Agroforestree Database

Local names:
 English (primavera,gold tree)

Tabebuia donnell-smithii is a large tree, main trunk almost always of good form, growing straight for 7-13 m, even when open grown; buttresses and fluting often occur in large trees; branchlets terete to subtetragonal.

Leaves simple, 1-foliolate or digitately 3-7-foliolate; leaflets mostly with simple trichomes. 

Flowers bright yellow, 2-2.5 cm wide, in clusters at branch ends. Calyx thin, membranous, of the same texture as the corolla; inflorescence with the central rachis well developed. Anthers glabrous, the thecae straight, divaricate, included or sub-exserted. Ovary linear-oblong, often more or less lepidote; ovules 2-multiseriate in each locule; disk annular-pulvinate to short-cupular. 

Pods 25-50 cm long, straight, pendulous, brown, dehiscent. 

Seeds thin, flat, surrounded by a papery wing.

Ecology

T. donnell-smithii grows on alluvial terraces and lower colluvial slopes in forests dominated by Terminalia oblonga or Virola guatemalensis and in the Pacific semi deciduous forests. The species is a pioneer and habitually seeds in abandoned farmland, disturbed areas and roadsides in its native range. Also found in rather seasonally moist, non-flooded lowland forests.

Native range
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico

Tree management

Fairly wide spacing (9 x 4.5 m) is required due to a full-light requirement and rapid growth. Young trees coppice until they reach pole size. A saw log rotation of 30 years has been suggested. Pruning is recommended to attain straight form. Weeding is recommended for the first 2 years.

There are about 170 000 seeds/kg. Seeds can be stored in airtight containers at ambient temperature for up to 1 year when dried to 5-6% moisture content.

T. donnell-smithii grows on alluvial terraces and lower colluvial slopes in forests dominated by Terminalia oblonga or Virola guatemalensis and in the Pacific semi deciduous forests. The species is a pioneer and habitually seeds in abandoned farmland, disturbed areas and roadsides in its native range. Also found in rather seasonally moist, non-flooded lowland forests.

Propagation is by seed, which should be sown in shaded beds or trays in loose, moist, well drained, fertile media. Seeds should be lightly covered to protect against drying. Seeding density should be 540 seeds/m². Germination starts in 12-18 days and transplanting to nursery bags in 3 weeks. Seedlings attain plantable size in about 4 months. Seedlings for stump plants should be grown for 7-9 months.

The seeding characteristic can be exploited for reclamation of disturbed sites.

Erosion control:  T. donnell-smithi develops large lateral roots that hold soils.

T. donnell-smithi is used as fuelwood.

Timber:  Heartwood pale blonde to pale brown sometimes with highly attractive greyish-black banding; sapwood not distinct; low to medium lustre; texture fine to medium; grain often interlocked and ribbon-striped; seasons and machines well, with occasional tearing when planing ribbon-striped quarter-sawn faces, specific gravity 0.52. Used for furniture, cabinetwork, veneer, flooring. Resistant to white- and brown-rot fungi and weathers well.

Shade or shelter:  It provides shade.

Ornamental: T. donnell-smithi is grown as an ornamental on account of its impressive yellow floral display.