This species has been treated as Fairchildia panamensis (treated here as a synonym) in some modern treatments such as Zamora Villalobos, N. 2010. Fabaceae. In: Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica. Vol. 5[].

Common Name:

General Information

Swartzia panamensis is an evergreen tree growing 15 - 30 metres tall. The unbuttressed bole can be 20 - 60cm in diameter[]. In harsher habitats (with shallow, rocky soils and high insolation) the tree tends to form a stunted, irregular, and subdivided bole with a low, spreading crown. In primary forest conditions with deep soils and high humidity, this species grows taller and exhibits a single, cylindrical and straight bole. Such a forest tree sports a crown composed of a thick, umbrella-like layer of horizontal branches and large leaves[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber. It produces long, pendulous racemes of bright yellow flowers almost continually throughout the year, giving it the potential for use as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

The sawdust from wood of plants in this genus can be irritating to mill workers[].

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Colombia; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica.

Habitat

An understorey or subcanopy tree growing in humid or very wet climates at low elevations in tropical rainforests[]. It is sometimes found growing in swampy or seasonally flooded forests[, ].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Butterflies, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a well-drained soil[].
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

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is a dark brown, usually with black streaks or sometimes uniformly nearly jet black; it is distinctly demarcated from the very thick band of nearly white sapwood. Texture is very fine; grain is close and straight. The wood is exceedingly hard, heavy, strong and durable. The hardness of the wood makes it difficult to work, with tools quickly becoming dulled; it takes a good polish. The wood is used for heavy construction, the production of furniture, interior joinery, ladders, poles, bridges and boards[, ].

Propagation

Seed - Fresh seed germinates within one month without pre-treatment[].

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