- Cordia alliodora
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Cordia alliodora sapling Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Order: (unplaced) Family: Boraginaceae Genus: Cordia Species: C. alliodora Binomial name Cordia alliodora
(Ruiz & Pav.) OkenSynonyms Cerdana alliodora Ruiz & Pav.[1]
Cordia alliodora is a species of flowering tree in the borage family, Boraginaceae, that is native to the American tropics.[1] It is commonly known as Spanish Elm, Ecuador Laurel, or Salmwood. It can reach 35 m in height.
Uses
Cordia alliodora is one of several Cordia trees called bocote in Spanish and its wood, which has very little figure, is usually called freijo or jennywood along with that of Cordia goeldiana. The wood is used for boat decking, furniture, cabinetry and guitar/bass building luthiers and sometimes substitutes for mahogany or teak.
Environmental Aspects
Outside of its indigenous range, Cordia alliodora has been identified as a problematic invasive species. For example, a timber-focused planting program of the species in Vanuatu during the mid 1970s has over time proved disruptive to native ecosystems and communities. The species has been described as a severe environmental nuisance, as it has overtaken natural forests by multiplying at a faster rate than being harvested, and has become susceptible to outbreaks of a form of root rot known as Phellinus noxius.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Oken". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2005-11-08. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?11470. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ^ Country report on the forestry invasive species situation in Vanuatu. Proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Conference. Kunming, Yunnan Province, China 17–23 August 2003. http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/ae944e/ae944e0a.htm
Categories:- Cordia
- Plants described in 1841
- Myrmecophytes
- Trees of Bolivia
- Trees of Brazil
- Trees of the Caribbean
- Trees of Central America
- Trees of Colombia
- Trees of Ecuador
- Trees of Mexico
- Trees of Peru
- Trees of northern South America
- Trees of Guatemala
- Tree stubs
- Asterid stubs
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