Lysiloma divaricatum / Lysiloma Seemannii
Family:
Native to:
Habitat:
Fabaceae
Central America - Costa Rica to Mexico
Wooded, rocky, stream banks or on dry hillsides. From 300-1700 meters above sea level. 10 meters tall.
Ecological value:
Fixes atmospheric nitrogen. Drought tolerant. Species in this family are usually fast growing. Pollinated by insects. Grows often on slopes and in soils with high sand and/or clay content. The genus consists of 8 species native to the Americas.
Material uses:
Bark is a source of tannin. The wood is highly durable, considered easy to work with, finishes well. Used in general construction, for furniture, flooring, interiors, veneers, and handles. The sapwood is blood-red to pink and the heartwood brown or copper with a hint of purple.
Edible uses:
No record on this species.
Medicinal use:
No record on this species.
Other details:
Has an unusual leaf-flushing pattern in that after it loses leaves in the dry season, the new leaves did not appear until one month after the rainy season begins. Flowers have a sweet scent.
Suggested as an indicator species to quickly assert cattle grazing pressure in tropical dry forests.
Research:
Jiahuan Cheng/Christine Facella
Sources:
“Lysiloma Divaricatum - Useful Tropical Plants.” n.d. Tropical.theferns.info. Accessed November 13, 2023. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Lysiloma+divaricatum.
Breeds et al, ‘Mauto (Lysiloma divaricatum, Fabaceae) Allometry as an Indicator of Cattle Grazing Pressure in a Tropical Dry Forest in Northwestern Mexico’, Rangeland Ecology & Management, 2005
Image source: Dick Culbert.