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Useful Tropical Plants

Eschweilera reversa

Pittier

Lecythidaceae


This name is not universally accepted. We have followed the treatment in the 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families', but some other treatments name this taxon as Eschweilera pittieri R.Knuth (treated here as a nom. Illeg., and placed in the synonymy)[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Eschweilera pittieri R.Knuth

Eschweilera verruculosa Pittier

Common Name:

Eschweilera reversa
Drawing of the leaves, flowers and fruit
Photograph by: Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, vol. 45: p. 132, t. 41 (1958) [n.a.]
Creative Commons License

General Information

Eschweilera reversa is an evergreen tree with an elongate to rounded crown; it can grow 10 - 25 metres tall. The straight bole can be up to 80cm in diameter[
333
Title
Tree Species of Panama
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ctfs.arnarb.harvard.edu/webatlas/mainframe.php?order=s
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Factsheets on all the tree and shrub species of Panama, giving identification guide, brief guide to the species and some uses. A vast, but rather incomplete work as of 15/07/09.
,
551
Title
A Century of Trees of Panama.
Publication
 
Author
Pittier H. Mell C.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A work that was very difficult to get published according to the correspondence contained at the start!. A treatment of 100 different species with descriptions and details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use in craftwork and as a source of fibre and wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

S. America - Ecuador, Colombia; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica.

Habitat

Wet or very humid forests at low to medium elevations[
333
Title
Tree Species of Panama
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ctfs.arnarb.harvard.edu/webatlas/mainframe.php?order=s
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Factsheets on all the tree and shrub species of Panama, giving identification guide, brief guide to the species and some uses. A vast, but rather incomplete work as of 15/07/09.
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height20.00 m
PollinatorsBees, Bats
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Fibres obtained from the bark are used to make rope[
333
Title
Tree Species of Panama
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ctfs.arnarb.harvard.edu/webatlas/mainframe.php?order=s
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Factsheets on all the tree and shrub species of Panama, giving identification guide, brief guide to the species and some uses. A vast, but rather incomplete work as of 15/07/09.
].

The woody fruits are used to make handicrafts[
333
Title
Tree Species of Panama
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ctfs.arnarb.harvard.edu/webatlas/mainframe.php?order=s
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Factsheets on all the tree and shrub species of Panama, giving identification guide, brief guide to the species and some uses. A vast, but rather incomplete work as of 15/07/09.
].

The heartwood is dark brown; the thick band of sapwood is light brown;. The wood is straight and very fine-grained; hard; strong. It takes a high polish. The wood is used in heavy construction, sleepers, floors, cabinet making, joinery etc[
333
Title
Tree Species of Panama
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ctfs.arnarb.harvard.edu/webatlas/mainframe.php?order=s
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Factsheets on all the tree and shrub species of Panama, giving identification guide, brief guide to the species and some uses. A vast, but rather incomplete work as of 15/07/09.
].
We do not have any more specific information for this species, but the general description for the wood of this genus is as follows:-
The heartwood of most species is light brown, grayish-brown, reddish-brown, or brownish-buff, sometimes with black streaks; it is usually distinct from the yellowish sapwood. The texture is fine and uniform; the grain typically straight; lustre is low; there is no distinctive odour or taste. Depending on the species, silica content may be as high as 2.4%. Most species are highly resistant to attack by both brown-rot and white-rot fungi. Also most of the species have gained wide recognition for their high degree of resistance to marine-borer attack. Resistance to dry-wood termite attack is variable, depending on species. The wood is rated as fairly difficult to air season, drying rates are slow to moderate. Warp and checking are rated as slight to moderate, depending on species. Most of the species are difficult to work because of the high density and high silica content (excepting E. tenax); specially tipped cutters are suggested. They can be used for purposes such as marine and other heavy construction, industrial flooring, pulpmill
equipment, railroad crossties, piling, and turnery[
316
Title
Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
Publication
 
Author
Chudnoff. Martin.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-04-27. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Eschweilera+reversa>

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