Common Name: Capá Blanco

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[, ].
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[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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[, ].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 700 metres[].
Grows best in an open, sunny position[].
The tree flowers and produces fruit all year round in Jamaica and Puerto Rico[, ].

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[]. 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[]. 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[].
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[].

Propagation

Seed -

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