Cultivation Details
Ougeinia oojeinensis is a plant of the subtropics and tropics, where it is found at elevations from 300 - 1,500 metres[1]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature is within the range 20 - 47°c and the mean annual rainfall is 950 - 1,900mm[1]. It is not found in wet regions[1]. Although young trees are frost sensitive, mature trees are hardy[1]. The plant attains its best growth and greatest size in lowland alluvial soils, though it also grows well on dry exposed sites and eroded hills[1]. It also occurs on alluvial soil, red clay, black cotton, and rocky soil[1]. Young trees and seedlings need a moderate amount of shade, but once established they require full sunlight for best development[1]. Established plants are drought tolerant[1]. Because of the abundant small uncinate hairs on most species, the seedpods cling most tenaciously to clothing, to any part of the human body, and also to the feathers and hair of various animals, thus ensuring a wide dispersal of the plants[3]. Mean annual growth increment averages between 3 - 20mm in DBH. Trials indicate that keeping seedlings free of heavy weed competition improves growth and survival and such trees attain heights of 4 - 5 metres and DBH of 10.5 cm in about 6 years. Conversely, heavy weed competition can kill seedlings[1]. The tree coppices well and produces abundant root-suckers[1]. Fast-growing coppice and root-suckers attain 7 - 10 metres in height and 12 - 17 cm in DBH after 20 years[1]. Coppice and root-suckers can be managed for timber production[1]. In its native range, forests are commonly managed simultaneously for sandan and teak production. The exploitable diameter for Desmodium oojeinensis timber is generally 30cm. Timber exploitation has degraded the natural stands of this species. To reverse this condition, improved natural forest management and the establishment of large scale tree plantations are necessary[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[4].
Propagation
Seed - to maximize germination, pods should be broken into fragments, each containing one seed, and soaked in water for 24 hours before sowing[1]. Seed should be sown 1 cm deep. Germination occurs in 3 - 8 days. Direct sowing is very successful and highly recommended. Nursery-propagation accelerates seedling growth, however the large taproot of sandan makes transplanting difficult[1]. The seeds do not retain their viability for long and should be used within 12 months of maturity. Once collected seed should be properly dried and stored in sealed containers. Seeds weigh 28000-33000/kg[1]. Division of suckers[5]. Propagation by root cuttings is successful, but stem cuttings yield poor results[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ougeinia+oojeinensis>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [2]Pharmacognostic evaluation of Desmodium oojeinense (Roxb.) H. Ohashi - Stem bark — Rekha Bhagawan Nirawane et al · 2017 · http://10.5530/jams.2017.2.33 · ISBN 2456-4990 ↩︎
- [3]Flora of Guatemala — Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark · 1946 - 1976 · http://www.archive.org/ ↩︎A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
- [4]Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy — United States Department of Agriculture · http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en ↩︎An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
- [5]A Manual of Indian Timbers. — Gamble. J. S. · Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh · 1972 · ISBN - ↩︎First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
- [6]Flowers of India — http://www.flowersofindia.net/ ↩︎A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
- [7]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.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎