Qualea megalocarpa is a semideciduous tree with a sparse, elongate crown; it can grow 7 - 14 metres tall. The more or less straight and cylindrical bole can be 30 - 45cm in diameter[
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. Quite ornamental when in bloom, the tree can be used in landscaping[
S. America - eastern Brazil.
Atlantic rainforest, where it is found in both primary and secondary formations, preferring slopes and hill tops where the soil is deep, fertile, well-drained and of a clayey texture[
]. Occasionally found in open pastures[
|Other Uses Rating||
|Cultivation Status||Ornamental, Wild
Succeeds in full sun and in dappled shade[
]. Established plants are drought tolerant[
The wood is medium-textured, straight-grained, very heavy, hard, with good mechanical properties and quite durable. It is only used locally for applications such as general construction, light cabinet making, cart bodies, tool handles, crates etc[
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 35 - 60 days[
]. When the seedlings are 5 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers[
]. It can be quite difficult to grow the seedlings on until large enough to plant out[
]. This could be because of a lack of the correct soil mycorrhizae. It would probably be beneficial to obtain some soil from around healthy plants in the wild in order to try and introduce the mycorrhizae[
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