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Useful Tropical Plants

Daphnopsis americana

(Mill.) J.R.Johnst.

Thymelaeaceae


A very diverse species, with up to seven subspecies recognised[
380
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Vol. 46
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
Missouro Botanical Garden
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. Amongst other things, this issue contains a review of the genus Daphnopsis.
].

+ Synonyms

Daphne bonplandiana Kunth

Daphne cestrifolia Kunth

Daphne elaeagnoides Humb. ex Wikstr.

Daphne mexicana Spreng.

Daphne obovata Humb. ex Wikstr.

Daphne salicifolia Kunth

Daphne tinifolia Sw.

Daphnopsis bonplandiana (Kunth) Meisn.

Daphnopsis bonplandiana (Kunth) Standl.

Daphnopsis caribaea Griseb.

Daphnopsis cestrifolia (Kunth) Meisn.

Daphnopsis incerata Cuatrec.

Daphnopsis lindenii Meisn.

Daphnopsis salicifolia Meisn.

Daphnopsis seibertii Standl.

Daphnopsis tinifolia (Sw.) Meisn.

Daphnopsis tinifolia Griseb.

Hargasseria cestrifolia (Kunth) Endl.

Hargasseria mexicana C.A.Mey.

Hargasseria salicifolia Endl.

Hargasseria schiedeana Endl.

Hargasseria tinifolia (Sw.) Endl.

Laurus americana Mill.

Nordmannia tinifolia (Sw.) Fisch. & C.A.Mey.

Common Name:

Daphnopsis americana
Male flowers
Photograph by: O. M. Montiel
Creative Commons License
Daphnopsis americana Daphnopsis americana Daphnopsis americana Daphnopsis americana

General Information

Daphnopsis americana is an evergreen shrub or tree; it can grow up to 15 metres tall[
380
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Vol. 46
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
Missouro Botanical Garden
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. Amongst other things, this issue contains a review of the genus Daphnopsis.
].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fibre.

Known Hazards

Most, if not all, species in this genus contain toxic alkaloids[
528
Title
Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
Publication
 
Author
Fonseca E. T. De
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
Year
1922
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Botanical References

380
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Vol. 46
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
Missouro Botanical Garden
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. Amongst other things, this issue contains a review of the genus Daphnopsis.

Range

S. America - Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; C. America - Costa Rica to southern Mexico; Caribbean - Leeward Islands to Puerto Rico and Jamaica.

Habitat

Forests, generally associated with rivers, streams or other very moist habitats such as cloud forests. It shows a pronounced preference for soils which are volcanic in origin[
380
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Vol. 46
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
Missouro Botanical Garden
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. Amongst other things, this issue contains a review of the genus Daphnopsis.
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height10.00 m
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details



A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
380
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Vol. 46
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
Missouro Botanical Garden
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. Amongst other things, this issue contains a review of the genus Daphnopsis.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A strong, good quality fibre obtained from the bark is used for making rope[
380
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Vol. 46
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
Missouro Botanical Garden
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. Amongst other things, this issue contains a review of the genus Daphnopsis.
,
528
Title
Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
Publication
 
Author
Fonseca E. T. De
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
Year
1922
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It has a bitter flavour[
380
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Vol. 46
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
Missouro Botanical Garden
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. Amongst other things, this issue contains a review of the genus Daphnopsis.
]. A delicate, white, lace-like fibre[
454
Title
Useful Fiber Plants of the World
Publication
 
Author
Dodge C.R.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
USDA; Washington.
Year
1897
ISBN
 
Description
A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The inner hark is naturally woven in such a manner that pieces several metres long can easily be stripped off - these are very strong and can be braided into a strong rope[
478
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 11
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1945
ISBN
 
Description
Includes an article on the Economic Plants of S. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

The leaves are used as filling in braided fabric hats, which is why they are not brittle afterwards[
528
Title
Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
Publication
 
Author
Fonseca E. T. De
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
Year
1922
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Daphnopsis+americana>

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