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Useful Tropical Plants

Petitia domingensis

Jacq.

Lamiaceae

+ Synonyms

Aegiphila punctata Turcz.

Callicarpa cinerea A.Rich.

Callicarpa reticulate Poepp. ex Walp.

Citharexylum melanocardium Sw.

Citharexylum paniculatum Gaertn.

Petitia poeppigii Schauer

Premna reticulate Juss.

Common Name: Capá Blanco

Petitia domingensis
Tree
Photograph by: Karen
Creative Commons License
Petitia domingensis Petitia domingensis

General Information

Capá blanco is an evergreen (or nearly so) tree with an open, spreading crown; it can grow from 4 - 20 metres tall. The bole can be 30cm or more in diameter[
426
Title
Flowering Plants of Jamaica
Publication
 
Author
Adams. C.D.
Publisher
University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
Year
1972
ISBN
 
Description
A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
,
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 is harvested from the wild for its excellent quality timber. It has been trialled as a timber crop in small plntations in Puerto Rico[
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.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

426
Title
Flowering Plants of Jamaica
Publication
 
Author
Adams. C.D.
Publisher
University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
Year
1972
ISBN
 
Description
A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.

Range

Southeastern N. America - Florida, to the Caribbean.

Habitat

Secondary thickets, pastures and woodland openings on limestone from near sea level to elevations of 700 metres in Jamaica[
426
Title
Flowering Plants of Jamaica
Publication
 
Author
Adams. C.D.
Publisher
University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
Year
1972
ISBN
 
Description
A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
,
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.
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitTree
Height10.00 m
PollinatorsBees
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 700 metres[
426
Title
Flowering Plants of Jamaica
Publication
 
Author
Adams. C.D.
Publisher
University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
Year
1972
ISBN
 
Description
A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
].
Grows best in an open, sunny position[
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 flowers and produces fruit all year round in Jamaica and Puerto Rico[
426
Title
Flowering Plants of Jamaica
Publication
 
Author
Adams. C.D.
Publisher
University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
Year
1972
ISBN
 
Description
A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
,
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.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Capá blanco is a timber of excellent quality and unusually attractive appearance. The light-brown to medium-brown heartwood is frequently variegated in different brownish hues or is marked by attractive darker coloured waxy looking stripes. The sapwood is lighter brown and not clearly separated from the heartwood[
471
Title
Puerto Rican Woods. Agriculture Handbook No. 205
Publication
 
Author
Longwood F.R.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service; Washington
Year
1961
ISBN
 
Description
Descriptions of 60 timbers from Puerto Rica.
]. The wood possesses rather fine grains, which may be straight, somewhat wavy, or interlocked. Lustre is medium to high, growth rings are not visible, and odour and taste are not distinctive. The wood is very hard; heavy; tough; strong; moderately resistant to dry-wood termites; moderately durable in contact with the ground; moderately easy to work[
471
Title
Puerto Rican Woods. Agriculture Handbook No. 205
Publication
 
Author
Longwood F.R.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service; Washington
Year
1961
ISBN
 
Description
Descriptions of 60 timbers from Puerto Rica.
]. Good to excellent surfaces are obtained in all machining operations except planing, in which considerable 'pickup' or torn grain occurs where interlocked grain is present. The wood otherwise planes and machines in other operations to a glossy smooth surface; it glues well, takes a high polish, and accepts nails or screws with a minimum of splitting[
471
Title
Puerto Rican Woods. Agriculture Handbook No. 205
Publication
 
Author
Longwood F.R.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service; Washington
Year
1961
ISBN
 
Description
Descriptions of 60 timbers from Puerto Rica.
].
The finished, wood resembles black walnut (Juglans nigra) in colour and pleasing appearance. It is sufficiently attractive for use in furniture, cabinetmaking, turned articles, novelty items, interior panelling, and similar uses. It has been used in the Caribbean area for rollers in coffee-hulling mills, for making carts, and for posts, poles, piling, and props. The wood appears to be suitable for all types of agricultural implements, handles, sporting goods, and other products requiring an attractive, strong, and durable wood. Knotty and low-grade material would be suitable for all types of light and heavy construction, including housing, farm buildings of all types, bridge material, and reinforcing for concrete work[
471
Title
Puerto Rican Woods. Agriculture Handbook No. 205
Publication
 
Author
Longwood F.R.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service; Washington
Year
1961
ISBN
 
Description
Descriptions of 60 timbers from Puerto Rica.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-10. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Petitia+domingensis>

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