Changes

:Chromosome number: 2''n'' = 20

== Vernacular names ==

Deciduous or evergreen medium-sized to large tree up to 40 m tall; bole straight or slightly twisted, branchless for up to 12(–24) m, up to 80(–150) cm in diameter, often with prominent buttresses; bark surface whitish to grey, thin, becoming flaking; crown rounded to dome-shaped. Leaves arranged spirally, imparipinnately compound with (3–)5–7(–9) leaflets; stipules small, caducous; petiole and rachis glabrous; petiolules up to 1 cm long; leaflets alternate, broadly obovate to elliptical-oblong, 4–12 cm × 2.5–9 cm, obtuse, rounded or notched at apex, papery or thinly leathery, glabrous. Inflorescence a terminal or axillary panicle 5–15 cm long, laxly branched, almost glabrous, many-flowered. Flowers bisexual, papilionaceous, 6–8 mm long, distinctly pedicellate; calyx campanulate, c. 4 mm long, lobes shorter than tube, lower lobe longest, upper lobes fused; corolla whitish, with obovate standard and clawed wings and keel; stamens usually 9, fused into a tube, but free in upper part; ovary superior, with distinct stipe at base, style short. Fruit a flat, elliptical to oblong, papery pod 4–10 cm × 1.5–2.5 cm, with stipe up to 1 cm long, glabrous, reticulately veined, indehiscent, 1–3(–4)-seeded. Seeds kidney-shaped, 7–10 mm long.

Seedlings of ''Dalbergia latifolia'' have a strong taproot and are practically devoid of any secondary roots when young. Initial growth of seedlings is slow. Nodules which are the result of symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria are already found on the roots of seedlings. Young trees are also relatively slow growing, but reported growth rates differ considerably. In Java (Indonesia) an annual height growth of 2 m and an annual volume increment of 15 m³/ha have been recorded for young plantations on favourable sites, but in India 10-year-old stands had an average height of 6 m with a bole diameter of 4–5 cm. In India the average age of reaching a diameter of 60 cm has been estimated at no less than 240 years! ''Dalbergia latifolia'' trees are often surrounded by numerous root suckers. ''Dalbergia latifolia'' is a moderate light demander and seedlings can withstand moderate shade. In too open locations it tends to become crooked and branchy. In Nigeria trees flower in September–October and January–February. The thin pods are dispersed by wind.

''Dalbergia'' is a large pantropical genus comprising about 250 species. Tropical Asia and tropical America have about 70 species each, continental Africa about 50 and Madagascar slightly over 40.

== Ecology ==

In its native area of distribution in tropical Asia ''Dalbergia latifolia'' occurs scattered in deciduous forest in periodically very dry localities, up to 900(–1500) m altitude. It is successfully cultivated as high as 1000 m altitude. Older trees are very drought resistant. ''Dalbergia latifolia'' thrives in areas with up to 6 dry months with mean monthly rainfall of less than 40 mm. It tolerates minimum temperatures of 0–6°C. It is only moderately fire resistant. It grows well on deep, permanently moist but well-drained soils, but also attains large dimensions on vertisols.

== Management ==

In Java ''Fusarium solani'' has caused widespread damage to plantations over 15 years old. The symptoms are inward rolling of young leaves, dieback and discoloration of other leaves, and red streaks formed on outer layers of the sapwood. Root suckers of affected trees should not be used for propagation. Seedlings often suffer seriously from damping-off; the mortality rate may be up to 60%. Up to 12 years old, ''Dalbergia latifolia'' is susceptible to ''Phytophthora'' attack. The trees are attacked by various insects such as leaf-miners, defoliators and stem-borers, but this causes no real problems for trees grown under favourable conditions.

== Genetic resources ==

[[fr:{{PAGENAME}}]]