Common Name:

General Information

Vochysia ferruginea is a tree with a small, dense crown usually growing from 6 - 20 metres tall, with exceptional specimens to 35 metres[, ]. The straight bole, which can be unbranched for 7 - 15 metres, can be 30 - 80cm in diameter[].
The wood is sometimes used locally. The flowers, which are very showy, possess a strong scent that is very like that of the violet[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Venezuela; Central America - Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras.

Habitat

Lowland and montane forests on non-flooded land, mostly on poor sandy or red soils, at elevations up to 1,500 metres[]. The plant makes its best growth along the coastal plain[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of mainly lowland areas in the moist tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,500 metres.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is pinkish brown, neither hard nor heavy but compact, and brittle[]. It is not very durable in contact with the soil, but is generally very resistant to white-rot fungus and moderately resistant to brown-rot fungus. It works readily, but possesses rather poor machining properties[]. It is used for construction, boxes and crates, general carpentry, inexpensive furniture, interior trim plywood etc[, ].
We do not have any more information on the wood for this species. However, a general description of the wood for trees in this genus is as follows:-
The heartwood is a dull uniform pink, pinkish- brown or golden-brown; it is not always sharply demarcated from the whitish to yellowish sapwood. The texture is moderately coarse; the grain slightly to highly interlocked; lustre is medium to high; there is no distinctive odour or taste. Vertical traumatic gum ducts may occur sporadically, and is sometimes considered as an objectionable defect. Different species are variable in decay resistance, they are generally reported to be susceptible to attack by fungi as well as insects. Air drying rates range from slow to rapid, the wood being prone to warp with some checking; collapse occurs in thick stock; quartersawing is suggested to minimize degrade. The wood is easily worked by either hand or machine tools, but raised and wooly grain are common defects; it takes glue, paint, and nails well, and polishes to a good finish; it has a tendency to blunt cutting edges. It is used for purposes such as carpentry, utility plywood, furniture components, interior trim, millwork. It has been suggested as a substitute for Cedrela[].

Propagation

Seed -

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