Common Name:

General Information

Zygia latifolia is an evergreen shrub or tree with a low, dense, rounded crown; it can grow 4 - 6 metres tall. The short, crooked bole can be 15 - 25cm in diameter.
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to southern Mexico; Caribbean.

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest, mainly in open and secondary growth areas, often growing in moist soils on floodplains[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a sunny position[]. Plants can tolerate seasonal inundation of the soil[].
A slow-growing plant, even when young[].
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

The inner bark rasped is in a cold water infusion and then drunk as a strengthener[].

The bark is used for treating pain and sickness in babies[].

Other Uses

The wood is coarse-textured, irregular-grained, moderately heavy, hard to cut, with a low resistance to rot. Generally of too small a size for commercial use, it is sometimes used in rural constructions.
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate of more than 80% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 15 - 30 days[].
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order 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[].

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