Schizolobium

Schizolobium
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Genus: Schizolobium
Vogel
Species:
S. parahyba
Binomial name
Schizolobium parahyba
Synonyms[1]
  • Caesalpinia parahyba Allemão
  • Cassia parahyba Vell.
  • Schizolobium amazonicum Huber ex Ducke
  • Schizolobium excelsum Vogel)
  • Schizolobium excelsum var. amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) Ducke ex L.O.Williams
  • Schizolobium glutinosum Tul.
  • Schizolobium kellermanii Pittier
  • Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) Barneby
Dehisced pod and seeds

Schizolobium parahyba, the Brazilian firetree, or Brazilian fern tree, is a species of tree from tropical America. It is the sole species in genus Schizolobium.[2][3] It is notable for its fast growth (up to 3 meters per year).[4] 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).[5]

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-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.

  1. ^ Schizolobium parahyba (Vell.) S.F.Blake. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  2. ^ Schizolobium Vogel. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  3. ^ Schizolobium Vogel. World Flora Online. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference sazima was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Hallé, Francis (2005). Plaidoyer pour l'arbre, p. 57 (Actes Sud)