Cordia bicolor

A.DC.

Muneco

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Description

Cordia bicolor is a deciduous Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, butterflies, insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Edible Uses

Although we have seen no specific information for this species, the fruits of all members of this genus are said to be edible. In general the fruit comprises a thin to fairly thick layer of pulpy, sweetish-tasting flesh surrounding a single seed. The ovoid fruit of this species is about 12mm long and 8mm wide.

Distribution

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico.

Where It Grows

Coming Soon

Cultivation

A tropical plant. It grows in wet and moist forests.

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.

Other Uses

Fencing Pioneer Soil stabilization Wood. Agroforestry Uses: A fast-growing, short-lived pioneer species, it is able to support the harsh, adverse conditions created when the primary forest tree-cover is damaged or destroyed. Its ability to grow, even thrive, under such extreme circumstances is important to the process of forest succession. Cordia's rapid growth quickly establishes an anchoring root system as well as a sheltering crown that help to protect exposed soils and provide the more consistent regimes of humidity and temperature that are required by most other plant species. Other Uses The wood is used for fence posts and in rural construction.