Copperpod, Yellow Poinciana
Peltophorum pterocarpum

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

pterocarpum is a fast-growing species with a deep root system and a dense spreading crown. It is often planted as a shade tree in plantations in East Asia. Also, it has symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria that form nodules in the root and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Flowering commence at four years. It grows up to 24m in height and up to 100cm in trunk diameter. The leaves are bipinnate and each leaf is comprised of about 20-40 oval leaflets. The flowers are yellow. There is no known edible part of this plant but it is used in traditional medicine. In particular, the bark is used as treatment for sprains, bruises, swelling, eye problems, body sore, and intestinal disorders. Leaflets and buds are found to have antifungal properties while an alcoholic extract from the flowers has anti inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Moreover, the bark produces a yellowish brown dye which is used in the textile industry particularly for dyeing batik products and fishing nets. The wood is used as fuel and as material for constructions, boat building, cabinet making, etc. Other common names include poinciana, yellow, yellow flamboyant, and yellow flame. Copperpod or Peltophorum.

Peltophorum pterocarpum is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid, very alkaline and saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Height (m): 20

Where it is found

Preferring open or disturbed forest conditions, it is frequently found along beaches and in mangrove forests, especially the inner margins of mangroves. It is also found growing wild in Imperata grassland fields and teak forests.

E. Asia - Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Australia.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 2

The bark contains tannins. In traditional medicine it is used as an astringent to cure or relieve intestinal disorders after pain at childbirth, sprains, bruises and swelling or as a lotion for eye troubles, muscular pains and sores. It is also used for gargles and tooth powders. An antifungal principle is present in the leaflets and buds. The flowers contain a flavanone glycoside pigment, naringenin 7-glucoside. An alcoholic extract from the flowers has an anti-inflammatory effect and an antibacterial activity.

Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.

Antifungal: An agent that inhibits or destroys fungi. Used in the treatment of various fungal problems such as candida.

Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Mouthwash: Treats problems such as mouth ulcers.

Ophthalmic: Treats eye complaints.

Other

Rating: 4

Seaside. Large flowering tree. Street tree. Specimen, Xerophytic. Agroforestry Uses: The tree has a dense, spreading crown and so is widely appreciated for providing shade. It is planted as a shade tree in coffee and cacao plantations and is used in shelterbelts because it is wind firm. It has been tested in rotational alley-cropping/fallow systems in Sumatra, where it shows promise. Young trees are often planted in an intercropping system with mahogany or Tectona grandis303, 317]. A fast-growing tree that fixes atmospheric nitrogen, it has potential use for reforestation and is used as a source of green manure. It can be used for the reforestation of wastelands that are heavily infested with the grass Imperata cylindrica. The tree can be used as a hedge. Other Uses The bark furnishes a yellowish brown dye, which serves the dyeing of cotton and batik products. The bark has been an important component of the dark or black 'soga' dye in Java (where it is mixed with the bark of Ceriops tagal, the wood of Maclura cochinchinensis and other ingredients), which is used for batik work. The dye, derived from the heart wood, is applied in the textile industry. The bark contains 11 - 21% tannin, which is of the proanthocyanidin type. It is used for preserving and dyeing fishing nets. The wood and leaves contain smaller amounts of tannin. The sapwood is greyish-white, turning grey-brown on aging, the heartwood is light reddish-brown or black. The wood is moderately hard, moderately heavy, and somewhat lustrous, with a straight to interlocking grain. It is easily worked and is used locally for light construction purposes, boat building, cabinet making, sawn or hewn building timbers, wood ware, woodcarving and marquetry. The tree is used as fuel wood.

Containers: Plants, such as gourds, that can be used as containers. Does not include baskets or containers made from wood.

Dye: Plants that provide dyes.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Green manure: Fast-growing plants that can be used to increase the fertility of the soil.

Hedge: Plants that can be grown as hedges.

Preservative: For food, or for treating wood, ropes etc.

Shelterbelt: Wind resistant plants than can be grown to provide shelter in the garden etc.

Tannin: An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.

Teeth: Plants used to clean and care for the teeth.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Hedge: Hedge

Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil

How it is grown

A plant of the moist to wet tropics, where it is usually found at elevations below 100 metres but can occasionally be found up to 1,600 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 27 - 36°c, but can tolerate 10 - 40°c. Plants have been known to survive occasional low temperatures down to -5°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 4,000mm. It thrives best under more or less seasonal conditions with a dry season of 1 - 3 months. Grows best in a sunny position. The tree prefers light to medium free draining alkaline soils although it also tolerates clay soils. Plants can tolerate moderate levels of salt in the soil. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.3 - 7.3. A fast-growing tree, attaining a height of 9 metres in 3 years and flowering when around 4 years old. Agroforestry trials in south Sumatra with hedgerows spaced at 4 metre intervals and cut 2 - 4 times a year indicated that, over a 3-year period, an average pruning yield of 8 tons/ha was possible. The umbrella-shaped crowns which developed following cutting allowed little light to reach the ground. After the first year of establishment, little effort is needed to maintain plantations. Stands will usually survive, even with thick ground cover, such as Imperata or other tall grasses. The tree has a deep root system. 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. Flowering Time: Early summer, Mid summer. Bloom Color: Yellow.

Propagating it: Seed. Untreated seeds need several months to germinate - germination is hastened by scarifying one end of the hard seed coat, softening the seed coat in dilute acid, or immersing the seed in boiling water for 2 minutes followed by soaking it in cold water for one night. Germination has been recorded at 78%. Seedlings are best raised in the nursery for one year before transplanting to the field. Grafts or cuttings may be used to obtain better uniformity for roadside trees. Wildings have also been successfully used for planting.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Copperpod, Yellow Poinciana, Yellow Flamboyant, Yellow Flame

Synonyms

Baryxylum inerme (Roxb.) Pierre Caesalpinia ferruginea Decne. Caesalpinia inermis Roxb. Inga pteroca