Common Name: Ant Tree

General Information

Triplaris americana is an evergreen tree with a narrow, columnar crown growing up to 20 metres tall[]. The straight bole, which is slightly angled or fluted, is up to 45cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber, which is mainly used locally. The tree is sometimes grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its showy masses of large, odd, reddish fruits at the top of the crown of female trees[].

Known Hazards

Hollow stems on the tree are inhabited by small, vicious ants which emerge quickly and attack anyone molesting the tree[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Habitat

Dry loam in the margins of forests[]. Found in both primary and secondary formations in the rainforest, favouring the wetter soils and areas subject to seasonal inundation[].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

A plant of mainly low to moderate elevations in the moist tropics, where it is generally found at elevations below 1,200 metres, but found exceptionally at elevations up to 2,500 metres.
Prefers a position in full sun[]. Grows best in a moist soil, tolerating seasonal inundation of the soil[].
A fast-growing plant, it can be 3 metres tall within 2 years from seed[].
The tree sprouts readily from the base when it is cut down[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

A natural pioneer species within its native range, it is a fast-growing tree and can be used for re-establishing native woodland, especially in the wetter soils, as well as for establishing woodland gardens[, ].

Other Uses

The wood is a pale gray-brown to pinkish-brown, the sapwood is not distinct from the heartwood[]. The lustre is medium; the texture medium to moderately coarse; the grain straight or slightly interlocked; without distinctive odour or taste[]. The wood is light, strong, tough and elastic; it is not resistant to attack by decay fungi and is vulnerable to dry-wood termites[, ]. It machines well in all operations, but is rated only fair in turning[]. It is used for furniture components, boxes and crates, interior construction, joinery, fibreboard and particleboard[, ].
The wood is sometimes used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a short viability of around 4 months and is best sown as soon as it is ripe. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate in excess of 60% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 15 - 25 days[]. When the seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 4 - 5 months later[].

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