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Useful Tropical Plants

Gymnanthes lucida

Sw.

Euphorbiaceae

+ Synonyms

Ateramnus lucidus (Sw.) Rothm.

Excoecaria lucida (Sw.) Sw.

Sebastiania lucida (Sw.) Müll.Arg.

Common Name:

Gymnanthes lucida
Cultivated plant at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL USA
Photograph by: David Stang
Creative Commons License
Gymnanthes lucida Gymnanthes lucida Gymnanthes lucida Gymnanthes lucida Gymnanthes lucida

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Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now.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 *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height6.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

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

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