Angelique
Dicorynia guianensis
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
Angelique or Dicorynia guianensisi is a tree commonly found in Northern South America that reaches a height of up to 45 m. The bole is straight and cylindrical which can be 150 cm in diameter. The tree is heavily buttressed. It is highly resistant to decays and moderately resistant to marine borers? damage making it ideal for marine constructions. The wood is also used as construction material and for bridge flooring, boat framing, carriage work, crossties, furniture, etc.
Dicorynia guianensis is an evergreen Tree growing to 35 m (114ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 35
Where it is found
Rainforests, especially on sandy soils.
Northern S. America - Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.
Countries/locations it is found in
Guyana; Suriname; French Guiana
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 4
Other Uses: The heartwood is a russet colour when first cut, turning on exposure to a lustrous brown, often with a distinct reddish cast; it is sharply demarcated from the 2 - 10cm wide band of reddish sapwood. The texture is medium, the grain usually straight, with no distinctive odour or taste present in seasoned wood. In the green condition, angelique is similar to teak in most strength properties and clearly superior to white oak. It is about equal to the average for timbers of similar density in bending strength, elastic resilience, hardness, compression across the grain, shear, and toughness. It is above average in stiffness and in work to maximum load, slightly above average in crushing strength, but falls slightly below the average in tension across the grain and cleavage resistance. In the air-dry condition, angelique is superior to teak in all mechanical properties except tension perpendicular to the grain. It is superior to white oak in static-bending properties, compression parallel to the grain, and end hardness; comparable in shock resistance, side hardness, and compression across the grain; and inferior to white oak in shear, tension across the grain, and cleavage resistance. The working qualities vary according to the density and silica content but are generally rated as satisfactory. The wood finishes smoothly, splits easily, glues moderately well, and holds its place well under changes in atmospheric conditions. The wood is durable to very durable. The high resistance to decay and moderate resistance to damage by marine borers as well as its very good strength properties make angelique highly acceptable in marine construction for piling, poles, posts, and other similar uses where teredo are not a major factor. The wood is commonly used for construction purposes, bridge flooring, boat framing, carriage work, and crossties. To a limited extent, it, is also used for furniture, barrel staves, and parquet, strips and blocks. Because of small radial shrinkage, quartersawn material is considered suitable for flooring and for boat decks, frames, planking and millwork, general building construction, and agricultural implements.
Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil
How it is grown
In the wild the plant thrives best in deep, loamy, well-drained soils, but can also grow in wetter areas.
Propagating it: Seed.
Best place to grow:
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 10-12
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist, wet
Things to keep in mind
Its other names
Local names
Basralokus, Barakaroeballi (Surinam), Angelique batard, Angelique gris (French Guiana).