Common Name:

General Information

Triplaris melaenodendron is an evergreen tree with a rounded crown; usually growing 6 - 12 metres tall but often larger[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber, which is mainly used locally.

Known Hazards

Hollow branches on the tree are almost invariably inhabited by savage ants that inflict painful bites when the tree is molested[].

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Colombia; through Central America to Mexico.

Habitat

Thickets or forest of the Pacific plains and foothills, at elevations up to 750 metres in Guatemala[].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

A plant of mainly lowland areas in the moist Tropics, though it can be found at elevations up to 1,200 metres. It succeeds in areas with all-year-round rainfall as well as areas that have a distinct dry season[].

The stumps send up sprouts after the tree has been felled[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is yellowish, rather light and soft but firm, with straight or fairly straight grain, of medium texture, easy to work, takes a good polish, apparently is not durable[]. It is used locally for construction purposes[].
We have no more information on the wood from this species. However, we have a general description of the wood for this genus, which is as follows:-
The heartwood is a pale gray-brown to pinkish-brown; it is not demarcated from the sapwood. The texture is medium to moderately coarse; the grain straight or slightly interlocked; lustre is medium; there is no distinctive odour or taste. The wood is not very durable, being susceptible to attack by decay fungi and vulnerable to dry-wood termites. Drying is reported to vary from fairly slow to rapid, depending on species, with medium warping and checking. The wood machines well in all operations, but is rated only fair in turning. It is used for purposes such as furniture components, boxes and crates, interior construction, fiberboard and particleboard, joinery[].

Propagation

Seed -

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