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Useful Tropical Plants

Sloanea berteroana

Choisy ex DC.

Elaeocarpaceae


The name of this species is often mis-spelt Sloanea berteriana[
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

Common Name: Motillo

Sloanea berteroana
Inflorescence
Photograph by: C. M. Taylor
Creative Commons License
Sloanea berteroana Sloanea berteroana

General Information

Motillo is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole has pronounced buttresses, it can be 60 - 90cm in diameter[
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its useful wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

677
Title
Contributions from the Gray Herbarium Vol. 175
Publication
 
Author
Earle Smith C. Jr.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Massachusets
Year
1954
ISBN
 
Description
A monograph of the Tropical American species of Sloanea.

Range

Caribbean - Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Leeward and Windward Islands.

Habitat

A dominant, sometimes emergent, tree in the forests of the lower mountain regions, favouring moist ravines[
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height25.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood may be greyish, greyish yellow brown, yellowish brown, or a uniform pinkish brown to chocolate brown; it is usually distinct from the yellowish sapwood. Indistinct darker brown stripes occur at irregular intervals in some specimens Texture is medium; lustre low; grain irregular; and it is without distinctive odour or taste. The wood is very hard, heavy, strong. It is not particularly attractive and would be difficult to use for furniture because of its many colours. However, the wood of a uniform brown colour would be suitable for many decorative purposes. It works fairly well and produces good to excellent surfaces in all machining operations; it takes screws and nails poorly, requiring lead holes when screws are used and preboring before nailing. The wood is moderately resistant to dry-wood termites. It is probably not durable in the ground nor resistant to marine borers, although definite information is lacking. While the wood lacks the attractiveness for furniture and cabinetwork, it is sufficiently hard, heavy, and strong for all types of heavy construction, farm implement parts, handles, heavy-duty flooring, boat parts, and piling in areas free of
the wood-eating teredos[
471
Title
Puerto Rican Woods. Agriculture Handbook No. 205
Publication
 
Author
Longwood F.R.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service; Washington
Year
1961
ISBN
 
Description
Descriptions of 60 timbers from Puerto Rica.
].

Propagation

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

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