Genus: ± 90 species.
Region: south America, central, eastern and northern Brazil, Bolivia.
Habitat: savannah, wooded savannah; favouring well-drained, sandy soils of low fertility; sunny position; drought tolerant; elevations of 700 metres.
Content: tannin.
Use: medicine; wood locally for general carpentry, lathe work, cabinet making, fuel; bark for cork.
BotanyDeciduous, very slow-growing tree; crown longish, upright; 4 - 7 metres tall.
Stem: short, crooked; 15 - 25cm in diameter; bark thick, corky; wood medium-textured, straight-grained, light, soft to the touch, moderate mechanical properties, low durability.