Brazilian Fern Tree 5 large seeds ■●
Schizolobium parahyba is a fast growing tropical tree from Brazil (18ft in a year from seed in its Brazilian habitat) that can be pruned to size for a warm greenhouse. 3ft long fern like leaves that are both light and touch sensitive makes this a very unusual plant. Very odd large flat seeds that after “edge nicking” and soaking for 4 hours excrete a mass of root like fibres from the damaged part of the seed as the water pressure swells the inside. After 2 days in a propagator a large tap root appears. Young trees exhibit a very sticky sap that traps small animals and insects to their death, leading many to believe that this tree is carnivorous! In our trials they did well outdoors in a warm position in the summer, whilst under glass they reached over 7ft in 4 months from seed!
