Dick Culbert · CC BY 2.0
About
*Cojoba arborea*, also known as the wild tamarind or royal mahogany, is a large, durable leguminous tree notable for its valuable, stable lumber and its ability to thrive in open sites and transition zones.
Field notes
Morphology
The tree can grow 15–18 metres tall with a trunk diameter up to 50 centimetres. The mature fruit is a reddish-purple, curved pod measuring 13–17 centimetres long and containing 4-6 black and/or white ellipsoidal seeds. Leaves are alternate, bipinnate, featuring 8-16 pairs of non-serrated, elliptical leaflets, which are typically 28–42 centimetres long. Flower inflorescences are white, hermaphroditic, and measure 0.6–0.9 centimetres long.
Distribution & habitat
Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, extending southward to Ecuador in South America, at elevations up to 1,300 m.
Cultivation notes
The seeds germinate best in soil containing 30% organic matter and tolerate a wide range of pH conditions, from 4.8 to 8.0. Plantations should be started during the rainy season, and trees can be planted 5–8 months after seed germination.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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