Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

wild-tamarind, false tamarind

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Lysiloma latisiliquum

Family:

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

40-60 (80) ft tall by 30-50 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

black

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms in spring.

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shade tree. Attractive for its lacy foliage. Does well as a street tree.

Considerations:

Fallen seed pods are messy, so use in a mulched landscape area.

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Caterpillars, Birds

Larval host for Large Orange Sulfur ( Phoebis agarithe ), Mimosa Yellow ( Eurema nise ), amethyst hairstreak, and Cassius Blue ( Leptotes cassius ).





Used by a variety of butterfly species for nectar.

Attracts birds especially gnatcatchers, vireos, flycatchers, and migrating warbles (many eat the insects that are attracted to the flowers and leaves).





Important habitat for native tree snails ( Liguus fasciatus ). ( IRC )

Native Habitats:

This is generally a species of disturbed areas in and around tropical rockland hammock and pine rocklands.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

It's a legume, so nitrogen fixation may help it survive in low nutrient soils.



Fast growing.