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Zatetra (Zapoteca tetragona)

Zatetra (Zapoteca tetragona) is a plant species in Fabaceae, perennial, shrubs up to 10 m high, stem diameter 20 cm, many branches, white flowers, pioneer plants that can live in various soils, wood is used as energy and leaves contain protein for food livestock.

Z. tetragona has several supporting roots and finer roots that extend to the ground surface. If in the soil there is a lot of rhizobium and mycorrhiza a symbiotic will be formed between the fungus and the nodules that function to bind N from the air and maintain soil fertility.

Dlium Zatetra (Zapoteca tetragona)


Tubular rods with dark green bark, thin and covered with tiny brown particles. Young twigs are bright green and tubular, have linear angles and all surfaces are covered by thin white hairs.

Small leaves such as mimosidae generally, soft texture and dark green, while young leaves are bright green. Up to 20 cm long, up to 15 cm wide and at night or dark or rain will fold inward.

Zatetra produces flowers depending on rainfall and the peak is generally in February-May. Flowers grow from the armpits of leaves, cluster around the tips of twigs and have long stems. Flowers bloom after they erupt from the capsules and fuse to form a bright green ball.

Flowers are formed from a collection of white stamens with yellow tips and drooping. Flowers bloom only one night, then wither and those without fertilization become brown, dry and fall.





Pod-shaped fruit, thin, straight, green, has 8 or more spaces that will be filled with seeds and peaks in July-November. The mature pods will dry out, the sides will thicken and hard which suddenly burst from the tip to spit out the seeds in a circular motion.

Z. tetragona grows to fill disturbed lands, erosion slopes, river banks and road sides in various habitats up to altitude of 1900 m, but thrives at 250-800 m, rainfall 2000-2400 mm/year, dry season 3-6 months, a temperature of 22-28C and a pH of 4.5.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Mimosoideae
Tribe: Ingeae
Genus: Zapoteca
Species: Zapoteca tetragona

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