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Useful Tropical Plants

Pterocarpus rohrii

Vahl

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Amphymenium rohri (Vahl) Kunth

Amphymenium villosum Mart. ex Benth.

Apalatoa spicata Aubl.

Lingoum rohri (Vahl) Kuntze

Lingoum rufescens (Benth.) Kuntze

Lingoum villosum (Mart. ex Benth.) Kuntze

Lingoum violaceum (Vogel) Kuntze

Phellocarpus floridus Benth.

Phellocarpus laxiflorus Benth.

Piscidia florida Mart. ex Benth.

Pterocarpus apalatoa Rich.

Pterocarpus floribundus Pittier

Pterocarpus hayesii Hemsl.

Pterocarpus magnicarpus Schery

Pterocarpus reticulatus Standl.

Pterocarpus rufescens Benth.

Pterocarpus rupestris Pittier

Pterocarpus steinbachianus Harms

Pterocarpus villosus (Mart. ex Benth.) Benth.

Pterocarpus violaceus Vogel

Pterocarpus zehntneri Harms

Common Name:

Pterocarpus rohrii
Flowers and leaves
Photograph by: Mauricio Mercadante
Creative Commons License
Pterocarpus rohrii Pterocarpus rohrii Pterocarpus rohrii Pterocarpus rohrii Pterocarpus rohrii Pterocarpus rohrii Pterocarpus rohrii Pterocarpus rohrii

General Information

Pterocarpus rohrii is an evergreen tree with a dense, vase-shaped crown growing 8 - 14 metres tall. The cylindrical bole can be 30 - 50cm in diameter[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It can be used as a pioneer species for restoring native woodland and establishing woodland gardens. An ornamental tree, valued for its shiny foliage and attractive, but short-lived blooms, it is used in landscaping and for planting along streets[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana; C. America - Panama to Mexico.

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest, where it is found in both dense primary formations and also in more open, secondary growth; favouring sloping ground but indifferent to the physical condition of the soil[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height11.00 m
Growth RateMedium
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details


Grows best in a sunny position[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. Prefers well-drained soils[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
A moderately fast-growing tree, able to reach a height of 2.5 metres within 2 years from seed[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
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 decoction of the leaves is held to be one of the most effective febrifuges in the Amazon area of Colombia[
630
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1981
ISBN
 
Description
An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

A moderately fast-growing tree that is very adaptable to soil type and also fixes atmospheric nitrogen, it makes a good pioneer species when restoring native woodland and should be a good species to use when establishing woodland gardens[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
,
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Other Uses

The heartwood is white; it is not clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The wood is medium-textured, straight-grained, light in weight, soft, with a low durability and susceptible to the attacks of termites. It is used for internal finishing, frames, baseboards, lathe work, boxes, doors, panels etc[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
,
644
Title
Inventory of Seeds and Plants Imported. Vol. 46
Publication
USDA Bureau of Plant Industry
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
USDA Government Printing Office; Washington DC.
Year
1919
ISBN
 
Description
Details of seeds and plants imported for trials by the United States Department of Agriculture in the first quarter of 1916, often detailing the uses of the plant and various other miscellaneous information. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
We have no more information on the wood of this species, but a general description of the wood for the American members of this genus is as follows:-
The heartwood is yellowish or whitish; it is not distinct from the sapwood, though traumatic heartwood can be dark brown or purplish. The texture is medium to coarse; the grain straight to irregular; lustre medium; thre is no distinctive odour or taste. The wood is generally reported to be very susceptible to attack by decay fungi. Most species are relatively easy to air season, with only slight checking and moderate warp, particularly in thinner boards. It is easy to work and finishes smoothly in all operations. The wood is used for purposes such as rough construction lumber, particleboard and fiberboard, general carpentry, plywood, and furniture components[
316
Title
Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
Publication
 
Author
Chudnoff. Martin.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A germination rate in excess of 40% can be expected from fresh seed, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 50 days[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. When the seedbed-sown seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 6 - 7 months later[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
Seeds have a viability in excess of 6 months in storage[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
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 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.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pterocarpus+rohrii>

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