Cordia sebestena

Scarlet Cordia

Boraginaceae Edible: Fruit, Bark, Flowers, Seeds 7,219 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Cordia sebestena is a shrubby tree in the family Cordiaceae, native to the American tropics. It ranges from southern Florida in the United States and the Bahamas, southwards throughout Central America and the Greater Antilles. Common names have included siricote or kopté (Mayan) in 19th Century northern Yucatán, scarlet cordia in Jamaica, and Geiger tree (after Key West wrecker John Geiger) in Florida.

Description

An evergreen shrub. It can lose its leaves. It grows up to 10 m high. The leaves are oval and the base is sometimes heart shaped. They are 10-20 cm long. There are teeth on the edge near the tip. The flowers are deep red or orange. They are funnel shaped. The lobes spread out. The fruit are large and creamy white. They are fleshy and 2.5 cm across.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruits can be eaten raw, boiled, or used in pickles and jams. The bark and flowers are used to make a sugary syrup.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit can be eaten raw. They are also boiled or used in pickles. They are used for jams. The bark and flowers are used to make a sugary syrup.

Medicinal Uses

The fruit is emollient. It is used in the treatment of fevers. The leaves are emollient. They are used in the treatment of bronchitis, coughs, fevesr and influenza. The plant has been used as a remedy for intestinal and stomach complaints, and also for bronchial affections. A syrup prepared from the bark, flowers and fruit is a local remedy for affections of the chest.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical America. It is very salt tolerant. It needs sandy, well drained soil. It needs full sun. It cannot tolerate cold temperatures. It is damaged by frost. It can tolerate drought. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Where It Grows

Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Burkina Faso, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Cook Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Micronesia, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, South America, Tanzania, Thailand, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Is., West Indies*,

Cultivation

It can be grown from seed or cuttings. It can also be grown by air-layering.

Propagation

Seed - very slow to germinate, the process can be sped up if the seed is scarified by lightly abrading the seedcoat to allow easier ingress of water. Cuttings Layering.

Other Uses

The large, 18cm long, stiff, dark green leaves are rough and hairy, feeling much like sandpaper. Several species in this genus have leaves that are used like sandpaper for polishing surfaces. It would be worth trying this species. The heart wood is dark brown; the thick band of sapwood is a light brown or yellow. The wood is close-grained, fine-textured with a satiny appearance, hard and heavy. It is used locally for cabinet work, carpentry and construction.

Production

It is very slow growing. Flowers are fruit are produced all year round.

Notes

There are about 300 Cordia species.

Synonyms

Sebesten sebestena (L.) Britton

Also Known As

Al-mukhiat, Anaconda, Broadleaf Cordia, Geiger Tree, Joaquin, Kanava palagi, Kelau, Kou-haole, Lolu, Siricote blanco, Vomitel amarillo

References (33)

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Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 133
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 280
Ekman Herbarium records Haiti
Elevitch, C.R.(ed.), 2006, Traditional Trees of the Pacific Islands: Their Culture, Environment and Use. Permanent Agriculture Resources, Holualoa, Hawaii. p 305

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