Qualea parviflora
Mart.
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(c) Mauricio Mercadante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
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(c) Thomaz Ricardo Favreto Sinani, some rights reserved (CC BY)
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Thomaz Ricardo Favreto Sinani, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Summary
Source: WikipediaQualea parviflora, known as pau-terra in Portuguese, is a deciduous tree indigenous to Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. The tree favors dry climates like the tropical savanna of the cerrado.
Description
A tropical tree found along the edges of water, grown in cultivation. It belongs to the Vochysiaceae family.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The fruit is eaten.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows along the edge of water
Where It Grows
Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil, South America,
Cultivation
Prefers a sunny position. Succeeds in most soils if they are well-drained. Established plants are drought tolerant. Newly planted young trees grow away slowly, scarcely reaching 150cm in the first two years.
Propagation
Seed - it has a short viability and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance, so sow the seed in individual containers and place in light shade. Germination rates are usually lower than 20%, with the seed sprouting in 25 - 50 days. Seedlings grow slowly, but should be ready to plant out within 10 - 11 months.
Other Uses
The bark is a rich source of tannins. The wood is light, soft, easy to cut and work with, with moderate mechanical properties but of low durability in the soil. It is used for making canoes, toys and boxes.
Other Information
It is a cultivated plant.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Kre kre, Pau-terra, Pi ka tykre
References (2)
- Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 731
- Poset, D. A., 2002, Kayapo Ethnoecology and Culture. Routledge
