Common Name:

General Information

Vochysia guatemalensis is a tree with a dense, rounded or compressed crown; it can grow from 15 - 55 metres tall. The unbuttressed, cylindrical bole can be unbranched for up to 18 metres and has a diameter of 50 - 150cm[, , , ].
The wood has been exported in small amounts from British Honduras to the United States for use as veneers[]. The tree is a conspicuous and strikingly handsome one when covered with its brilliant yellow flowers[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Central America - Panama, north to Mexico.

Habitat

Humid forests, often forming almost pure stands near the coast, at elevations from near sea level to 1,000 metres[, ]. Moist or wet forests at elevations of 350 - 1,500 metres in Guatemala[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	40.00 m
Pollinators	Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland humid tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres[]. It grows in areas where the mean annual temperature is in the range 24 - 30°c, and the mean annual rainfall 600 - 3,200mm[, ].
Grows well on alluvial and residual soils[].
Trees usually begin flowering when around 4 - 6 years old[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The embryo has high concentrations of lipids (28.6%) and proteins (34%) but is low in carbohydrates (4.2%)[].

The heartwood is reddish brown or pale brown with a pinkish hue; it is not clearly demarcated from the 8 - 12cm wide band of whitish sapwood. The wood has a golden sub-lustre, although the surface may appear dull and mealy. It is light in weight, fairly tough, strong, coarse-textured, inclined to be gritty and hard on tools when dry, holds its place well when manufactured; fairly resistant to decay and insects. It is suitable for carpentry, interior construction, canoes, posts, boxes, tool handles and veneer[, , , ]. The wood is used for railroad ties[]. In the Lake Izabal region it is used in making canoes[]. It has the potential for use as pulp in paper making[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a short viability and does not usually store for more than 6 months even in optimal conditions. The seed does not require pre-treatment. Sow the seed in boxes, covering them with fine sand. Unlike most other seeds, the radicle does not emerge through the micropyle but laterally through the seed coat. The best result is obtained when the seeds are placed horizontally in the soil allowing correct root anchoring and faster growth. Alternatively, the seeds can be sown vertically with the wing buried in the soil. Germination takes 10 - 30 days, with almost 100% of fresh seed germination[]. Pot up the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle, and before the first pair of true leaves appears, and place in light shade[]. Plants can be placed in their final positions about 4 -6 months later, when they are about 30cm tall[].
Planting should not be delayed as the root has a fast growth rate and, if damaged, will have a negative effect upon growth[].

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