Esenbeckia leiocarpa

Esenbeckia leiocarpa is a forest tree native to Brazil. It belongs to Rutaceae, the citrus family. Its common names include Brazilian boxwood and guaranta. Its range covers eastern and central Brazil. Records include Bahia, Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso, and São Paulo. It grows in dense, primary forests with broad leaves. These forests lose some leaves during the dry season. Kew places the species in the seasonally dry tropics.

The tree forms a dense crown with a rounded shape. The listed garden size reaches about 82 feet [25 metres] tall. Its spread can reach 66 feet [20 metres]. Forest accounts give heights of 66–98 feet [20–30 metres]. The trunk grows straight and has a round cross-section. It can remain free of branches for 13–20 feet [4–6 metres]. Trunk widths reach about 1.3–2 feet [0.4–0.6 metres]. Sources differ on how long the tree keeps its leaves. Useful Tropical Plants describes it as partly deciduous. PFAF also gives both evergreen and deciduous descriptions. The supplied sources do not detail its flowers or bark. Fruit images show ripe fruit opening to expose seeds.

This tree needs shade and does not tolerate full sun. PFAF lists both deep shade and light woodland shade. It prefers moist ground that drains well. It can grow in sandy, loamy, or clay soils. Its listed pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. PFAF gives USDA zones 10–12. Growth is moderate rather than fast. Seed-grown trees can reach 6.6 feet [2 metres] within two years. Its large crown and shade needs matter when choosing a site.

Sow fresh, ripe seed in a partly shaded nursery bed. The sources report germination rates above 60 percent. Move young seedlings into their own pots once large enough. They may be ready for planting out eight to ten months later. The wood is yellow, with streaks of gold. It is dense, heavy, and hard, yet splits with ease. It resists decay even when left exposed to the weather. Uses include posts, bridge beams, railway sleepers, and tool handles. Builders also use it for floors and window frames.

Forest loss and timber harvest threaten wild stands. Farming, livestock, and plantations have replaced much of its habitat. Useful Tropical Plants cites a 2011 IUCN assessment of Vulnerable. The supplied accounts name no pests or diseases. They report no known food or medicinal uses. They also list no known hazards. That does not establish that people or pets can safely eat it.