Yellow Ipe
Yellow Ipe (scientific name Handroanthus albus) is a tree species 20-30 m high and 40-60 cm in diameter. The leaves are compound of densely hairy-white leaflets on both sides when Yellow Ipe is young, once adult the glabrous is silvery on upper side and underside. The flowers are arranged in terminal inflorescences with yellow flowers measuring between 17 and 33 cm length. The fruits are cylindrical capsules, covered with velvety material.
The wood of Yellow Ipe is heavy, hard, compact and high durability although rotting favorable conditions.
The native tree species like Yellow Ipe are recommended for reforestation, environment preservation, urban afforestation, landscape design and home planting. For example, reforestation matches the implementation of degraded forests areas, caused for the time, man, or nature.
Ipes belong to Bignoniaceae family which Jacaranda also belongs, and Tabebuia genus (from tupi-guarani language, which means floating wood), otherwise the wood is too heavy to float. Tabebuia was in fact a name used by the Indians natives for Caixeta (Tabebuia cassinoides), it’s a light wood tree from Brazil coast used in handicrafts, musical instruments, pencils manufacturing, and other objects.
This wood is better known as Pau d’arco (the native indians used to make bows and arrows).
Nowadays is very difficult to find a Yellow Ipe tree in the middle of the native forest, but when it happens, is a superb spectacle that deserves to be appreciated with reverence and serenity. In the middle of forest a bloom Yellow Ipe of 30 meters high contrasts with the green color of others trees.
