The genus Caesalpinia has been undergoing considerable revision, and proposals have been made to split it into several smaller genera. These proposals have already been accepted by some botanists, but have not universally been accepted as yet(2012). If the proposals are accepted, then this species will become Poincianella pluviosa (DC.) L.P.Queiroz[
Caesalpinia floribunda Tul.
Caesalpinia paraensis Ducke
Caesalpinia peltophoroides Benth.
Caesalpinia taubertiana S.Moore
Poincianella pluviosa (DC.) L.P.Queiroz
Tree growing at the Botanico de Sao Paulo, Brasil
Photograph by: mauroguanandi
Caesalpinia pluviosa is a very variable tree with several recognized subspecies. In Brazil it is a semideciduous tree with a dense drown, growing 8 - 16 metres tall. The usually crooked bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter with a thick, exfoliating bark[
]. The form in Bolivia can be much larger, with a straight, cylindrical bole that can be unbranched for 20 metres[
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally. It has an ornamental crown and is often used in urban planting in southern Brazil.
S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia.
Rainforests, where it can occur in both primary dense forest and in more open formations; also found in savannah land in well drained soils and in the Pantanal, where it is subject to seasonal flooding[
|Other Uses Rating||
|Cultivation Status||Ornamental, Wild
A plant that ranges from the warm temperate zone to the tropics.
Prefers a sunny position[
]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[
Young trees have a fairly fast rate of growth, reaching a height of up to 3 metres within 2 years from seed[
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[
The heartwood is dark brown; the sapwood light brown. The texture is medium to fine; grain interlocked; lustre medium to faint; odour and taste indistinct. The wood is moderately hard, heavy, moderately durable even when in contact with the soil. It planes and finishes well, has excellent sanding properties, bores and turns well, has a medium blunting effect on tools. It can be used in construction for purposes such as rafters and props; for furniture, poles, carving, floors, turnery, decorative veneer, barrels and making boxes[
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A germination rate in excess of 60% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 10 - 25 days[
]. When the seedbed-sown seedlings are 5 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 5 - 6 months later[
The seed has a viability in storage in excess of 12 months[
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.