Common Name: Spanish Elm

General Information

Cordia gerascanthus is a large, semi-evergreen tree usually growing 6 - 15 metres tall, but exceptionally up to 30 metres, with a bole up to 30cm in diameter[, , ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood and fibre. It has potential for ornament - when its flowers open they cover the trees so densely that their crowns look like mounds of snow[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Central America - Costa Rica, through Mesoamerica to northern Mexico; Caribbean - Puerto Rico to Cuba

Habitat

Dry forests; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[, ]. Limestone hills, mostly in rather dry areas in Jamaica[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Hummingbirds, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a moist but freely draining soil and a position in full sun[].
Plants are triggered into flowering by rain showers that follow a dry period[].

Edible Uses

The brown, ellipsoid fruit is around 7 - 8mm long and 3 - 4mm wide[].
The fruits of most Cordia species are comprised of a thin to fairly thick layer of pulpy, sweetish-tasting flesh surrounding a single seed and are more or less edible[, ]. (though some are known to cause gastric disturbances). This species, however, belongs to a section of the genus where the mesocarp is fibrous rather than fleshy[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are a good source of nectar for bees[].

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the bark[].

The rose-coloured wood is strong and elastic[, , ].
The heart-wood is of a deep purplish-lilac colour, marked with thin black streaks running with the grain, and having a bright metallic lustre; it is clearly demarcated from the 18 - 50mm wide band of bright yellow sapwood. The wood is dense and hard, fairly sound-hearted, free from cuppy shakes, it stands well, and for some purposes is a good substitute for lignum-vitae[]. The wood is used for construction, making doors, venetian blinds, sweeps of sugar mills, furniture and boats[, ]. It is also useful for tool and knife handles, turnery and walkingsticks, and the butt ends of billiard cues[].

Propagation

Seed - very slow to germinate, the process can be sped up if the seed is scarified by lightly abrading the seedcoat to allow easier ingress of water[].
Cuttings.

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