Common Name:

General Information

Myrsine coriacea is an evergreen tree with an open, narrow crown; it can grow 6 - 12 metres tall. The slender, cylindrical bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood. It can be used as a pioneer species when restoring woodland or establishing woodland gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; C. America - Panama to Mexico; Caribbean

Habitat

Various forest types, usually in the more open, secondary formations, favouring moist sites and slopes near rivers where it can be dominant; usually at elevations above 1,500 metres in the tropics, descending to lower elevations in the subtropics[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	9.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropics to the tropics, descending to lower elevations in the subtropics but rarely below 500 metres in the tropics and most commonly at elevations from 1,500 metres to over 3,000 metres.
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Prefers a moist soil[].
A fast-growing plant, able to reach a height of 3 - 4 metres within 2 years from seed[].
Plants will often flower and produce fruit all year round[].
Usually a dioecious species, though bisexual flowers are sometimes found. Generally, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing species that tolerates full sun and provides an edible fruit for the native fauna; it can be used as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland and can also be used for establishing woodland gardens[, ].

Other Uses

The whitish wood is medium-textured, light in weight, with poor mechanical properties and not durable when exposed to the elements. It is easy to cut and can be used for internal purposes such as stays and beams, as well as for posts[, ].
The wood is used to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 60 days[]. When the seedlings are 4 - 5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 5 - 6 months later[].
The seed has a short viability of less than 3 months in storage[].

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