Enterolobium CONTORTISILIQUUM

Enterolobium CONTORTISILIQUUM - Timbauva, Pacara earpod tree, Enterolobium contortisiliquum, Mimosa CONTORTISILIQUA.

Enterolobium is a genus of large trees in the family Fabaceae, comprising about a dozen species. They all originate from the tropics of Central and South America.

The trees are massive, with a wide spreading crown and bipinnate leaves composed of numerous small leaflets, very similar to the leaves of acacia or mimosa.

The flowers are small, white or greenish, gathered in spherical pom-pom heads. The fruit is a large, flattened woody pod coiled into a ring or spiral, with large hard seeds.

Enterolobium contortisiliquum is a fast-growing deciduous tree up to 20-30 m (66-98 ft) high, native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern Argentina, where it is called timbauva.

The crown is broad and umbrella-shaped; the trunk is straight with smooth grayish bark. The leaves are bipinnate, made up of numerous small leaflets that fold up at night. The fruit is a flat black pod coiled into a tight spiral of two to three turns, up to 8 cm (3.1 in) across. The specific epithet 'contortisiliquum' means "twisted-podded".

Enterolobium seeds are large, heavy, with a very dense, tough coat, allowing them to remain viable for years. Scarification is mandatory before sowing: the seed coat is carefully filed or pierced on the side, away from the embryo. After that, seeds are soaked for 12-24 hours in warm water or in a solution of growth stimulants: SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon until noticeable swelling occurs. Stratification is not required.

Swollen seeds are sown into a sterile, loose substrate of peat and sand to a depth of 1.5-2 cm (0.6-0.8 in). The sowing is moistened from a spray bottle, covered with a transparent lid or placed in a mini-greenhouse, and germinated at a temperature of 25-30 °C (77-86 °F), preferably with bottom heat.

Shoots appear in 1-3 weeks; unswollen seeds may take longer. Crops are ventilated daily, and condensation is removed. Seedlings grow very rapidly, so pricking out into individual deep pots is carried out immediately after the first pair of true leaves unfolds.

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The plant needs the brightest possible location with direct sun; in summer it is best taken outdoors into fresh air.

Maintenance is warm, optimally 22-30 °C (72-86 °F). In winter, the temperature should not drop below 12 °C (54 °F). During the cool period, the tree sheds its foliage - this is a normal cycle.

Watering is regular during the period of active growth, with the upper layer of substrate allowed to dry out between waterings. After leaf drop, watering is curtailed sharply.

The substrate needs to be nutritious and permeable, based on leaf mold and peat with the addition of sand and perlite. A drainage layer at the bottom of the pot is mandatory.

Feeding with complex fertilizer is applied once every two to three weeks from spring to late summer. The tree does not require high doses of nitrogen.

Enterolobium grows very quickly, so repotting is needed annually, and the crown is regularly shaped by pruning at the beginning of active growth.

Special notes: Fruits and seeds contain saponins and are unsuitable for food, while unripe pods are toxic to livestock. The plant should be kept out of reach of children and pets.