Red Cabbage Bark Tree
Andira coriacea

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

Andira coriacea is an evergreen tree that has a flat, rounded crown. It grows up to 25 m tall when fully matured. The bole can reach 60 - 90 m in diameter. It is widely cultivated for its highly durable wood in South America. The plant has a symbiotic relationship with soil nitrogen-fixing bacteria. No known edible and medicinal uses for this species.

Andira coriacea 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. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 20

Where it is found

Rain forests and savannah forests.

S. America - French Guiana, Surinam.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Coming Soon

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Other uses rating: Medium (3/5). Other Uses: The heartwood is pink-brown to red-brown with bands of light coloured wood that give it a distinctive figure; it is clearly demarcated from the 3 - 5cm wide band of sapwood. Texture is coarse; grain straight or interlocked. The wood is heavy, hard, elastic, very durable, being resistant to fungi, dry wood borers and termites, and suitable for use untreated in marine environments and brackish water. The wood seasons fairly quickly with only a slight rish of distortion or check; once dry it is poorly stable in service. It has a strong blunting effect upon tools, stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; it is difficult to get a smooth surface when planing because of the alternate bands of hard and soft wood; nailing and screwing are good, but pre-boring is necessary; gluing is correct on dry wood and smooth surfaces, but is suitable for interior uses only. The wood has a wide range of applications, being suitable for use in salt water. It is used in cabinet making, furniture, construction, interior and exterior joinery and panelling, industrial flooring, turned goods, heavy carpentry etc.

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

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 place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

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

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Red Cabbage Bark Tree

Synonyms

Andira wachenheimi Benoist