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Gliricidia sepium

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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

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Status (botanical)
Common Names
Comments

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 Suitable for Roadsides, 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

Images

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.
Species record last updated on: 18 February 2022.
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