Coracao-de-Negro, panococo, Brazilian ebony
Swartzia panacoco

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

Commonly found in South America particularly in Brazil, Venezuela, and the Guyanas, Swartzia panacoco is a tree growing up to 30 m tall with a straight and cylindrical, low-buttressed bole. This species is not edible. Bark decoction induces sweating. The bark contains a balsamic red resin. The wood, known as Coracao de Negro, is used for high class furniture, cabinet making, musical instruments, turnery, sculpture, flooring, etc.

Swartzia panacoco is an evergreen Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 25 m (82ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 25

Where it is found

Rainforests. Lowland primary rain forest, riparian vegetation and terra firme (non-flooded) forest on brown sandy clay soils, at elevations up to 500 metres.

S. America - Brazil, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Conservation Status: Status: Least Concern

Countries/locations it is found in

French Guiana; Guyana; Suriname; Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of; Brazil

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 2

A decoction of the bark is drunk as a sudorific.

Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.

Other

Rating: 4

Other Uses: The bark contains a balsamic red resin. The heartwood is a deep, dark brown with lighter, thin streaks; it is clearly demarcated from the 3 - 8cm wide band of light yellow sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight or slightly interlocked. The wood is very heavy; very hard; very strong; very elastic; very durable, being very resistant to fungi, dry wood borers and termites. It seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking but only a slight risk of distortion; once dry it is poorly to moderately stable in service. It is a very hard wood and has a fairly high blunting effect - stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring; gluing is poor. A high quality, very strong, durable and attractive timber, its use is limited mainly by the small size of heartwood obtained from the logs. It is used for purposes such as high class furniture, cabinet making, musical instruments of various types, turnery, sculpture, flooring, panelling, wooded goods, items such as arches that require forming; veneer etc.

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

Resin: Used in perfumery, medicines, paints, soap making etc. This also includes turpentine, which is extracted from many resins and used as a preservative, water proofer etc,

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

There are conflicting reports on whether or not this tree has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, so it is unclear as to whether this tree fixes atmospheric nitrogen.

Propagating it: Seed -

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

The sawdust from wood of plants in this genus can be irritating to mill workers.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Robinia panacoco Aubl. Robinia tomentosa Fisch. Swartzia polyanthera Steud. Swartzia similis Benoist