Common Name:

General Information

Sweetia fruticosa is a deciduous tree with a large, very open, globose crown; it can grow 10 - 18 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 40 - 60cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its durable wood and for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru.

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest and broadleaved semideciduous forests, almost exclusively in dense primary formations and seemingly indifferent to the physical condition of the soil[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	14.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a position with some shade[]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils[].
A slow-growing tree, able to reach a height of around 1.5 metres within 2 years from seed[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The wood contains a peculiar powder which is highly recommended as a remedy for fevers[].

Other Uses

The bark is a source of tannins[].

The wood is medium-textured, irregular-grained, heavy, hard, resistant to the attacks of wood-eating organisms. It is used for fine cabinet work, veneer, lathe work, doors, balconies, wainscotings, door and window frames, posts, railway sleepers, poles etc[].

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 more than 30% can be expected for freshly sown, untreated seed, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 30 days[]. 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[].

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