Lysiloma sabicu
Benth.
Cuban sabicu
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Logan Crees, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Logan Crees, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) John William Bailly, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Summary
Source: WikipediaLysiloma sabicu, the sabicu, horseflesh, or horseflesh mahogony, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola, and it has been introduced to Florida and Puerto Rico. A tree reaching 20 m (66 ft), it is typically found growing on limestone soils, but also on lateritic and serpentine soils, in a variety of forest and shrubland types at elevations from 4 m (10 ft) to 1,100 m (3,600 ft). A source of sabicu wood, it has been assessed as Least Concern.
Description
A tropical shrub or small tree of the pea family, native to the Caribbean region.
This description is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Australia, Bahamas, Caribbean, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Hawaii, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Mexico, North America, Puerto Rico, USA, West Indies,
Cultivation
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Lysiloma species are generally adaptable to a range of soils. 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.
Other Uses
A good quality wood, it is heavy, hard, fine-grained, very durable in water. It is used for ship-building, making bobbins and shuttles, and for cabinet work. We have no more specific information for the wood of this species, but the following is a general description of wood from trees in this genus:- The lustrous brown heartwood has a coppery or purplish tinge, sometimes faintly striped; it is sharply demarcated from the thin layer of white sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight to roey; it is without distinctive odour or taste. The heartwood is rated as highly durable. The wood is reported to air-season slowly; kiln-dried boards were prone to surface and end checking. The wood is considered to be easy to work, it finishes smoothly, and takes a high natural polish. It is used for general construction, furniture making, wheel wright work, parquet flooring, interior trim, bobbins and shuttles, veneer, and knife handles.
Notes
In Cairns Botanical gardens as Lysiloma latisiliquum v sabicu. Also as Mimosaceae.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Sabicu, Caracoli, Horseflesh, Jigue, Jiqui
References (3)
- Grandtner, M. M., 2008, World Dictionary of Trees. Wood and Forest Science Department. Laval University, Quebec, Qc Canada. (Internet database http://www.wdt.qc.ca)
- ILDIS Legumes of the World http:www;ildis.org/Legume/Web
- Plants of Haiti Smithsonian Institute http://botany.si.edu/antilles/West Indies
