Common Name:

General Information

Fagraea gracilipes is a tree with a spreading crown; it can range in size from 3 - 25 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be more than 100cm in diameter[].
The tree is commonly harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood, The wood is valued locally and sometimes traded[].
The tree has been widely exploited for its timber and is now in short supply. In parts of Fiji the cutting of trees with a girth of less than 90cm has been prohibited[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Pacific - Fiji.

Habitat

Dry or dense forest, in forest patches in grassland, and infrequently on the inner edges of mangrove swamps; at elevations up to 500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Flowers and fruits are found throughout the year in Fiji[].

Edible Uses

The fruit is sometimes pickled and eaten[].

Medicinal

A tea made from the bark and leaves is said to be used medicinally[].

Other Uses

The latex found under the skin of the fruits is often used as an adhesive[].

The wood is hard, heavy and very durable. It is used for houseposts, combs, canoes etc, and is in considerable demand for wharf piles, being very durable for underwater use[].
We have no more information on the wood for this species. However, the following is a general description of the wood for members of this genus:-
The heartwood is yellowish-brown to light brown, darkening upon exposure to a deep golden- or orange-brown; it is not clearly demarcated from the generally lighter coloured sapwood. The texture is variable, from fine to somewhat coarse; the grain is straight to irregular; the wood is lustrous; it has a distinct aromatic and somewhat acid odour when freshly cut, but this does not persist upon seasoning. The heartwood is reported to be very durable in ground contact and very resistant to termite attack; resistance to marine borer attack is questionable. It is reported to season slowly, otherwise it dries with little or no degrade. In Fiji quartersawing is suggested to minimize surface checking. Considering the high density, the wood is easy to saw and machine; it takes a good finish; some species are rather abrasive, however, and dull cutting edges; it is a good carving timber and turns well. The wood is used for purposes such as heavy construction, flooring, turnery, carvings, printing dies, specialty items (such as rulers, T-squares, straight edges), railroad crossties, boat construction[].

Propagation

Seed -

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