We are treating this species in the broad sense to include Schizolobium amazonicum Ducke (as Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) Barneby). In some treatments Schizolobium amazonicum is considered to be a distinct species[].

Common Name:

General Information

Schizolobium parahyba is a deciduous tree with a wide-spreading, flat-topped crown; it can grow 20 - 35 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole is buttressed; it can be 60 - 80cm in diameter. The young tree is often mistaken for a fern or a palm, because young sterile plants are usually unbranched with leaves over two metres long[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. This is one of the fastest-growing trees in the world, able to reach a height of 10 metres within 2 years. It can be grown for fuel or as a pioneer to restore woodland, A very ornamental tree, especially when in bloom, but unsuitable for landscaping because it has brittle branches[].
Schizolobium parahyba has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

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

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest, most commonly in open, secondary formations, preferring valley bottoms, alluvial plains and near rivers, forming dense groups in hillside depressions[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations from sea level up to 2,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 26°c, but can tolerate 9 - 30°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 1,600mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 1,800mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Prefers a well drained, moist, loamy to clay soil[, ]. Prefers a fertile soil, but can succeed in soils of low fertility[]. Prefers a Ph in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[]. Established trees are drought tolerant[].
Schizolobium parahyba is one of the fastest growing tree species, which is why it has been widely introduced in tropical regions; mainly for reforestation projects, as an ornamental or as a shade tree. It is a pioneer species, with large seeds that help its quick establishment, even in thick ground cover and litter. Although not being considered as an invasive species in most of its range, it has sometimes been noted to have invaded managed pastures and airport grass strips. It is considered as invasive in the seasonal semideciduous forests in Sao Paulo, Brazil, although the invaded area is not large, and its spread has not been extensive[].
A very fast growing tree, it can be 8 - 10 metres tall after 2 years[].
It can be grown with a 6 - 8 year pulpwood rotation[]. Annual wood production can be up to 20 tonnes per hectare[].
The tree has enormous double-compound leaves that sometimes exceed 2 metres. These leaves can sometimes make people confuse a young plant with a fern or palm[].
The tree has brittle branches that break off easily in the wind[].
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

Different parts of the tree confer different medicinal properties, but it is widely used as an astringent[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A natural pioneer within its native range, the tree is very fast-growing and also fixes atmospheric nitrogen. It is an excellent choice for restoring land to forest and for establishing woodland gardens[, ].
A promising agroforestry species, intercropping is possible because of its light shade[]. It can be used as a shade tree in coffee plantations[].
The tree protects surrounding soil from soil erosion[].
The enormous amount of biomass shed by the tree improves soil fertility[].

Other Uses

The flat, brown, hard, oval seeds are used to make buttons and beads[].

The heartwood is light brown; it is not very distinct from the yellowish-white sapwood. The texture is coarse to medium; the grain straight to interlocked; lustre medium to bright; taste is astringent, there is no distinct aroma in seasoned wood. The wood is very light in weight, soft and of low durability in some reports [, ]. Though another report says that it is reported to be not susceptible to insect attack and to be durable in salt water[]. It is rarely utilized, possibly because of its repulsive smell when fresh[]. It is used for the insides of doors and panels, toys, soles of shoes, boxes etc[, ]. It is also used for native huts, canoes, and cheap furniture[].
The wood can be used for fuel and to make charcoal[, , ].

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 individual containers. A germination rate of around 85% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 5 - 15 days[].

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