Bocconia frutescens
L.
Papaveraceae
Common Name: Tree Celandine
Growing on semi-arid land in Hawaii
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Growing on semi-arid land in Hawaii
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
The seeds and red aril after the outside of the seed capsule has fallen
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Leaves, with immature seedpods in background
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
General Information
Bocconia frutescens is a shrub or small tree growing about 7.5 metres tall[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
]. It is sometimes unbranched[
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 plant is gathered locally, mainly for its use in traditional medicine and as a dye plant[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. The large glaucous leaves of this tree have encouraged people to grow the plant as an ornamental in their gardens[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
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
Central America - Panama to Mexico; Caribbean.
Habitat
Forms dense stands in dry habitats, where it is found at elevations from 300 - 1,000 metres[
]. Moist thickets or forest, ascending from a little above sea level to about 2,800 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
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 5.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the tropics and subtropics, it is intolerant of much winter cold[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Prefers a well-drained soil on the light side and a position in full sun[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant produces large numbers of seeds with a red fleshy aril at the base that attracts birds, which disperse the seed over long distances[
]. Because it is able to flourish in a broad range of environmental conditions and along a large elevational gradient within its home range, it appears to have the potential to invade native and non-native habitats in dry and mesic environments in areas such as Hawaii. Given its potential to reach tree-sized stature and its ability to form thick stands, it is expected to be a serious competitor with native or other desirable species. In the Wood Valley area of Hawaii, it quickly spread from one landscape planting near to occupy in excess of 3,500 acres of abandoned cane land[
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is used externally in the treatment of skin eruptions, chronic ophthalmia and to remove warts[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Other Uses
The yellow sap from the bark has been used by local people to dye feathers[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. The sap can be used to dye cottons, woollens and course hempen cloth yellow[
630- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed - germinates best at a temperature of 20 - 25c[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
