Lecythis ampla
Lecythis ampla
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A plant of the humid tropics, where it is found at elevations from sea level to 800 metres[1]. It grows in areas where the annual temperature range is 24 - 35°c, and the annual rainfall is more than 3,500 mm[1]. Grows well in alluvial and sandy soils and is frequently found in clayey soils[1]. It does not grow well in periodically flooded areas or poorly drained soils[1]. Seedlings are shade tolerant, but older trees require more light[1].
Propagation
Seeds collected from the ground should be separated by size and form and submerged in running water for 24 hours before sowing[1]. Germination is 95 - 96% for soaked seeds[1]. The first root, usually adventitious, develops at 45 - 60 days and shows rapid growth; the main root emerges later[1]. Under greenhouse conditions, 11-month-old seedlings reach a height of 25cm and are suitable for planting out[1]. Seed behaviour is recalcitrant. Viability diminishes with increasing dehydration[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Lecythis+ampla>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Tropical Tree Seed Manual — Vosso. J. Editor. · USDA Forest Service. · 2002 · http://www.rngr.net/Publications/ttsm ↩︎An extremely good guide, it can also be downloaded in its entirety from the address shown above.
- [2]Dictionary of Economic Plants. — Uphof. J. C. Th. · Weinheim · 1959 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.