Common Name: Jamaica Dogwood

General Information

Jamaica dogwood is a large, deciduous shrub or tree growing up to 15 metres tall[].
The tree is gathered from the wild and used locally as a medicine and source of timber. The root bark is also sometimes exported for medicinal use.

Known Hazards

The plant is toxic - overdose symptoms include numbness, tremors, salivation, and sweating.
The bark and the leaves are used as a fish poison[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Central America - Belize and Guatemala, through the West Indies to Florida in S.E. USA.

Habitat

Lowland forest or thickets, at elevations below 300 metres in Guatemala[]. Mostly in rather arid areas on sandy or gravelly soils, or in woodland on limestone in Jamaica[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The dry bark, especially of the root, contains a range of medically active compounds including isoflavones, organic acids, beta-sitosterol and tannins[]. It contains various narcotic substances, one of which has been named piscidin[]. The bark, especially that of the root, is reported to have a strong and disagreeable odour resembling that of opium, producing a burning sensation in the mouth[]. The herb should be used with caution since it is toxic - overdose symptoms include numbness, tremors, salivation, and sweating.
The bark is analgesic, antispasmodic and sedative[]. It calms mental activity and so is chiefly used in the treatment of insomnia and overexcitability[]. It has also been used to treat muscle spasms (especially in the back); spasmodic respiratory ailments such as asthma and whooping cough; nerve pain; toothache and period pain[].
An extract of the bark, applied locally, has been used to relieve toothache, and to cure mange in dogs[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is yellowish brown, the sapwood gray[]. The wood is close-grained, hard, very heavy, very strong and durable[, ]. The grain is fairly roey; the texture medium[]. The wood is rather difficult to work; takes a high polish[]. It has been used for boat and vehicle construction, posts and piling[].
The wood is used as a fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed -

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