Common Name: Palo Blanco

General Information

Lysiloma candidum is a spiny shrub or a small tree (often multi-stemmed) that usually grows around 3 - 6 metres tall, but can reach up to 7.5 metres. The stems can be 15 - 30cm in diameter[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. The plant was formerly harvested on a large scale for the tannins contained in the bark which were extracted and exported[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southwest N. America - northwest Mexico (Baja California Sur, Sonora)

Habitat

Tropical deciduous forest, xerophilous scrub and oak forest; at elevations from 10 - 1,500 metres[]. Dry washes in canyon bottoms in the north of its range, rocky hill slopes in the south.

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	5.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Lysiloma candidum is a plant of low to medium elevations in the semi-arid and arid regions of sub-tropical northwest Mexico.
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Lysiloma species are generally adaptable to a range of soils[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is an astringent due to its content of tannins and is used externally to heal wounds. To this end the shell (in Spanish la cáscara) is roasted in a griddle and once toasted is ground into a powder that is applied to the affected part. Alternatively the bark can be boiled and the liquid used to wash the wound before applying the powder[].
This treatment is mainly done to wounds caused by burns[].
The bark and branches are used to aid oral health. They are chewed and their astringent action helps to tighten the gums and prevent loose teeth[].

The plant is also used to heal sores and pimples with pus[].

Other Uses

The bark is a rich source of tannins and has, in the past, been gathered in large quantities for the commercial extraction of tannins[, , ].

We have no specific information for this species, but a general description of Lysiloma wood is as follows;-
The lustrous brown heartwood has a coppery or purplish tinge, sometimes faintly striped; it is sharply demarcated from the thin layer of white sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight to roey; it is without distinctive odour or taste. The heartwood is rated as highly durable. The wood is reported to air-season slowly; kiln-dried boards were prone to surface and end checking. The wood is considered to be easy to work, it finishes smoothly, and takes a high natural polish. It is used for general construction, furniture making, wheel wright work, parquet flooring, interior trim, bobbins and shuttles, veneer, and knife handles[].

Propagation

Seed -