Swartzia
Swartzia ingifolia
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
Commonly grown in northern Brazil and Bolivia, Swartzia ingifolia grows up to 30 m in height with a straight and cylindrical bole that can be up to 60 cm in diameter. Unlike other species in the Swartzia genus, this species has no symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria. Further, this species is not edible and has no medicinal value. The wood is very heavy, very hard, very strong and highly durable. In addition, it is highly resistant to fungi, dry wood borers and termites. Such characteristics made it ideal for high quality woodwork, furniture, cabinet, musical instruments, etc.
Swartzia ingifolia 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. 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 cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 20
Where it is found
Rain forest.
S. America - northern Brazil, Bolivia.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Brazil
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 4
Other Uses: 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.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
How it is grown
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Propagating it: Seed -
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
The sawdust from wood of plants in this genus can be irritating to mill workers.