Characteristics
A robust tree. It grows 5-20 m tall. The crown is silvery-grey and dense. The bark is papery and cream to grey. The leaves are alternate and 6-12 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They are broadly sword shaped and silvery-grey. The flowers are creamy white and in spikes 7-12 cm long. They are in groups of 1-4. The fruit are thin walled and cup-shaped. They are 3-4 mm long by 3-5 mm wide.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
tree
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
evergreen
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
-
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
-
|
| Mature height (meter) |
5.0 - 20.0
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
1.5
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
c3
|
Environment
It is a tropical plant. It grows in coastal areas and on dunes and flood plains. They are usually in poorly drained areas. It can tolerate flood and fire.
| Light |
-
|
| Soil humidity |
-
|
| Soil texture |
-
|
| Soil acidity |
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The leaves are added to meat to improve the flavour. The nectar is sucked from the flowers.
| Uses |
-
|
| Edible
|
leaves
nectars
|
| Therapeutic use
|
-
|
| Human toxicity |
-
|
| Animal toxicity |
-
|
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seeds. The dry mature capsules are put in paper bags and when the seeds are released they are scattered. Plants can be grown from cuttings treated with rooting hormones.
| Mode |
cuttings
seedlings
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
light
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
31 - 37
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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