Gliricidia maculata, Jaco

(Syn. G. Sepium)

Family: Leguminosae

Common Name : Gliricidia

Telugu Name : Madri

General :

An exotic, small sized fast growing tree, good for cultivation in villages, backyards and along fence lines, field bunds and on road sides. It does well in moist or dry soils even with heavy concentration of limestone. It is a strong light demander, drought resistant and a good coppicer.

Flowering :

Light pink flowers appear in November to December.

Fruiting :

Fruits ripen in January to February.

Morphology of the Fruit/Seed :

Pods 8 to 12 cm yellowish brown when ripe, 8 to 10 seeds per pod. Seeds light brown coloured, oval.

Seed Collection and Storage :

Pods are collected in February to March before they dehisce on the tree and dried in the sun for 3 to 4 days to separate the seeds. Viability is retained for one year.

Seed Biology :

No.of seeds per kg.

Germination percentage

Plant percent

Time for germination in days

No.of seedlings per Kg. of seed

8500

90

75

10 to 12

63 to 75

Pretreatment:

Seed is soaked in hot water, allowed to cool off during the night and sown the next morning.

Nursery Technique :

Two seeds per polybag are dibbled in March. Watering is done regularly. Overhead shade is essential. Germination is noticed within 10 days. The seedlings attain plantable size by July. It is easily propagated by cutting when there is ample soil moisture.