Machaerium opacum
Machaerium opacum
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Requires a sunny position[1]. Prefers a well-drained, clayey soil of moderate fertility[1]. Established plants are drought tolerant[1]. The plant is slow-growing, even when young[1]. Plants resprout from the base if cut down or burnt[1]. 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 - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A moderate germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting 20 - 35 within days[1]. When the seedlings are 5 - 7cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 6 - 9 months later[1]. Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve 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[PFAF]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Machaerium+opacum>
Pollinators
Insects
References
- [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.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎