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Adenanthera pavonina

Common Name: red sandalwood

Family: Fabaceae

Common Synonyms: none

USDA Hardiness Zone: 10B - 11

Growth Habit: Tree

Origin: Tropical Asia, S. China, India, N. Australia, and Soloman Islands

FISC Category: 2

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: pre-1930

IFAS Assessment:

  • North: OK
  • Central: OK
  • South: CAUTION
Adenanthera pavonina
Mauricio Mercadante

Description

Deciduous tree to 20 m tall with a buttressed trunk and flaky bark. Alternate, stalked, leaves, twice compound to 40 cm long, glabrous to glaucous beneath, dark green above. Small pale yellow to orange flowers (not pea-shaped) on elongated stalks arising from leaf axils, fragrant. Fruit a long narrow pod, maturing black and twisted with shiny red seeds.

Habitat

Prairie hammock, rockland hammock, disturbed sites

Comments

Potential problem species in tropical areas, possible EDRR candidate if not well established. Seeds persist in soil for up to 5 years. Seeds dispersed by birds.

Map of species distribution

Control Methods

  • Manual: Mechanical: hand-pull seedlings (IFAS).
  • Chemical: Basal bark (10% triclopyr ester), cut stump (50% triclopyr amine or 10% triclopyr ester). [IFAS}
  • Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

Dave's Garden. 2013. PlantFiles: Red sandalwood, Coral tree, Adenanthera pavonina. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/51496/. Accessed on December 2, 2013.

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

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