Plants
garlic tree
Gallesia integrifolia (Spreng.) Harms
Family: Phytolaccaceae · Genus: Gallesia
Brazilian garlic tree
Emergent tree of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado with a strong garlic smell when wounded. EcoAgri lists it in the emergent stratum of the '> 50 years' bin. Long-lived pioneer; light wood used for crating.
Götsch succession
- Götsch stage
- Climax
- Ecological role
- Late secondary
- Primary stratum
- Emergent
- Strata
- Emergent, High
- Biomass class
- Mulch biomass
Environment
- Light requirement
- Full sun
- Water requirement
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate
- Waterlogging tolerance
- Moderate
Morphology
- Mature height
- 20–35 m
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Lifespan
- ≥ 80 years
Biomes & climate
- Atlantic Forest Native
- Cerrado Native
Köppen classes
Where it fits in a guild
Garlic tree takes the Emergent stratum in the Climax phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.
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🪴 Cultivation
Heliophile that needs partial shade when young — seedlings develop well in shade and can be field-planted once 15–20 cm tall. Occurs in riparian forests and alluvial plains subject to occasional flooding, tolerating periodic waterlogging. Seeds are short-lived; sow fresh in a moist, pathogen-free substrate.
📅 Phenology
Flowering months: March, April, May
Fruiting months: August, September
❓ Frequently asked questions
How tall does garlic tree grow?
At maturity, garlic tree reaches 20–35 m tall.
When does garlic tree fruit?
Fruiting of garlic tree occurs in August, September.
When does garlic tree flower?
Flowering of garlic tree occurs in March, April, May.
What stage and stratum does garlic tree occupy in a syntropic system?
In a syntropic system, garlic tree belongs to the climax stage, occupying the emergent stratum.
Functions
Propagation
Seed
Citations
- EcoAgri — Organização de algumas espécies vegetais por tempo de vida (placentas) e estrato (Cartilha 'Liberdade e Vida com Agrofloresta') , p. 6 (primary_stratum, gotsch_stage)
- Árvores do Bioma Cerrado — Gallesia integrifolia (Spreng.) Harms (height_max_m, light_need, phenology, cultivation_notes, waterlogging_tolerance, propagation)
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Gallesia integrifolia (Spreng.) Harms (gbif_taxon_key, genus)
External references
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