Common Name:

General Information

Vochysia bifalcata is an evergreen tree with an globose, dense crown; it can grow 7 - 24 metres tall. The straight and cylindrical bole is 40 - 60cm in diameter[].
The tree produces a low quality timber used for making boxes etc. It is quite ornamental when in bloom and has been recommended for planting in parks and large gardens[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - southern and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Humid forests, mainly in primary forest areas that are not seasonally flooded[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of low elevations in the tropics.
Succeeds in full sun or dappled shade[].
Newly planted young trees are slow to establish and grow away[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is light, straight-grained, thick-textured, with poor mechanical properties and very susceptible to rot and to the attack of wood-eating organisms[]. It is soft to cut and very susceptible to splitting and warping when drying[]. A low quality wood, it is used for making boxes, toys, door and panel fillings etc[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].
We do not have any more information on the wood for this species. However, a general description of the wood for trees in this genus is as follows:-
The heartwood is a dull uniform pink, pinkish- brown or golden-brown; it is not always sharply demarcated from the whitish to yellowish sapwood. The texture is moderately coarse; the grain slightly to highly interlocked; lustre is medium to high; there is no distinctive odour or taste. Vertical traumatic gum ducts may occur sporadically, and is sometimes considered as an objectionable defect. Different species are variable in decay resistance, they are generally reported to be susceptible to attack by fungi as well as insects. Air drying rates range from slow to rapid, the wood being prone to warp with some checking; collapse occurs in thick stock; quartersawing is suggested to minimize degrade. The wood is easily worked by either hand or machine tools, but raised and wooly grain are common defects; it takes glue, paint, and nails well, and polishes to a good finish; it has a tendency to blunt cutting edges. It is used for purposes such as carpentry, utility plywood, furniture components, interior trim, millwork. It has been suggested as a substitute for Cedrela[].

Propagation

Seed - of short viability, it should be sown in partial shade in a nursery seedbed as soon as it is ripe[]. The germination rate, even of fresh seed, is usually quite low, with the seed sprouting in 30 - 45 days[]. Pot up the seedlings into individual containers when they are large enough to handle. They can be quite difficult to grow away successfully, possibly due to the need for a mycorrhizal relationship[]. Adding some soil from around a healthy tree to the potting compost might resolve the problem[]

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