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Useful Tropical Plants

Qualea rosea

Aubl.

Vochysiaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

Qualea rosea

General Information

Qualea rosea is a tree growing up to 45 metres tall. The bole can be free of branches for up to 20 metres and around 60cm in diameter[
378
Title
Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean
Publication
USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207
Author
Longwood.F.R.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber, which is used locally and also traded as a source of 'mandioqueira' wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.

Range

S. America - French Guiana, Surinam.

Habitat

Primary rainforests, usually on higher, non-inundated sites[
378
Title
Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean
Publication
USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207
Author
Longwood.F.R.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet.
], though in some areas it may grow on sandy or clayish soils[
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.
]. Found especially on forested slopes[
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitTree
Height35.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A resin obtained from the tree is used as a purgative[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

Other Uses

The freshly cut heartwood is a pinkish brown, becoming light reddish brown with a definite coppery or golden look upon drying; it is not clearly separated from the 3 - 6cm wide band of cream-coloured sapwood. The grain is straight to sometimes interlocked - when interlocked grain is present, a mild wavy figure is apparent on the tangential
surface; texture is medium to coarse; lustre is high, but without the characteristic sublustre so well developed in many high-grade cabinet woods; the unseasoned wood has an unpleasant odour, but no distinctive odour or taste is evident in seasoned wood. The wood is moderately heavy, moderately hard; somewhat variable in decay resistance but, in general, is moderately durable. It seasons at a normal rate, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is poorly stable in service. It has moderately good working properties; saws and planes well; takes nails and screws well; glues satisfactorily; but requires care in polishing. However, it dulls saws and cutting edges rather quickly because of the accumulation of silica in the parenchyma and ray cells - stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended. Chipped or torn grain is likely to occur when roey grain is present, and fuzzy surfaces and tearing are apt to occur in boring[
378
Title
Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean
Publication
USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207
Author
Longwood.F.R.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet.
]. The wood is used locally for such purposes as canoes, joinery, flooring, interior trim, furniture, and millwork. It has been used in the superstructures of bridges and has also been found suitable for packing cases, outside and inside sheathing, rafters, and implements[
378
Title
Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean
Publication
USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207
Author
Longwood.F.R.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet.
,
528
Title
Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
Publication
 
Author
Fonseca E. T. De
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
Year
1922
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
848
Title
Tropix 7
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://tropix.cirad.fr/en
Publisher
CIRAD
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line guide to the timbers of 245 species of trees.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings of half-ripe wood.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-11-22. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Qualea+rosea>

Comments

vjd 04th June 2015 14:52
I ast has also recently been found to be one of the champion carbon sequestering species in the rainforest,suggesting we should move away from its use lumber as quickly as possible.

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