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Useful Tropical Plants

Luehea speciosa

Willd.

Malvaceae

+ Synonyms

Apeiba ulmifolia Kunth.

Brotera maritima Vell.

Cedrela alternifolia (Mill.) Steud.

Cedrus alternifolia Mill.

Luehea alternifolia (Mill.) Mabb.

Luehea ferruginea Turcz.

Luehea platypetala A. Rich.

Luehea rufescens Benth.

Luehea tarapotina J.F. Macbr.

Swietenia alternifolia (Mill.) Steud.

Common Name:

Luehea speciosa
Flower
Photograph by: Environmental Sciences Program, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
© Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Luehea speciosa Luehea speciosa Luehea speciosa Luehea speciosa

General Information

Luehea speciosa is a large shrub or, more commonly, a tree with a spreading crown, that can sometimes grow up to 25 metres tall. The bole is often buttressed and is around 45 - 60cm in diameter[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its fibre, which is used locally.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to southern Mexico; Caribbean - Cuba.

Habitat

Dry or moist forest or thickets, sometimes in pine forest, at elevations from near sea level to 1,100 metres[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitTree
Height15.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the bark[
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 wood is white when first cut, but upon exposure turns pale pinkish brown or reddish[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
We do not have any more information on the wood of this species, but a general description of the wood of this genus is as follows:-
The heartwood is brown or brownish, sometimes with a pinkish tinge, and more or less streaked; it is not clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The texture is fine to medium; the grain straight to finely roey; lustre varies from low to fairly high; there is no distinctive odour or taste. It is not very durable, being vulnerable to attack by decay fungi and insects. It air dries rapidly with little or no degrade. The wood is reported to be easy to work, though one member of the genus is said to be difficult to plane, and another is difficult to turn. It is used for low value items such as millwork, furniture components, flooring, general construction, boxes and crates, veneer and plywood, particleboard, and shoe heels[
316
Title
Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
Publication
 
Author
Chudnoff. Martin.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
].

Propagation

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

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