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Useful Tropical Plants

Tabernaemontana arborea

Rose ex J.D.Sm.

Apocynaceae

+ Synonyms

Peschiera arborea (Rose ex J.D.Sm.) Markgr.

Peschiera schippii (Standl.) Markgr.

Tabernaemontana schippii Standl.

Common Name:

Tabernaemontana arborea
Tree growing in the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL USA
Photograph by: David Stang
Creative Commons License
Tabernaemontana arborea Tabernaemontana arborea Tabernaemontana arborea Tabernaemontana arborea Tabernaemontana arborea

General Information

Tabernaemontana arborea is a shrub or a tree with a spreading or rounded crown; it usually grows from 6 - 15 metres tall. The straight bole is usually 30 - 50cm in diameter, often with small buttresses[
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/
,
551
Title
A Century of Trees of Panama.
Publication
 
Author
Pittier H. Mell C.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A work that was very difficult to get published according to the correspondence contained at the start!. A treatment of 100 different species with descriptions and details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

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/

Range

S. America - Colombia; C. America - Panama to Mexico.

Habitat

Moist or wet thickets or mixed forest, often in second growth, at elevations up to 600 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/
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *
HabitTree
Height11.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves and sap are laxative and purgative. A decoction is taken in the treatment of fevers[
872
Title
Journal of Ethnobiology Vol 17
Publication
 
Author
Eugene S. Hunn (Editor)
Publisher
Society of Ethnobiology; Seattle.
Year
1997 - 1998
ISBN
 
Description
A series of articles on the various ways humans use plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Other Uses

A fair amount of latex exudes when the trunk is cut[
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 heartwood is yellowish to reddish-brown; the usually narrow band of sapwood nearly white. The texture is fine; the grain straight and very close. The wood is very hard and tough, heavy, strong. It takes a very good polish[
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/
,
551
Title
A Century of Trees of Panama.
Publication
 
Author
Pittier H. Mell C.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A work that was very difficult to get published according to the correspondence contained at the start!. A treatment of 100 different species with descriptions and details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-06. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Tabernaemontana+arborea>

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