About Handroanthus serratifolius (Vahl) S.O.Grose
Handroanthus serratifolius (Vahl) S.O.Grose is a tree native to forests across Central and South America. It grows in the cerrado vegetation of Brazil, with a range that extends through French Guiana, Bolivia, and Paraguay to northern Argentina. It is among the largest and strongest trees of tropical forests: it can reach up to 150 feet (46 meters) in height, with a base trunk diameter of 4–7 feet (1.2–2.1 meters). It is a commercially farmed hardwood valued for its extreme hardness, as well as its resistance to fire and pests. It is sometimes traded under the common names "ironwood", "ipê" (a name also used for the entire former genus Tabebuia), or lapacho (a name that properly refers specifically to Handroanthus serratifolius).
