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Gleditsia amorphoides
Fabaceae FAMILY

Gleditsia amorphoides

Gleditsia amorphoides

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Tree
GrowthMedium

Gleditsia amorphoides is a tree mainly of the subtropics, just making its way into the tropics in Bolivia, generally at elevations above 500 metres. Grows best in a sunny position[1]. Prefers a deep, moist, fertile soil[1]. Gleditsia species are generally easy to grow, being tolerant of a range of soils, so long as they are well-drained, and of atmospheric pollution[2]. The plant has a moderate rate of growth[1]. The plant is functionally dioecious, with male and hermaphrodite flowers appearing on different plants. The hermaphrodite flowers, however, do not produce viable pollen and so cannot self-fertilize. Both male and hermaphrodite plants, therefore, need to be grown if fruits and seed are required[3]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and benefits from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the treated seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A good germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 28 - 35 days[1]. When the seedlings are 5 - 7cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 5 - 6 months later[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Gleditsia+amorphoides>

Pollinators

Insects

References

  1. [1]Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition. — Lorenzi. H. · Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. · 2002 · ISBN 85-86714-15-1 ↩︎Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]Functional dioecy in Gleditsia amorphoides (Fabaceae) — Cerino M.C.; Castro D.C.; Richard G.A.; Exner E. de L.; Pens · 2018 · https://doi.org/10.1071/BT16185 ↩︎
  4. [4]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
  5. [5]The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation — Allen O.N.; Allen E.K. · University of Wisconsin · 1981 · ISBN 0-333-32221-5 ↩︎An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
  6. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎