Myrospermum frutescens
Jacq.
Fabaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Myrospermum frutescens is a shrub or small tree, sometimes no more than 2 - 5 metres tall (in Guatemala), but growing up to 25 metres tall in northern S. America[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. It is grown in soil conservation projects and has been trialled as a forestry tree in northern Mexico. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental[
1535- Title
- Establishment, growth and biomass production of 10 tree woody species introduced for reforestation and ecological re
- Publication
- Forest Ecology and Management xxx (2006) xxx–xxx
- Author
- Foroughbakhch R. et al
- Website
- http://10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.012
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
Range
S. America - Colombia, Venezuela; C. America - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala to southern Mexico; Caribbean - Trinidad, Virgin Islands, Hispaniola
Habitat
Dry, rocky hillsides; at elevations from 400 - 600 metres[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
Properties
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 10.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Myrospermum frutescens is a native of lowland areas in the American tropics, often found in semi-arid conditions. A very adaptable plant, it can tolerate mean daily temperatures up to 35°c and a mean annual rainfall from 500 - 1,500mm[
1535- Title
- Establishment, growth and biomass production of 10 tree woody species introduced for reforestation and ecological re
- Publication
- Forest Ecology and Management xxx (2006) xxx–xxx
- Author
- Foroughbakhch R. et al
- Website
- http://10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.012
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a range of soils[
1535- Title
- Establishment, growth and biomass production of 10 tree woody species introduced for reforestation and ecological re
- Publication
- Forest Ecology and Management xxx (2006) xxx–xxx
- Author
- Foroughbakhch R. et al
- Website
- http://10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.012
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Agroforestry Uses:
The plant is sometimes grown to provide shade and to help conserve the soil[
1535- Title
- Establishment, growth and biomass production of 10 tree woody species introduced for reforestation and ecological re
- Publication
- Forest Ecology and Management xxx (2006) xxx–xxx
- Author
- Foroughbakhch R. et al
- Website
- http://10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.012
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
The heartwood is brown with a greenish or purplish tinge; the sapwood is white or yellowish. The wood is very hard, sometimes extremely so, heavy, compact, tough, strong and durable. It finishes smoothly and has a lustrous natural polish[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
]. It is difficult to cut[
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
