Common Name:

General Information

Tetragastris balsamifera is an evergreen tree; it can grow 10 - 25 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 50 - 60cm in diameter[, , ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for use of its wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil; Caribbean - Haiti to the Virgin Islands.

Habitat

Little-disturbed forest in the lower mountain, moist limestone, and moist and dry coastal regions[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a light to medium soil[].
The species regenerates readily in the forest, grows rapidly, and is of good form[].
The plant can flower and produce fruit all year round[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

We have no specific information for this plant, but the fruits of Tetragastris species are generally red, opening at maturity to expose a stone with an edibe, sweet white covering that attracts animals like pacas, peccaries and tortoises, which disperse some seeds throughout the forest. Forest people snack on the white pulp when the stones fall[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A balsamic resin is obtained from the tree[]. From the cracks in the bark and cuts made for this purpose exudes a white, very aromatic resin[].

The heartwood is light brown to orangey-yellow, sometimes with frequent small, black, resinous spots; it is clearly demarcated from the 4 - 6cm wide band of orange-yellow sapwood. Texture is fine; the grain interlocked; with a fragrant aroma. The wood is heavy, hard, tough, strong, of moderate elasticity, moderately durable, with resistance to attacks by fungi, dry wood borers and termites. The drying rate is normal to slow with a high risk of distortion or checking; once dry it is poorly stable in service. Sawing and machining are nore or less easy, but with a fairly high blunting effect - stellite-tipped sawteeth are recommended. Nailing and screwing are good, though pre-boring is necessary to avoid splitting; gluing is correct; Shaping, turning and sanding are good; mortising is excellent. The wood is used for industrial or heavy flooring, interior stairs, joinery, heavy carpentry, high-grade furniture, cabinet work, bridges etc[, , ].

Propagation

Seed -

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