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Gliricidia sepium
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Common Name: | Mexican Lilac, Madre De Cacao, Nicaraguan Cacao-shade, Madre, Gliricidia, Mother of Cocoa, Quick Stick |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
|---|---|
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Central America, USA |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Small to medium-sized tree, able to grow up to about 2 - 15 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Bark is usually greyish-brown and surface is fissured. |
| Foliage | Green odd-pinnate leaves, alternate arrangement, each leaf consist of about 13 - 21 oblong leaflets about 2 - 7 cm long and 1 - 3 cm wide. |
| Flowers | Reddish-pink flowers borne on an erect inflorescence along the branches, tends to fade to pale purple upon aging. |
| Fruit | Fruit is a dehiscent flattened pod about 10 - 15 cm long, contains 3 - 10 black seeds. |
| Habitat | Can be found in coastal sand dunes, river banks, floodplains and fallow land. |
| Etymology | Genus Gliricidia comprises of Latin glis, which means dormouse, and Latin caedo, cecidi, which means to kill, referring to the seeds which are poisonous to rats and mice. Species sepium means sepia-coloured. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Flowers Timber & Products: Wood can be used for firewood and production of charcoal. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Roadside Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Toxic Upon Ingestion |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Foliar Type | Compound |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Red, Pink |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Orange |
|---|---|
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Black |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1642 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2935 |
| Flora Disclaimer | 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 NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |