plants can be slow to establish and develop[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

A pioneer species that succeeds in poor soils, it can be used in reforestation projects[].

Other Uses

An aqueous extract of the seeds produced 82% mortality in third stage mosquito larvae of Aedes aegypti[].

The heartwood is yellow or orange brown, darkening on exposure to deep red-brown and often striped with lighter and darker shades[]. It is well-demarcated from the narrow, yellowish-white sapwood[]. The grain is straight or interlocked; the texture medium to slightly coarse; the odour and taste are not distinct[]. The wood is light; soft to moderately hard and virtually resistant to termite attack[, ]. It seasons readily without serious degrade; works easily with both hand and machine tools; is somewhat difficult to saw but good planed surfaces can be obtained. It finishes very smoothly and polishes well after filling. It takes and holds nails and screws well[]. The wood is used for cabinet making, furniture, general carpentry, indoor finishing in buildings, decorative veneer etc[, ].

Propagation

Seed - fresh seed, sown immediately, does not require pre-treatment, although scarification might increase germination rates[]. Sow in semi-shade in a nursery bed, covering the seed with a thin layer of soil[]. Germination rates are normally low, with less than 20% germinating in 10 - 30 days[]. Seedlings grow away slowly, but are ready to plant out after 8 - 10 months[].

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