A very variable species, as can be deduced by the plethora of synonyms![].

Common Name: Milk Tree

General Information

Milk tree is an evergreen or briefly deciduous, tall forest tree with a spreading crown; it can grow up to 35 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole is 50cm or more in diameter; unbranched for about half of the tree's height; with strong buttresses about 1.2 metres tall[].
The latex is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use. The tree is a good pioneer species for re-establishing woodland.

Known Hazards

The latex is toxic and can damage the eyes if it comes into contact with them[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil, north to the Caribbean and through Central America to Mexico.

Habitat

Dense, flood-free forests at elevations from 120 metres to 1,500 metres[]. Savannah forests and mountain slopes[]. It may grow in secondary formations in some areas[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a sunny position[]. Plants can succeed on thin, dry soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree plays an important role, within its native range, in the reclamation of storm-ravaged land by the forest[].
Trees and saplings are sturdy, resistant to drought and excessive sunlight, and are thus good pioneer plants[]. They frequently are among the first woody plants to invade clearings caused by tree-falls, landslides, or human intervention. They are also good competitors on steep slopes where soils are thin and xeric conditions are prevalent. Saplings one meter tall have been observed in storm-damaged sites after only two years of regeneration[].

Other Uses

A latex is obtained from the tree[]. It is the source of a good rubber[].
When cut, the bark secretes a fair quantity of a sweet, pinkish latex[].

The heartwood is pale brown; the sapwood cream-coloured in a band 12 - 25mm wide[]. The wood is straight-grained; coarse-textured; very soft; light; not strong; not durable; tasteless, but with a slightly foetid odour[]. It requires a sharp knife to cut smoothly across the grain; It is easy to work; checks and is liable to stain in drying[]. It is little used, but occasionally light boxes are made from it[].
The wood is used for fuel and 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 usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 10 - 35 days[].
In nature, the seeds germinate soon (within a week or two) after coming into contact with the moist forest floor[].

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