Falcataria falcata (L.) Greuter & R.Rankin

Taxonomic Identification

Falcataria falcata (L.) Greuter & R.Rankin has the following distinct characteristics.

Leaf Structure

Its leaves are twice pinnately compound, with small leaflets.

Flower Characteristics

It produces small, faintly fragrant creamy white flowers.

Fruit Characteristics

Mature fruits form pods that drop from the tree when fully developed.

Bark Characteristics

Its bark is smooth, and ranges in color from light to white.

Wood Properties

Its wood is light tan and made up of long fibres, with a measured density of 280 kg/m³ when measured at 18% moisture content.

Chromosome Number

Its documented chromosome number is 2n=26.

Invasive Range

This tree species has become invasive in forests across Hawaii and other Pacific islands, including New Caledonia.

General Uses

This species has a range of uses.

Commercial Wood Uses

For commercial applications, its softwood is used to manufacture matchsticks, chopsticks, shipping pallets, and wooden boxes.

Commercial Pulp & Wood Product Uses

Its pulp is processed for paper-making, and plywood and veneer-based products have become an increasingly important commercial use for the species.

Traditional Uses

For traditional uses, whole tree trunks are carved to make seagoing canoes, and the wood is also widely used for firewood in Timor-Leste and other regions.

Agroforestry Shade Use

In agroforestry, it is grown as a shade tree for coffee crops.

Agroforestry Intercrop Uses

It is intercropped with Eucalyptus to add nitrogen to soil, and it is used in agroforestry systems with pineapple and other crops in Indonesia and Timor-Leste.