Common Name: Gum Tree

General Information

Gum tree is a broad-headed, aromatic tree with an attractive coppery bark[]. It generally grows to about 18 metres tall, but can reach 27 metres in Belize[]. The bole is unbuttressed and can be 60cm in diameter, though it tends to split low down into secondary boles[]. Forest grown trees are usually tall and slender with a fairly straight bole; when growing in open positions the trees are generally short and often crooked[].
The tree is often exploited in the wild, especially for its resin, but is seldom cultivated for this purpose since it regenerates rapidly under natural conditions[]. It makes a good specimen tree and is often planted for shade on streets and beaches within its natural range[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana; north through the Caribbean to Florida; C. America - Panama to Guatemala.

Habitat

Generally found in dry forests, but sometimes in wetter forests; common in advanced secondary growth[]. In the wetter areas of its range it is more likely to be found growing on slopes where the soil is shallow and dries quickly[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	25.00 m
Pollinators	Insects, especially bees
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropical regions of Central America, where it is found growing at elevations up to 1,000 metres[]. It prefers areas where the mean annual temperature is in the range 18 - 25°c, and the mean annual rainfall is 800 - 3,000mm[].
Prefers a sunny position and a well-drained soil[]. Grows on a range of soils, including Lithosols, Vertisols and Oxisols[]. Succeeds in dry soils[]. Established plants are drought resistant[].
Plants can be pruned back very hard and will resprout successfully[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a tea substitute[].

Medicinal

The resin obtained from the bark is diaphoretic, diuretic, purgative and vulnerary[, ]. It is used in the treatment of dropsy, dysentery and yellow fever[]. It is an effective vulnerary[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Trees are used as living fence to delimit pastures, using stakes 1 - 3 metres long, 10 - 15cm thick, and spaced 3 metres or more apart[].

Other Uses

The bark yields a balsam resin known as American elemi, cachibok or gomart[]. It is used in varnishes and as a substitute for gum arabic (from Acacia spp.)[]. It is painted on canoes to preserve the wood from insects etc[]. It is also used as a glue for mending broken china and glass[, ]. Used by the Maya as an incense since ancient times[], it is still concentrated, dried and used in modern South America as incense in churches[, ].
The aromatic resin is a natural insect repellent, and no pests or diseases are reported for this species[].

The heartwood is white, yellowish, or light brown; it is not differentiated from the sapwood. Both the heartwood and sapwood are often discoloured to a gray by sap-staining fungi[]. The texture is fine to medium; the grain fairly straight; lustre is moderate and there is no distinctive taste or odour. The wood is soft, light in weight, firm, tough, not very durable in contact with the soil[]. It works easily with all types of tools and machines; saws cleanly; planes to a smooth finish; drills cleanly with some tearing at the exit side; and turns readily on the lathe. The wood takes all stains and polishes well and holds nails firmly without splitting[]. It is used for veneer, as plywood for interior use, in rustic furniture, for rough boxes and crates, as handles for tools, as soles for sandals, for match sticks and toothpicks, to build cabinets, to make decorative articles[].
When thoroughly dry, the wood is used as firewood or charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed. Forty per cent germination occurs within 20 days[].
Seed storage behaviour is orthodox. Seeds remain viable for 10 months[].
Cuttings root easily. Even large branches 1 - 3 metres long will produce roots[].

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