Common Name:

General Information

Dalbergia hupeana is a deciduous tree that can grow from 10 - 20 metres tall. The bole can be in excess of 55cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. There are reports that the tree is sometimes cultivated in China[], though it is not clear if this is as an ornamental or for medicinal use.

Known Hazards

The plant is slightly toxic[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southeastern China, Vietnam, Laos

Habitat

Sunny wild uplands[]. In forests or among bushes on mountain slope, ravines by streams and woodland slopes; at elevations from 800 - 1,400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Dalbergia hupeana is a somewhat cold-hardy tree, tolerating temperatures down to around -10 to -15°c when dormant[]. It has been little cultivated outside its native range, but is growing well at several Arboreta in the eastern states of USA. It seems to appreciate hot, humid summers and moderately cold winters[].

The plant is usually very late coming into leaf, often not even swelling its buds until early summer and, indeed, looking completely dead at this time[].

Edible Uses

Leaves[]. No more information is given, but the leaves would probably only be used in times of shortage when better foods were not available[].

Inner bark. A famine food[]. It is considered to be slightly poisonous, but mixed with elm bark (Ulmus species) and pulverized, it may be used as a food in times of famine[].

Medicinal

The leaves are antiphlogistic, parasiticide[]. The leaves are used to treat traumatic injuries, abscesses and boils. They are crushed and applied topically as a powder or as a wash when mixed with water - as well as killing parasites the wash is used to resolve bruises, break up blood clots and reduce swellings[].

The bark of both trunk and root is used in medicine. It is considered to be slightly poisonous, but is used as an external application (presumably in the form of a poultice) to treat scabies and parasitic skin diseases[].

Other Uses

The leaves are used as an insecticide[].
To kill maggots, the leaves are crushed into a fine powder then thrown into the excreta[]. This seems to suggest that the application is to kill maggots living in human and other animal faeces[].

The wood is close-grained, hard, durable, very strong. Of excellent quality[], it is used to make oil presses, spokes, tool handles etc[, ].

Propagation

Seed. Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[].