Gymnanthes lucida
Sw.
Euphorbiaceae
Ateramnus lucidus (Sw.) Rothm.
Excoecaria lucida (Sw.) Sw.
Sebastiania lucida (Sw.) Müll.Arg.
Common Name:
Cultivated plant at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL USA
Photograph by: David Stang
General Information
Gymnanthes lucida is an evergreen shrub or tree with a narrow crown; it can grow up to 9 metres tall. The bole can be 20cm in diameter, with broad buttresses at the base[
82- Title
- Manual of the Trees of N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent. C. S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Dover Publications Inc. New York.
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- 0-486-20278-X
- Description
- Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
,
447- Title
- Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
-
- Author
- Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
- Publisher
- USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].
The tree produces a beautiful wood, but it is generally only available in small dimensions and so is not much used.
Known Hazards
The plant contains a poisonous, milky juice that can irritate the skin, causing inflammation[
447- Title
- Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
-
- Author
- Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
- Publisher
- USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].
It is said that smoke from the burning wood can cause eye irritation[
447- Title
- Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
-
- Author
- Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
- Publisher
- USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].
Botanical References
82- Title
- Manual of the Trees of N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent. C. S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Dover Publications Inc. New York.
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- 0-486-20278-X
- Description
- Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
Range
C. America - Costa Rica to Mexico; Caribbean - Leeward Isles to Cuba and the Bahamas; SE N. America - Florida.
Habitat
Forests and thickets in limestone regions[
447- Title
- Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
-
- Author
- Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
- Publisher
- USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
]. Woods at low elevations[
82- Title
- Manual of the Trees of N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent. C. S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Dover Publications Inc. New York.
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- 0-486-20278-X
- Description
- Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
].
Properties
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The heartwood is light olive, streaked with dark brown; the sapwood is whitish or yellowish. The wood is very fine- grained, very hard, very heavy, takes a fine polish, and is durable. This beautiful figured and fine-textured wood is used for small carved articles, canes, brush and mirror backs, novelties, etc. Locally, its durability and strength give it value for making posts, stakes, etc., and where obtainable in sufficient size, is well adapted to heavy construction and furniture use. Thin cross-sections are sometimes found in the market for fancy cabinetwork, known as 'Cuban oyster wood'[
447- Title
- Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
-
- Author
- Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
- Publisher
- USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
,
876- Title
- The American Woods (in 14 volumes)
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hough R.B.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Romeyn B. Hough Co.; New York
- Year
- 1888 - 1928
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information, with photographs, of the woods of almost 400 species of American trees. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The wood is sometimes used for fuel[
82- Title
- Manual of the Trees of N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sargent. C. S.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Dover Publications Inc. New York.
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- 0-486-20278-X
- Description
- Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.
]. Caution - see the notes above on 'Known Hazards'[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
