Piptadenia bearing stipules
Piptadenia stipulacea

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

Commonly found in northeastern part of Brazil, Piptadenia stipulacea is a spiny shrub belonging in the legume family. It is characterized by a small and rounded crown, and short and crooked bole that can be up to 25 cm in diameter. It grows about 3 - 5 m in height and becomes highly tolerant to drought once established. It is a fast-growing species and can be a potential weed in some areas. There is no known medicinal and edible uses of this plant but its wood has been used for fences, posts, and small constructions. It is also used for fuel and charcoal.

Piptadenia stipulacea is a deciduous Tree growing to 4 m (13ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects. 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): 4

Where it is found

Semi-arid forests, in both the more dense, primary formations and also in more open areas, along roadsides etc.

S. America - northeastern Brazil.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Agroforestry Uses: A very fast-growing plant that is easy to propagate; succeeds in full sun; tolerates dry and infertile soils; fixes atmospheric nitrogen and rapidly invades open areas - it is a very good plant to use as a pioneer when restoring native woodland or when establishing a woodland garden. Other Uses: The wood is medium-textured, irregular to spiral-grained, heavy, hard to cut, very durable. A good wood, but generally only available in small sizes and so only used outdoors for fences, posts etc and indoors for small constructions. The wood is used for fuel and to make 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.

Fencing: Plants that can be used for fencing.

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

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

A plant of the 'Caatinga' dry forest region of northeast Brazil. The climate is hot and dry, there are usually 6 to 11 months without rain each year. The mean annual rainfall varies from 250 - 1,000mm, and the mean annual temperature is from 24 - 26°c. Grows best in a sunny position. Succeeds in dry soils and infertile soils. Established plants are very drought tolerant. The plant rapidly invades open areas and so is sometimes seen as a weed. A very fast-growing plant. 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 sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 10 - 20 days. Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.

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

The plant rapidly invades open areas and so is sometimes seen as a weed.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Piptadenia communis stipulacea Benth. Pityrocarpa stipulacea (Benth.) Brenan