Common Name:

General Information

Ocotea porosa is a semideciduous tree with an open, oblong crown; it can grow 15 - 20 metres tall. The short, usually fluted, bole can be 50 - 150cm in diameter[].
The tree has a highly valued wood and so is commonly harvested from the wild and traded internationally. It is also sometimes grown as an ornamental in general landscaping[].
Although present in large numbers, the species is slow-growing and declining in numbers through timber exploitation. In rates of extraction, the species is second only to Paraná pine. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

The sawdust can cause skin complaints[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Paraguay, southern and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Araucaria forest and higher elevations in the Atlantic rainforest, favouring secondary formations[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	18.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[].
A slow-growing tree[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Although slow growing, the tree is a natural pioneer that also provides food for the native fauna[]. It can be used in planting schemes for the restoration of native woodland[].

Other Uses

The heartwood can be of varied colours, mainly ranging from yellow-brown to a dark brown with irregular, thin, darker layers; it is clearly demarcated from the 3 - 6cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is fine; the grain straight or interlocked; the surface is irregularly lustrous and smooth; there is a pleasant scent. The wood is moderately heavy, moderately hard; fairly durable, even when exposed to the elements, being resistant to dry wood borers and moderately resistant to fungi and termites. It seasons slowly, with only a slight risk of checking or distortion; once dry it is stable in service. It works well with ordinary tools, nailing and screwing are good; gluing is correct. A beautiful wood that is highly valued for the manufacture of luxury furniture, it is also used to make parquet blocks, luxury joinery, carpentry, turnery, panelling, stairs, and for external purposes such as sleepers, bridges and stakes[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

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