Haematoxylum brasiletto aka Peachwood

Haematoxylum brasiletto is a thorny shrub. It belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. The RHS lists peachwood as a common name. Kew places its native range from Mexico to Colombia. Useful Tropical Plants gives a wider range. It includes Venezuela and the Caribbean. The plant grows on dry, rocky slopes among scrub. That source gives heights above sea level of 656–3,937 feet [200–1,200 metres].

The usual height is about 7–10 feet [2–3 metres]. Some plants become trees reaching 30 feet [9 metres]. The trunk bends and has deep grooves along its length. Branches grow near the base, not from one clear stem. They are thick and often twisted, with hard spines. These spines can reach about 0.07 feet [0.02 metres] long. The source rates its growth as medium. It gives no details of leaves, flowers, or fruit.

Useful Tropical Plants calls for a site in full sun. It reports growth in several soils, including soils with lime. The plant prefers mean temperatures of 15–25°C. That source gives mean yearly rainfall above 400 millimetres. Its dry habitat differs from Kew's broad wet-tropical climate label. Neither source gives a frost limit or a hardiness zone. The growing guide describes bacteria in nodules, or root lumps. These bacteria fix nitrogen and help the plant grow. Some of that nitrogen can also help nearby plants. The guide lists seed as the means to grow new plants.

The wood yields a red dye for local use and export. Fresh heartwood starts orange, then turns darker red with exposure. The pale sapwood ranges from near-white to straw in colour. The wood is very hard and strong. It has an uneven grain and a medium to fine texture. It smells of violets. Sellers use the names brazilette and Nicaragua wood. The account focuses on these uses. It does not state a garden role.

In Guatemala, people have used plant preparations for stomach inflammation and erysipelas. The account records these as past traditional uses. It gives no proof that these treatments work or are safe. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known food uses or hazards. That does not mean any part is safe to eat. The supplied accounts give no details of pests or diseases. The hard spines remain a clear risk when handling the plant.