Region: south America, central and northern Brazil, Bolivia, Peru.
Habitat: old clearings; margins of flood-free forests; semideciduous forests to savannah; isolated tree in pastures; elevations below 600 metres; prefers a sunny position; well-drained and clayey soils; medium fertility.
Use: ornamental; reforestation projects; wood for fine cabinet making, lathe work, general constructions, poles, posts; wood for fuel.
BotanySlender, deciduous tree; horizontal branches; elongate or pyramidal crown; 5 - 25 metres tall; shrubby on poor or rocky terrain.
Stem: erect, cylindrical; 20 - 35cm in diameter; unbranched for about 4 metres; sapwood is yellowish or pinkish brown with a greyish tinge, well-defined from the heartwood, which is purplish or dark brown; wood is fairly durable but subject to insect attacks, without distinctive odour or taste, moderately straight-grained, medium-textured, medium weight to heavy, moderately hard, compares with maple, moderately easy to work, capable of taking a smooth, lustrous polish.