All species formerly considered to belong to the genus Sclerolobium have been moved to Tachigali in line with the treatment by Henk van der Werff in 'A Synopsis of the Genus Tachigali (Leguminosae; Caesalpinioideae) in Northern South America', Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 95, pp 618 - 660, 2008.

Common Name:

General Information

Tachigali multijuga is an evergreen tree with a sparse, roundish crown; it can grow 20 - 25 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 40 - 60cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. It has ornamental properties, especially its shiny foliage, and can be used in landscaping[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - northern Brazil.

Habitat

Mainly found in dense rainforests, in areas not subject to periodic inundation, found in fairly dry to quite wet situations, favouring deep, fertile soils in alluvial plains or the lower slopes of hills[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	22.50 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Young plants can tolerate quite dense shade, preferring more light as they grow older and eventually tolerating full sun[]. Prefers a deep, fertile soil, tolerating fairly dry to quite wet conditions[].
Young plants have a moderate rate of growth[].
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 wood is medium-textured, straight-grained, heavy, soft, with poor mechanical properties and of low durability. It is only used for low value items such as boxes, tool handles and division boards[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

The trees of many members of this genus yield a wood suitable for light construction, known in the trade as 'tachi'[]. We do not have any more specific information for the wood of this species, but a general description of tachi wood is as follows:-
The wood is light brown; it is clearly demarcated from the 3 - 6cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight or slightly interlocked. The wood is light to moderately heavy; soft to moderately hard; not very durable in one report[], durable in another[]. It seasons at a nornal rate with only a slight risk of distortion, but a high risk of checking; once dry it is poorly stable in service. It is fairly easy to work, but sawn surfaces can be somewhat fuzzy - stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring. The wood is used for purposes such as interior panelling and joinery, furniture components, light carpentry, crates and boxes[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and benefits from scarification before sowing to speed up and improve 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 treated seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can be expected even if the seed is treated, with the seed sprouting within 35 - 45 days[].

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