Common Name:

General Information

Zenia insignis is a deciduous tree usually growing around 15 - 20 metres tall. The bole can be 100cm in diameter[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its high quality wood, though seldom on a commercial scale because of the small supply[]. It has a high potential for use in phytoremediation projects.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China (Guangdong, Guangxi, ?Yunnan), Vietnam

Habitat

Rocky hills in forested ravines[]. Dense or sparse forests, mountain slopes; at elevations from 200 - 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	17.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Zenia insignis is native to subtropical and tropical areas of China, in one area to the north of its range it experiences a mean annual temperature of 17.8°c, with no frosts, and a mean annual rainfall of 1,457mm[].
Succeeds in poor, rocky soils[].
A fast-growing tree[]
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

Agroforestry Uses:

Zenia insignis is a fast-growing tree, often found on poor soils, that can fix atmospheric nitrogen and build up humus levels and fertility in the soil. When growing in areas polluted by heavy metals it has been shown to concentrate these metals in its tissues - especially zinc and cadmium. It has a high potential for use in phytoremediation projects, either as a means of removing these metals or as a means of locking them up and helping to restore the fertility of the soil[]. This species is considered to be one of the few potential tree species that can replace herbaceous plants used to remediate metal contamination of the soil[].
The plant has ecological value because of its root nodules and high metal accumulation potential, particularly for Zinc and Cadmium. This is a multipurpose tree species, which may become important in soil-water conservation[].

Other Uses

A high quality wood suitable for cabinet making[]. The wood is an ideal raw material for manmade construction boards, with cellulose content approaching 50.11% and lignin content approaching 22.01%. Its products are widely used in construction, interior decoration, furniture manufacturing, and other industries[].

Propagation

Seed -

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