Description: This tree reaches 120 ft (36 m) in its natural habitat along the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in South America but elsewhere it seldom exceeds 60 ft (18 m). The thick, leathery leaves are divided into 3 leaflets and the greenish white perfumed flowers are insignificant. These flowers appear before or with new growth, which is a distinctive bronze-purple. It is rarely grown other than in commercial plantations or in botanical gardens.

Culture: Tropical heat and humidity are essential to the commercial cultivation of these trees, although they will survive in large heated greenhouses where they should be pruned in late winter to restrict size and maintain a neat shape. They need moist, free-draining soil and part-shade in the heat of summer. Propagate from fresh seed.

Accession # 200202487
Source: Marcia Kirinus - Duke
Provenance: Duke Acc#02-090
Plants recieved at Duke from Tom Hecker (Butterfly Conservatory) who recieved seed from Malaysia and grew them on.
Accession Date: 11-18-2002
Bench: 1323 - NEO:Amazonia A
Qty: 1 confirmed on 11-03-2009

Botanica, Turner & Wasson, 1997, CD-ROM Version
Personal Communication with Frank Vincentz, International Euphorbia Society - 4 JAN 2006

page generated on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:43:12 -0500

Euphorbiaceae

Country of Origin: South America
Habitat: along the Amazon and Orinoco rivers

Subfamily Acalyphoideae Tribe Acalypheae