Gliricidia (sepium)

Kim Wilkinson Craig Elevitch Permanent Agriculture Resources P.O. Box 428 Holualoa, Hawaii 96725 808-324-4427 808-324-4129 (fax) par@agroforestry.net www.agroforestry.net

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Family Scientific Name:	Fabaceae
Family Common Name:	Legume
Scientific Name:	Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp.
Common Name:	Gliricidia, mother of cocoa, madre de cacao, quick stick, Mexican lilac. When propagated from cuttings, this species of often called "quick stick."
Ecotype:	Native to lowland dry forests from 0-1,200 m elevation. Native to areas with a distinct dry season, but can grow in wetter climates with no pronounced dry season. Found in forest vegetation but also on coastal sand dunes, riverbanks, and floodplains.
General Distribution:	Native to Mexico and Central America, an aboriginal introduction naturalized in West Indies and Puerto Rico. Also naturalized in Hawaii, West Africa, Asia and Australia.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	vegetative
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Normally large cuttings are used for quick establishment of live fence posts; in pasture, cuttings 1-2.5 meters long are planted. Minimum size for high survival should be 30 cm in length and 4 cm in diameter.
Propagule Collection:	Cuttings can be taken any time of year, although the ideal time for deciduous trees like Gliricidia sepium is when the new growth is appearing, usually at the onset of the rainy season. Gliricidia is highly variable in form and productivity; select cuttings from trees with more upright form for best performance.
Propagule Processing:	Make a clean cut with a sharp pruner or saw. Top should be cut at an angle to preclude water accumulation and rotting during establishment. Cuttings should be leafless. It is ideal to outplant gliricidia cuttings immediately. If this is not feasible, cuttings should be stood up in shady conditions, in a bucket of water or wrapped in a moist blanket until planting time. They should not stand for more than 3 days.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	At planting time, the lower portion of the cuttings are usually "wounded" using a knife or clippers to make a few small incisions in the bark to promote rooting.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Field planting.
Establishment Phase:	For larger stakes 2-2.5 m tall, the lower portion of the cutting is buried 20-40 cm deep. For smaller cuttings, generally about 20% of the cutting's length should be underground. Planters should make sure to plant cuttings correct side down! The planting holes may be sprinkled with VAM mycorrhizal fungi inoculant (a great aid to establishment and growth in P-deficient soils) and Rhizobia bacteria inoculant. Make sure the soil is very firm around the base of the cutting. Soil should be moist during early establishment, but not overly wet. Irrigation is necessary during dry spells until the cuttings are established.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4 months
Active Growth Phase:	Removing weeds from the base and root zone around cuttings is essential to establishment. A weed barrier mulch (such as a sheet of cardboard or other decomposing material) can make weed control around cuttings easy. If conditions are very dry, supplemental water may be supplied once or twice a week until cuttings are established (in about 4 months). Once established, very little maintenance is required.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	If transporting cuttings, they should be covered or kept in the shade, upright if possible. They should not be allowed to dry out, and should not be stored longer than 3 days. Protect cuttings from bruising during transport by padding with a blanket.
References:	FACT-Net Staff. 1998. Gliricidia sepium-thequintessential agroforestry species. NFT Highlights. Winrock International, Morrilton, AR. FACT-Net Staff. 1998. Growing Gliricidia. Winrock International (formerly NFTA), Morrilton, AR. Glover, N. 1986. Gliricidia-Its Names Tell Its Story. NFT Highlights. Winrock International, Morrilton, AR. Parrota, J.A. 1992. Gliricidia sepium. Institute of Tropical Forestry, Rio Piedras, PR. Simons, A.J. and A.J. Dunsdon. 1992. Evaluation of the Potential for Genetic Improvement of Gliricidia Sepium. ODA Forestry Research Project R4525, Oxford Forestry Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, U.K. Steward, J.L., G.E. Allison and A.J. Simons. 1996. Gliricidia sepium: Genetic resources for farmers. Oxford Forestry Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, U.K. Thorpe, P., ed. 1999. Pacific Agroforestry: An Information Kit. Pacific Regional Agricultural Programme, Suva, Fiji.

Citation:

Elevitch, Craig R.; Wilkinson, Kim M.. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. plants Permanent Agriculture Resources Holualoa, Hawaii. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/03). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.