Combretaceae FAMILY

Bucida buceras

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Black olive is a spiny, wide-spreading, slow growing, evergreen tree with very dense foliage and a spreading crown that becomes oval to rounded with age[ 362 Title Dominica Botanic Gardens Publication Author Website http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat. ]. The tree usually grows 9 - 18 metres tall, though heights of 33 metres have been recorded[ 316 Title Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607. Publication Author Chudnoff. Martin. Publisher USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin. Year 1984 ISBN Description Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics. ]. The erect, cylindrical bole is usually up to 90cm in diameter, with some specimens to 150cm[ 316 Title Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607. Publication Author Chudnoff. Martin. Publisher USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin. Year 1984 ISBN Description Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics. ]. The tree is highly valued for its wood, and is also a local source of tannins. It is often grown as an ornamental and shade tree[ 362 Title Dominica Botanic Gardens Publication Author Website http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeNorthern S. America - Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Mexico; through the Caribbean to Florida.

HabitatForests of the moist and dry limestone regions and forests along coasts and streams near the sea in Puerto Rico[ 447 Title Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands Publication Author Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H. Publisher USDA, Forest Service; Washington. Year 1964 ISBN Description Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species. ]. Brackish marshes through the West Indies[ 82 Title Manual of the Trees of N. America. Publication Author Sargent. C. S. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Dover Publications Inc. New York. Year 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X Description Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet. ]. Forests along the coasts and by streams[ 341 Title South American Timbers: the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 190 Species. Publication Author Bolza. E. & Christensen. F.J. Publisher Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Year 1979 ISBN 0 643 02582 0 Description A very useful guide. ].