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Dalbergia baronii - Baker

Common Name Palissandre rouge des marais, hitsika, sovodrano
Family Fabaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Lowland, evergreen, humid, rainforest, sea-level to 150, occ. 600 metres. Often by watercourses, also in swamp forest and the land margin of mangroves. Usually on sandy soils, sometimes saline, rarely on ferrallitic soils at higher altitudes[ 299 ].
Range Africa - eastern Madagascar.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full sun
Dalbergia baronii Palissandre rouge des marais, hitsika, sovodrano


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Dalbergia baronii Palissandre rouge des marais, hitsika, sovodrano
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Summary

Dalbergia baronii is a legume endemic to Madagascar. It is deciduous and grows up to 30 m in height with a short bole. It is overexploited for its highly valued timber.The wood is moderately heavy to heavy with fine and even texture. It is resistant to termite attacks and is moderately durable. It is used for musical instruments, shingles, carpentry, carvings, ship and boat building, veneer, plywood, etc.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Dalbergia baronii is a deciduous Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Furniture  Wood

Other Uses: The heartwood is greyish yellow-brown to reddish brown or dark brown, often with darker stripes; it is distinctly demarcated from the sapwood[ 299 ]. The wood is moderately heavy to heavy; the grain is generally straight; texture fine and even[ 299 ]. Fresh wood has a sweetish smell[ 299 ]. Once dry, the wood is very stable in service[ 299 ]. The wood works well, both with hand tools and machine tools; it finishes well, taking a beautiful polish; the nailing properties are moderate and pre-boring is needed; finishing with oil-based paint gives moderate results; the gluing properties are variable. The wood is suitable for sliced veneer. It is moderately durable, and resistant to termites. The heartwood is very resistant to treatment with preservatives[ 299 ]. A valuable timber, it is one of the so-called rosewoods which are much in demand for cabinet making, furniture, marquetry and parquet flooring[ 299 ]. It is one of the favoured woods for musical instruments, especially guitars, not only because of its beautiful colour and venation, but also because of its clearness of tone. It is also suitable for shingles, exterior and interior trim, joinery, carpentry and framing, ship and boat building, vehicle bodies, precision equipment, carvings, toys and novelties, turnery, pattern making, veneer and plywood. It is used for carving traditional art[ 299 ]. In the past the wood was used exclusively for the construction of houses for royal people[ 299 ].

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A plant of the humid tropical lowlands. We have no specific information on this species, but members of this genus generally prefer a fertile, loam soil and a position in full sun[ 200 ]. The tree is overexploited, and will soon disappear from the timber market as stands have largely been depleted. Protection of remaining stands is badly needed, and Dalbergia baronii will only have a role as commercial timber in the future if plantations become successful, or if the timber is sustainably harvested from natural forest[ 299 ]. This will probably allow only very low yield levels because trees presumably grow slowly[ 299 ]. 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[ 755 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

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[ K ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Palissandre rouge des marais - French, hazovola - Malagasy, hitsika - Malagasy, sovodrano - Malagasy, sovoka - Malagasy, voambona - Malagasy.

Native Range

AFRICA: Madagascar (east)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Vulnerable A1cd+2cd

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Dalbergia nigraBrazilian RosewoodTree20.0 10-12 MLMHNDM004
Dalbergia oliveriRedwoodTree23.0 10-12 SLMHSNM004
Dalbergia retusaCocoboloTree20.0 10-12 SLMHNM004
Dalbergia stevensoniiHonduras RosewoodTree20.0 10-12 SLMHNM004

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

Baker

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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