Mazhar Botanic Garden

Aeschynomene elaphroxylon (Guill. & Perr.) Taub.

Balsa wood pithy wood

Sample code: EGY-MBG-001222
Common name: Balsa wood, pithy wood
English name: Ambatch tree
Native: Tropical Africa Madagascar, Ethiopia
Country: Angola Madagascar Malawi Mozambique Tropical africa Zimbabwe
(PGR): Rare

Aquatic plant, large shrub or small tree, stem prickly, growing up to  5-9 m leaves hailess, blue green above, pubescent with dark veins beneath pinnately compound with 20-40 small, oblong leaflets flowers yellow to orange pea-like fruit spirally contorted pods covered in bristly glandular hairs

Ornamental plant. sources of ambatch wood a very light, pith wood that can be used like balsa wood. 

Herminiera elaphroxylon Guill & Oerr

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Texture: Sandy loam
Fertility: Intermediate
Drainage: Well drained
Topography: Rainforest Swamp Valley
Salinity: None
Water Sources: Moderate Water
Climates: Tropical
Lights: Full sun Light shade
Propagation: Seeds- division -offsets
Flowering time: All year
Zone: 9 : 11
pH range: 6.0-8.5

The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and Mazhar Botanic Garden does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.