Common Name:

General Information

Vochysia glaberrima is an evergreen tree with a sparse crown; it can grow 4 - 10 metres tall[]. The cylindrical bole is 20 - 30cm in diameter[].
The tree has a low quality wood that is sometimes used for making boxes etc. A very beautiful tree in flower, it has been recommended for landscaping and reforestation[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Brazil, Guyana, Surinam, Venezuela.

Habitat

Humid floodplain forests and coastal forests[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	8.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position[]. In the wild it prefers growing in wet sandy soils near watercourses[]. Plants are tolerant of some salt in the soil[].
Growth of young plants is generally considered to be slow[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

A fairly slow-growing plant, it is a pioneer species within its native range[].

Other Uses

The wood is moderately heavy, soft and straight-grained[]. It is susceptible to wood-eating organisms[]. It is only suitable for making boxes and toys[].
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 - of short viability, it should be sown in partial shade in a nursery seedbed as soon as it is ripe[]. Germination of fresh seed can be almost 100%, with the seed sprouting in 20 - 30 days[].

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