Pau jacaré - alligator stick
Piptadenia gonoacantha

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

Piptadenia gonoacantha is a fast-growing, semi deciduous tree characterized by an open and ellipsoidal crown. It can be found in South America. Belonging in the legume family, it is capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen due to its symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria that form root nodules. The wood is moderately heavy, hard, and moderately resistant to termites. It is used as material for a furniture, indoor finishing, toys, door panels, etc, and as fuel and for charcoal making.

Piptadenia gonoacantha is a deciduous Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 15

Where it is found

Atlantic rainforest, most commonly along the coastal plain, favouring open and secondary growth areas, growing in both rich and poor soils.

S. America - Paraguay, southern, eastern and northeastern Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil; Bolivia, Plurinational State of; Paraguay

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Agroforestry Uses: A fast-growing, pioneer species that has a fairly open crown and also fixes atmospheric nitrogen, it is a good choice as a pioneer species for restoring native woodlands and also for establishing woodland gardens. Other Uses The wood is thick-textured; irregular-grained; moderately heavy; hard to cut, but soft to work with; medium resistance to the attacks of wood-eating organisms. It is used for indoor finishing, furniture frames, door panels, toys and packing cases. One of the best woods in Brazil for use as fuel and for making charcoal.

Charcoal: Used for fuel, drawing, deodorant, filter, fertilizer etc.

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

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.

Pioneer: Plants, usually trees and shrubs, that can be used to reforest land.

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.

Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil

How it is grown

Requires a sunny position. Succeeds in a range of soils, including poor ones. A fast-growing plant, easily reaching a height of 5 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.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A very high germination rate can be expected from fresh seed, with the seed sprouting within 5 - 10 days. When the seedbed-sown seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 3 - 4 months later. The seeds have a very short viability in storage.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

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

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Acacia gonoacantha Mart. Piptadenia communis Benth. Pityrocarpa gonoacantha (Mart.) Brenan