Swartzia benthamiana

Swartzia benthamiana, or wamara, is an evergreen tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. It comes from tropical South America, including the Guianas and northern Brazil. Some sources also list Venezuela and Ecuador within its range. It grows in rainforest in the moist lowland tropics. Records place it up to 1,969 feet [600 metres] above sea level. People harvest wild trees for local timber use and export.

Published size figures range from 66 to 98 feet [20–30 metres] tall. The garden reference gives a height and spread of 66 feet [20 metres]. It lists a moderate growth rate. Forest accounts describe a small crown above a straight trunk. The trunk may have flat sides, flanges, and a few low buttresses. Its width is often 1.3–1.6 feet [0.4–0.5 metres]. Some trunks reach 2.3 feet [0.7 metres] across. A clear trunk may rise 66 feet [20 metres] before branches begin.

Wamara grows in sun or partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. The listed pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Plants For A Future gives USDA hardiness zones 10–12. These conditions place it among trees for warm, moist sites. Certain soil bacteria form nodules on its roots. They take nitrogen from the air and make it available to the tree. Nearby plants may also gain some of that nitrogen. The sources list seed as a means of propagation.

Timber is its main recorded use, including heavy construction and woodwork. Only the largest trees develop heartwood, surrounded by a broad band of white sapwood. Heartwood shades include deep brown, reddish purple, and purple-brown. Some pieces show dark stripes. The wood has a fine texture and often a straight grain. It is dense, heavy, hard, strong, and resilient. Reports differ on how hard it is to work. Furniture is another listed use.

The trunk yields red latex used in traditional toothache remedies. Traditional treatments also use crushed leaves and bark, boiled in water. Other records describe use to bring on sweating. These are reports of use, not proof of safe treatment. The sources record no known food uses. They provide no species-specific toxicity assessment or details on pests and diseases. They also give no flower description, fruit description, or flowering season.