We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Pityrocarpa moniliformis - (Benth.) Luckow & R.W.Jobson

Common Name Necklace Pityrocarpa
Family Fabaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Atlantic rainforest and dryland forest, growing mainly in secondary formations and open areas, favouring fertile, alluvial soils, often with a high content of silica[420 ].
Range S. America - eastern and northeastern Brazil, Bolivia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Wet Soil Full sun
Pityrocarpa moniliformis Necklace Pityrocarpa


Tarciso Leão flickr.com
Pityrocarpa moniliformis Necklace Pityrocarpa
Tarciso Leão flickr.com

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Pityrocarpa moniliformis is a deciduous, fast-growing, small tree capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen. It has an open and rounded crown and a crooked bole that can be about 30 cm in diameter. It grows up to 9 m in height. It is usually grown in South America particularly in eastern and northeastern Brazil and Bolivia and can be used as a pioneer species for restoring native woodland. The wood is only used for construction, light cabinet making and tool handles, for fuel and to make charcoal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Pityrocarpa moniliformis is a deciduous Tree growing to 7 m (23ft) by 7 m (23ft) at a fast 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 and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Piptadenia moniliformis Benth.

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

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Charcoal  Fuel  Pioneer  Wood

Agroforestry Uses: A fast-growing small tree that fixes atmospheric nitrogen, it is a natural pioneer species and is an excellent choice for restoring native woodland and establishing woodland gardens in drier areas[420 , K ]. Other Uses The wood is medium-textured, cross-grained, heavy, with moderate mechanical properties and of good durability. Because of its small dimensions it is only used locally for purposes such as construction, light cabinet making and tool handles[420 ]. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[420 ].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Grows best in a sunny position[420 ]. Prefers a fertile, alluvial soil, especially if sandy[420 ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[420 ]. The plant self-sows very freely in open areas, to the extent that it is considered a weed of pastures by cattle ranchers[420 ]. A fairly fast-growing plant when young, easily reaching a height of 2 metres within 2 years from seed[420 ]. 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

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and benefits from scarification before sowing 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. Sow the treated seed in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can be expected if the seed is not treated, with the seed sprouting within 14 - 21 days[420 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Venezuela (Anzoátegui, Bolívar, Sucre), Brazil (Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe)

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.

The plant self-sows very freely in open areas, to the extent that it is considered a weed of pastures by cattle ranchers[420 ].

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

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.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Benth.) Luckow & R.W.Jobson

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.

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Pityrocarpa moniliformis  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.