''Schizolobium parahyba'', the Brazilian firetree, or Brazilian fern tree, is a tree species from tropical America, notable for its fast growth (up to 3 meters per year). According to Francis Hallé, this tree may even reach 30 meters high in only five years, which would make it one of the fastest growing trees ever (an average growth of 6 meters per year).Hallé, Francis (2005). ''Plaidoyer pour l'arbre'', p. 57 (Actes Sud) The tree is locally known by many names, including ''guapuruvu'', ''guapiruvu'', ''bacurubu'', ''ficheira'' ("token tree"), ''faveira'' ("fava tree"), ''pau-de-vintém'' ("penny-wood"), ''pau-de-tamanco'' ("

clog Clogs are a type of footwear made in part or completely from wood. Used in many parts of the world, their forms can vary by culture, but often remained unchanged for centuries within a culture. Traditional clogs remain in use as protective f ...

-wood"), ''umbela'', and ''parica''. It was first described by J. M. C. Vellozo in 1825 under the name ''Cassia parahyba''. The species name likely refers to the Paraíba River in Southeast Brazil.

Description

The mature tree typically has a straight trunk, up to 40 meters tall and 80 cm wide, that branches out only near the top. The bark is smooth and gray-green except by the scars left by fallen leaves. The leaves are bipinnate, a metre or more in length, with a green stem and 30–50 opposite pinnae, each with 40–60 leaflets 2–3 cm long; they are clustered near the end of the branches, and fall off completely in the dry season. Young individuals, often unbranched and with leaves over 2 meters long, may be mistaken for ferns or palms. The numerous bright yellow

nectar Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...

-producing flowers, about 3.5 cm in diameter, bloom from October through December in the Southern Hemisphere, after the leaves have fallen off. In Southeast Brazil they are visited chiefly by bees ''

Centris labrosa The genus ''Centris'' contains circa 250 species of large apid bees occurring in the Neotropical and Nearctic realms, from Kansas to Argentina. Most females of these bees possess adaptations for carrying floral oils rather than (or in additio ...

'', ''

Centris varia The genus ''Centris'' contains circa 250 species of large apid bees occurring in the Neotropical and Nearctic realms, from Kansas to Argentina. Most females of these bees possess adaptations for carrying floral oils rather than (or in additio ...

'', ''

Xylocopa frontalis Carpenter bees are species in the genus ''Xylocopa'' of the subfamily Xylocopinae. The genus includes some 500 bees in 31 subgenera. The common name "carpenter bee" derives from their nesting behavior; nearly all species burrow into hard plant ma ...

'' and '' Megachille'' species.I. Sazima, Mardiore Pinheiro and Marlies Sazima (2009), "A presumed case of functional convergence between the flowers of ''Schizolobium parahyba'' (Fabaceae) and species of Malpighiaceae". ''Plant Systematics and Evolution'' volume 281, issue 1-4, pages 247-250 The fruits ripen between April and June. Each fruit is a tadpole-like pod about 10 cm long, containing a single oval seed, smooth and brown.

Diffusion

The native range spans from Central America to southern Brazil. It is sun-loving and prefers open and semi-open areas; it is quite rare in densely forested areas.

Uses

The wood is odorless, straw-colored, soft and light ( density 0.32 to 0.39 g/ cm³, increasing with age). Formerly used for dugout canoes, it is now used for toys, boxes, shoe heels, the inner layers of

laminated wood Engineered wood, also called mass timber, composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board, includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibres, or veneers or boards of woo ...

, and paper.Lorenzi, Harri (1992). "Árvores brasileiras: Manual de identificação e cultivo de plantas arbóreas nativa do Brasil." Editora Plantarum. 368 pages. It is easily cultivated, yielding 600 m³ of wood per hectare after 10 years.Geraldo Bortoletto and Ugo Leandro Belini (2003), "Produção de lâminas e manufatura de compensados a partir da madeira de guapuruvu (''Schizolobium parayba'' Blake) proveniente de um plantio misto de espécies nativas", ''Cerne'' volume 9, issue 1, pages 16–28. The leaves contain water-soluble substances that act as antidotes to the bites of '' Bothrops'' snakes.Luis Henrique F Vale, Mirian M Mendes, Renata S Fernandes, Tássia R Costa, Lorane I S Hage-Melim, Maicon A Sousa, Amélia Hamaguchi, Maria I Homsi-Brandeburgo, Suzelei C França, Carlos H T P Silva, Paulo S Pereira, Andreimar M Soares, Veridiana M Rodrigues (2011) "Protective Effect of ''Schizolobium Parahyba'' Flavonoids Against Snake Venoms and Isolated Toxins." ''Current Topics on Medicinal Chemistry'', The seeds are used traditionally as beads and buttons.Ruth J. Smith (2005),
Botanical Beads of the World
Accessed on 2012-03-07.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2711230 Caesalpinioideae Flora of Central America Flora of South America Flora of northern South America Flora of Colombia Trees of Brazil Trees of Peru