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Platypodium elegans
Fabaceae FAMILY

Platypodium elegans

Platypodium elegans

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitSemi-deciduous Tree
GrowthSlow

Prefers a sunny position[1]. Established plants are drought tolerant[1]. Plants are quite slow growing. 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[2].

Propagation

Seed - seedlings are sensitive to root disturbance so it is best to sow the seed as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in individual containers. A germination rate of above 50% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 15 - 25 days[1]. The seedlings develop quite slowly and they should be ready to plant out 8 - 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 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=Platypodium+elegans>

Pollinators

Insects

References

  1. [1]Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition. — Lorenzi. H. · Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. · 2002 · ISBN 85-86714-17-8 ↩︎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]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.
  3. [3]Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol. 18 — Smithsonian Institute; Washington. · 1917 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎Includes a treatment of the Annona. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
  4. [4]Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol. 27 — Standley P.C. · Smithsonian Institute; Washington. · 1928 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎Contains a Flora of the Panama Canal zone
  5. [5]A Century of Trees of Panama. — Pittier H. Mell C.D. · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎A work that was very difficult to get published according to the correspondence contained at the start!. A treatment of 100 different species with descriptions and details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
  6. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎