Common Name:

General Information

Platycyamus regnellii is a deciduous tree with a dense, globose crown; it can grow 10 - 20 metres tall. The bole can be 40 - 60cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood. It is also a source of tannins and can be planted as a pioneer for restoring woodland. Very ornamental, especially when in bloom, it can be used successfully in landscaping[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - eastern and central Brazil.

Habitat

Semideciduous forests, usually above 500 metres, growing in both dense, primary forest and also in more open, secondary growth areas, favouring stony soils[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A fast-growing tree, able to reach a height of around 3.5 metres within 2 years from seed[].
There are conflicting reports on whether or not this tree has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, so it is unclear as to whether this tree fixes atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing tree that fixes atmospheric nitrogen and succeeds in poor stony soils, it can be used as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland[].

Other Uses

The bark is a source of tannins[].

The heartwood and sapwood are clearly demarcated. The wood is straight and irregular-grained, moderately heavy, with reasonable mechanical properties. It is used for cabinet making, decorative linings, veneer, beams, floor boards, cart bodies, stays, poles, railway sleepers and tool handles[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up 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. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A germination rate of around 30% can be expected for untreated seeds, with the seed sprouting within 5 - 8 days[]. When the seedbed-sown seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out less than 5 months later[].
The seed has a viability in excess of six months in storage[].

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