Centrolobium microchaete

Centrolobium microchaete is also known as yellow tarara. It belongs to Fabaceae, the bean family. Its native range spans Bolivia and parts of Brazil. It grows in Chiquitano forest and Atlantic rainforest. Kew places it in the seasonally dry tropics. In forests, it favours rich soil on gentle slopes that drain well. Plants For A Future says habitat loss threatens the species.

This large tree has a small, round crown. Garden sources give a height of about 66 feet [20 metres]. They list a spread of about 49 feet [15 metres]. A wider height range reaches 33–98 feet [10–30 metres]. Strong buttresses brace the base of the trunk. The trunk can span 1.3–2.6 feet [0.4–0.8 metres] across. Sources differ on how much it sheds its leaves. They call it deciduous or partly deciduous. Young trees grow fast. Its many blooms give it value as a landscape tree. Useful Tropical Plants suggests it for streets with wide avenues. Insects carry pollen between the flowers.

The tree grows in full sun or moderate shade. It prefers rich soil that lets excess water drain away. Plants For A Future lists sand, loam, and clay as suitable soils. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline ground too. Soil can be dry or moist. Once it takes root, the tree can cope with drought. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 10–12. Bacteria live in root nodules, which are small lumps. They capture nitrogen, and the tree uses some for growth. Nearby plants may gain some benefit too.

Growers can raise the tree from seed. Fresh seed does best when sown soon after it ripens. Use a nursery bed with some shade or separate pots. The cited guide reports that seeds sprout well within 30–40 days. Stored, dried seed may benefit from scarification before sowing. This seed-coat treatment helps water pass through the coat. The sources do not give a bloom season. They give no specific guidance on pests or disease either.

People cut wild trees for timber for local use and export. The hard, heavy wood has red-orange heartwood and yellowish sapwood. Its grain ranges from straight to uneven. The wood lasts well, most of all when kept dry. People use it for furniture, decorative panels, and turned work. They also use it for flooring blocks. Builders use it for railway sleepers and fence posts too. Neither source lists uses for food or medicine. Both report no known hazards. This does not mean the tree is safe to eat.