Common Name:

General Information

Catostemma commune is a tree growing up to 45 metres tall, though usually smaller[378. 444]. The long, slender, cylindrical bole has a very low taper and is of excellent form. Usually around 60cm in diameter, in exceptional trees the bole can be up to 100cm. It is unbuttressed and can be free of branches for 20 metres[].
The tree is exploited commercially for its timber.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela.

Habitat

Mixed tall forest of greenheart, mora, and morakubea of Guyana; evergreen mixed forests, often with Eperua, in eastern Venezuelan Guyana, at elevations from 80 - 850 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The seed is used in the treatment of snoring[].

Other Uses

The bark is beaten with the back of an axe into large slabs which are spread out as floors and walls[].

The heartwood is a dull yellowish-brown to pinkish-brown colour; it is distinctly but not sharply demarcated from the lighter yellowish-brown sapwood, which is often discoloured by sap-stain fungi[]. The grain is straight; the texture coarse; growth rings are not distinct; there is no distinctive odour or taste. An unusual feature of this wood is the presence of streaks of varying lengths on the longitudinal surfaces and as concentric arcs on the end-grain. The wood is soft light to medium-weight; not durable in contact with the soil. It works easily with machine or hand tools; the timber has only a moderate blunting effect, although the numerous bands of resin in the wood ducts may cause chipping of the planing and moulding knives. The wood requires a considerable amount of filler but can be stained and polished satisfactorily, although not to a high lustre. It takes glue well and can be nailed without splitting[]. The wood is reported to be suitable for both dry and wet cooperage, interior work, box shock, paper pulp, utility plywood, and light construction. Good quality molasses barrels were made of baromalli at Barbados for a short period when imported barrels were not available. The results of mechanical tests indicate this wood may be suitable for tool handles and certain sports equipment. It is also considered a prospective timber for inexpensive furniture[].

Propagation

Seed -

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