Common Name:

General Information

Thespesia grandiflora is an evergreen tree with a rounded crown; it usually grows up to 15 metres tall, occasionally to 20 metres. The usually straight and cylindrical bole can be free of branches for 3 metres or more and up to 50cm in diameter when growing in forests; when grown in the open as an ornamental, however, it normallly branches from near the ground[].
The tree produces a valuable wood, somewhat similar in appearance and working quality to old growth mahogany. It is sometimes cultivated as a timber crop, and is often grown as an ornamental, being valued especially for its floral display[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Caribbean - Puerto Rico.

Habitat

Forests in moist and wet areas, especially on limestone soils[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Thespesia grandiflora is a plant of the warm tropics; it is found in areas with mean annual precipitations ranging from 1,250 - 2,500mm and a mean annual temperature from 20 - 27°c[].
Succeeds in full sun and in dappled shade[]. Grows well on soils ranging from mildly alkaline to strongly acid, with textures ranging from sandy loams to clays[]. Natural trees grow best on colluvial lower slopes of limestone hills and
the alluvial bottoms between the hills[].
Plants are reported to begin flowering at between 5 - 10 years of age. Flowering and fruiting proceeds throughout the year except when limited by periods of low rainfall and drought stress[].
This species is the national tree of Puerto Rico[].
This tree was formerly widely planted in Puerto Rico, both along roadsides and as a timber crop in the public forests. As it proved to be an alternate host of the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella), its planting was discontinued in the cotton region. Subsequently propagation of this species, other than for landscaping, has nearly terminated. Forest plantings were stopped when it was found that the trees, which at first grew straight and rapidly, later nearly ceased growth, became excessively branchy, and produced numerous cankerlike defects on the trunk. Trees in plantations on good soils in the moist limestone region averaged 88mm in diameter at an age of 9 years[].
Another objection to extensive planting, even as an ornamental, is that the trees are very susceptible to a scale insect which deforms both trunk and branches and sometimes causes death[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood, which is durable and highly resistant to dry-wood termites, is used for making furniture, crafts, and musical instruments[, ].


The heartwood is rich chocolate brown, resembling old mahogany; the sapwood is light brown. The wood is rather hard, heavy, fine-textured, very durable, and very resistant to attack by dry-wood termites. A now scarce furniture wood, it is also used also occasionally for turnery, musical instruments, posts, and poles[].

Propagation

Seed - it begins germinating 5 - 7 days after the fruit ripens and often whilst still in the fruit. Because seeds picked up from the ground may already have the radicle exposed, moist paper towels or other moistened material should be placed in the collection container during transport and the seeds should be sown as soon as possible. No pregermination treatments are necessary. Seeds may be sown in trays, seedbeds, or directly in the containers and lightly covered in ordinary potting mix. A germination rate of 70 - 80% can be expected from fresh seed, but this can drop to 20% after 2 weeks of storage. Seeds sown in germination trays or beds are transplanted to nursery bags or pots after the first true leaves emerge. The seedlings develop rapidly in partial shade, reaching 20cm in 3 months and 40cm in 6 months. The seedlings should be moved into full sun a few weeks before outplanting. Seedling stock from 15 - 50cm can be used to establish plantations[]. Trees destined to become ornamentals are often grown in pots until they attain 1 to 2.5 m in height, when they should be planted in deep, well-aerated, and fertile soil[].
Viability of the seeds can be extended to almost 4 months by drying to 62.5% moisture and storing at 2 - 4 °c[].

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