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Gliricidia sepium

Authority	(Jacq.) Steud.
Family	Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Fabales:Leguminosae
Synonyms	Gliricidia maculata H.B.K.
Common names	gliricidia, gloricidia, glory cedar, madre de cacao, mother of cacao, quickstick
Editor
Ecocrop code	1146

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small to medium-sized deciduous or in humid areas evergreen tree with an open form reaching a height of 5-15 m and a trunk diameter of 30 cm. The trunk is twisted or grows at an angle. Flowers are 2 cm long, pink with yellow and white. USES Timber used for posts, rural house construction, railway crossties, furniture, farm implements, and tool handles. It is often planted as a living fence. It is utilized for green manure, cattle forage, firewood, and planted in firebreaks, windbreaks, and for shade and reforestation of denuded land. Trees are used for shade in cacao and coffee plantations and for support of vanilla and black pepper vines. Seeds are used as rat poison. Fresh crushed leaves have medicinal properties. KILLING T Light night frost is tolerated, but not prolonged frost. GROWING PERIOD Perennial. Early seedling growth is slow, but once established, growth is fast (up to 3 m per year). Pods ripen 40-55 days after flowering. COMMON NAMES Mother of cocoa, Madre de cacao, Kakawate, Fence-post tree, Gliricidia, Quick stick, Gamal, Liriksidia, Balok-balok, Apatot, Kukuwatit, Kh'e nooyz, Khe falangx, Khae-farang, Anh dao gi'a, Sat thu, Hong mai, Mata-raton, Kakauati, Mexican lilac, Madera negra, Mata-raton, Madriado, Pino de Cuba, Pinon amoroso, Cacahuananche, Balo, Bala, Quick-stick, Nicaragua coca-shade, Lilas etranger, Yerba di tonka, Kakawate, Gamal. FURTHER INF Scientific synonym: G. maculata. Mother of cacao is native of the seasonally dry Pacific Coast of Central America and Mexico from sea-level to 1200 m. It can be found at elevations between sea level and 1600 m, but is most common below 500 m. The tree occur naturally within the latitudinal range of 6-19°N. It is common on plains, foothills, and lower mountain slopes. Leaves are toxic to horses and most other animals except cattle. Roots, bark and seed are toxic to man. The tree is fire resistant, it fixes nitrogen and it require wide spacing. In woodlots, the first harvest can be taken after 3-4 years, giving wood yields of 8-15 m3/ha. Subsequent coppicing is done every 2-3 years and yields may be 11-21 m3/ha. In fodder plots, dry matter yields may be 9-16 t/ha or up to 43 t/ha of fresh material.
Sources
Grassland Index Webb D 1984 pp 183 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, FER, LIG, USE] AGLS A 1991 pp 31 40 Janzen D 1986 pp 25 Mannetje L 1992 pp 133-137 [USE, RAIN, TEMP, KTMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, FER] National RC 1980 pp 44-45 [USE, FER, TEMP, RAIN, TEXT, DRA, LIMITS] National RC 1983c pp 70 [TEMP, RAIN, DRA] INSPIRE species 100 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, FER, LIG, USE] Hensleigh T 1988 pp 171-176 [TEXT, SAL, PH, DRA, FER, USE, TEMP, RAIN] Little E 1983 pp 164-166 [USE, KTMP, RAIN, TEXT, DRA] Westphal E 1989 pp 136-139 [USE, RAIN, TEMP, KTMP, TEXT, PH, DRA]