Sideroxylon portoricense
Urb.
Sapotaceae
Achras nigra (Sw.) Poir.
Bumelia bellonis (Urb.) Stearn
Bumelia matudae (Lundell) Stearn
Bumelia minutiflora (Pittier) Baehni
Bumelia nigra Sw.
Bumelia tabascensis Lundell
Dipholis bellonis Urb.
Dipholis matudae (Lundell) Lundell
Dipholis minutiflora Pittier
Dipholis nigra (Sw.) Griseb.
Dipholis tabascensis (Lundell) Lundell
Mastichodendron portoricense (Urb.) Alain
Sideroxylon matudae Lundell
Sideroxylon steyermarkii Standl.
Common Name:
General Information
Sideroxylon portoricense is a tree with a milky sap, growing from 8 - 30 metres tall with a bole that can be 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/
,
1983- Title
- Sapotaceae
- Publication
- Flora Neotropica Monograph 52
- Author
- Pennington T.D.
- Publisher
- The New York Botanical Garden; New York
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-89327-344-9
- Description
-
]. The subspecies minutiflorum can be up to 40 metres tall, the often fluted bole up to 150cm in diameter with very thick simple or branched buttresses to 100cm high or more[
1983- Title
- Sapotaceae
- Publication
- Flora Neotropica Monograph 52
- Author
- Pennington T.D.
- Publisher
- The New York Botanical Garden; New York
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-89327-344-9
- Description
-
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber and gum.
Sideroxylon portoricense has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Caribbean - Puerto Rico to Cuba; Central America - Panama to Guatemala and central Mexico.
Habitat
Moist or wet, mixed forests at elevations of 500 - 1,300 metres[
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/
]. (Subspecies minutiflorum). Rainforests, in a variety of sites, from sea level to higher elevations[
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.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 20.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The tree is a source of the gum 'chicle'[
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 dark brown wood is extremely hard; strong; close and straight-grained; very heavy[
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.
]. It is not highly lustrous; the odour not distinctive; the taste somewhat bitter[
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.
]. It is not difficult to work, finishing smoothly; with a fair to good durability[
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.
]. It is used locally for construction purposes[
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.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
