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Useful Tropical Plants

Phyllostylon rhamnoides

(Poiss.) Taub.

Ulmaceae


There has been considerable confusion over this genus, with one to three species being recognised. We have followed the treatment in Sida, volume 15, which recognises two species - this one, which ranges from Argentina to Mexico, and P. Brasiliensis from coastal Brazil. It has been assumed that the uses of the wood are similar for the two species[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Samaroceltis rhamnoides Poiss.

Common Name:

Phyllostylon rhamnoides
Tree
Photograph by: Jorge Vallmitjana
Public domain
Phyllostylon rhamnoides Phyllostylon rhamnoides Phyllostylon rhamnoides

General Information

Phyllostylon rhamnoides is a tree with a long, narrow crown; it can grow from 5 - 24 metres tall[
474
Title
Sida Vol 15
Publication
 
Author
Lipscomb B.I. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanical Research Institute of Texas.
Year
1992
ISBN
 
Description
A journal of botanical nomenclature. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The tree can vary considerably in height, with specimens in Guatemala, for example, scarcely reaching 10 metres whilst in the Dominican Republic they can attain a height of 24 metres with a bole 70cm 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/
,
341
Title
South American Timbers: the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 190 Species.
Publication
 
Author
Bolza. E. & Christensen. F.J.
Publisher
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
Year
1979
ISBN
0 643 02582 0
Description
A very useful guide.
]. The bole is buttressed[
363
Title
Technical Information on 134 Species of Bolivian Woods
Publication
 
Author
USDA Forest Service -- Forest Products Lab
Website
http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/publications/
Publisher
USDA Forest Service
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A PDF file, available for download. Exactly what the title says, brief and to the point.
].
The trees are harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood.

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/
,
474
Title
Sida Vol 15
Publication
 
Author
Lipscomb B.I. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanical Research Institute of Texas.
Year
1992
ISBN
 
Description
A journal of botanical nomenclature. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

S. America - Argentina north to the West Indies and through Central America to Mexico.

Habitat

Scrub forest and thorn scrub forest, often on calcareous soils and on brushy rocky soils in central America. In South America it occurs in moist lowland forest and open savannahs and in woods on clay soils[
474
Title
Sida Vol 15
Publication
 
Author
Lipscomb B.I. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanical Research Institute of Texas.
Year
1992
ISBN
 
Description
A journal of botanical nomenclature. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations from near sea level to over 1,000 metres.

Edible Uses

Seed[
335
Title
Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
Publication
 
Author
Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
Publisher
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
Year
1987
ISBN
 
Description
A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
]. No more information is given.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is lemon-yellow, sometimes with a tinge of brown, occasionally with dark streaks; it is not clearly defined from the sapwood, which is yellowish or nearly white[
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.
,
341
Title
South American Timbers: the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 190 Species.
Publication
 
Author
Bolza. E. & Christensen. F.J.
Publisher
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
Year
1979
ISBN
0 643 02582 0
Description
A very useful guide.
]. The wood is hard and heavy; the texture is fine and uniform; the grain fairly straight but sometimes irregular; without distinctive odour or taste; highly resistant to insect attack[
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.
,
341
Title
South American Timbers: the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 190 Species.
Publication
 
Author
Bolza. E. & Christensen. F.J.
Publisher
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
Year
1979
ISBN
0 643 02582 0
Description
A very useful guide.
]. The wood is reported to be not difficult to work; readily turned and carved; it can be stained satisfactorily and takes a high polish[
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.
]. It glues well, holds nails and screws well although pre-boring is advisable with thin stock[
341
Title
South American Timbers: the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 190 Species.
Publication
 
Author
Bolza. E. & Christensen. F.J.
Publisher
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
Year
1979
ISBN
0 643 02582 0
Description
A very useful guide.
]. It has been suggested as a substitute for boxwood (Buxus spp.)[
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.
]. It is used for making weaver's shuttles, rulers and piano keys[
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 wood is used for fuel[
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/
].

Propagation

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

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