Common Name: Candlewood

General Information

Dacryodes excelsa is a large to very large, unbuttressed evergreen tree, reaching its best development in Puerto Rico, where 400 year old specimens have been found 36 metres tall with a girth of 90 - 150cm[, ]. Mature trees are more commonly 18 - 25 metres tall with a girth of 50 - 75cm[].
Because of its abundance, size, and straight, well-formed clear bole, this was one of the most valuable lumber trees of the original mountain forests in Puerto Rico[]. It is one of the best formed and most extensively used timbers within its native range[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Caribbean - Grenada; Montserrat; Puerto Rico.

Habitat

Occurs in small groups along ridgetops and upper slopes in the rain forests[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of low to medium elevations in the tropics, it is found in areas with a mean temperature in the range of 21 - 25°c, and a mean annual precipitation range from 2,000 - 4,000 mm[]. Precipitation is generally abundant except for about 3 months of the year, when it may drop to about 75 mm per month[].
Grows in the wild on deep, red, clay soils derived from igneous rock[]. Typically these soils are stony, often with large boulders, and internal drainage is good[]. The soil is usually acid, with a pH of around 4.5 - 5.5[]. Seedlings are very tolerant of shade, but plants need more light as they grow older[].
At 9 years, trees were 3.0 - 4.3 metres in height and 3.8 to 5.0 cm in dbh[].
The trees are deep rooted and able to withstand the numerous hurricanes of the Caribbean area[].
Large tabonuco trees tend to be concentrated on upper slopes and ridges, where they may form nearly pure groups whose roots are grafted, thus forming a tree union or clumps of trees[]. Presumably this reflects the better drainage of soils at such locations or the superior anchorage against hurricane winds that the prominent boulders may offer. Significantly superior diameter growth rates of tabonuco on ridges as compared to swales have been reported[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

We have seen no records regarding the edibility of this fruit, but most, if not all, members of the genus have a fruit with a soft, sweet flesh and are potentially edible[, ].
The flesh of the fruits in this genus usually adheres very strongly to the seed. When placed in hot (but not boiling) water at around 60 - 85°c the fruit softens and swells and all the flesh then slides easily off the seed[, ].

Medicinal

A resin obtained from the wood has medicinal uses[].

Other Uses

The bark is smooth, light gray to nearly white, and often scarred at the base of the tree from gashes made to secure a fragrant resin, which is used for making candles and torches; incense and for medicinal purposes[, ].
A clear, fragrant inflammable resin exudes from points of damage on the tree[]. It hardens and turns white on exposure to the air[].

The heartwood is a uniform pale brown with a purplish cast when first cut; it turns to a pinkish brown when seasoned and a lustrous brown on exposure[]. The narrow band of sapwood, an unattractive greyish colour, is not clearly demarcated from the heartwood[]. The texture is fine to medium and uniform, it is generally somewhat finer textured than mahogany, which it resembles superficially[]. The lustre is high and sometimes satiny in appearance. Growth rings are not distinct, and seasoned wood lacks any distinctive odour or taste. The wood is moderately heavy, but only slightly resistant to decay[]. The timber is easy to work with some tendency to dull saws and other cutting edges, because of the accumulated silica in the wood[]. When sharp cutting edges are maintained, the wood finishes smoothly and takes glue and all finishes effectively. It is a good wood for turning and holding nails[].
The wood is used in Puerto Rico principally for furniture and cabinetmaking in the urban areas and for general construction and carpentry in the rural areas. In St. Lucia and Dominica it is used for crates, shingles, small boat building and furniture. The wood has sufficient strength and attractiveness to merit its use in place of yellow birch, mahogany, and other cabinet woods. In Puerto Rico it is often stained a dark mahogany colour and sold as mahogany. Rails and posts of mahogany beds are frequently made of the wood, stained dark to hide its identity. This is the result of its reputation of being very susceptible to termite attack in comparison to mahogany’s known resistance to termites[]. The wood is considered suitable for veneer[].

Propagation

Seed - the seed has a short viability and needs to be sown as soon as possible[]. Germination is epigeal and, in the wild, takes place within a few days under humid, shady conditions[]. Under direct exposure to the sun, germination is less than in the shade, 11% compared to 28% in one test[].
Under shady, nursery conditions, seedlings attained a height of 22 cm in 6 months. Like many other large-seeded tree species, tabonuco does not survive bare root transplanting[].. In contrast, 85 percent survival has been attained by the use of containers with an intact ball of earth about the roots[].

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: what is half of 6?