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Calliandra calothyrsus

Authority	Mei.
Family	Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Fabales:Leguminosae
Synonyms
Common names
Editor
Ecocrop code	4042

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small leguminous tree or shrub reaching a height of 1.5-12 m often with 3-5 or more small crooked stems 5-30 cm in diameter. The tree is evergreen in humid climates and semi-deciduous in areas with a long dry season. It has handsome purplish-red flowers in 10-30 cm long clusters. USES The tree is utilized for erosion control on slopes and stream banks, for rehabilitation of degraded lands, it is browsed and used for fodder, as green manure, as a firebreak, shade, and as an ornamental and hedge plant. The wood can be used as firewood and charcoal and the tree is a source of honey. GROWING PERIOD Perennial. Seedlings grow quickly up to 2.5-3.5 m in 180 days and up to 3-5 m within the first year. The tree can provide an annual firewood crop for 15-20 years. The sterm turns bittle around the age of 12 years, but the rootstock remains vigorous and new sprouts are easily formed. It tolerates a dry season of 3-6 months. COMMON NAMES Calliandra, Caliandra, Cabello de angel, Pelo de angel, Canilla, Carboncillo, Kaliandra. FURTHER INF Scientific synonyms: C. confusa, C. similis. In its native Central American habitat, between latitudes 8-15°N, callaiandra can be found at elevations up to 1800 m, but normally it is found to about 1300 m. On Java it is cultivated at altitudes between 150-1500 m, however, it seems to perform best between 250-800 m. The tree is drought hardy, it fixes nitrogen and regenerates rapidly. It is so hardy and reproduces so easily that it may become a weed of sorts and may be difficult to keep in check. It perform well on dry to moist sites and is often found on steep hillslopes. Annual wood production potential is 5-65 m3/ha.
Sources
Grassland Index Webb D 1984 pp 115 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, LIG, KTMP, USE] AGLS A 1991 pp 31 Mannetje L 1992 pp 68-70 [USE, RAIN, TEMP, LIG, TEXT, DEP, PH, FER, DRA] National RC 1983 National RC 1983c pp 70 [RAIN, TEXT] National RC 1980 pp 36-38 [USE, RAIN, TEXT, FER, DRA] National RC 1979 pp 197 INSPIRE species 32 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, LIG, KTMP, USE] Little E 1983 pp 81-83 [RAIN, TEXT, DRA, USE] Hensleigh T 1988 pp 80-83 [DEP, DRA, TEXT, PH, TEMP, RAIN, USE] Westphal E 1989 pp 69-72 [USE, RAIN, TEXT, DEP, TEMP, PH, DRA]