Maracaibo verawood - Bulnesia arborea

Description and Uses

Bulnesia arborea (Maracaibo verawood) is a tropical tree from Colombia & Venezuela. It is mainly grown for its timber crops (very long shelflife), but also

can be produced. The crop is harvested by ground gathering. It starts flowering after 7 - 13 years.

. Medical uses include;

The - contains guaiacol (10% - 30%). There is Verawood oil extracted by steam distillation from the tree`s wood yielding 5 - 8% oil. The tree`s wood is called Maracaibo verawood and has a density of 920 - 1100 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is slow, its energetic value is 4400 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is slow; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 40 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Bulnesia arborea has a lifespan of 120 years.

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Environmental limitations

The tree is 14 meters tall. It is slow growing and tolerates not less light than full sun. Bulnesia arborea has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations

(endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is monoecious and is pollinated by bees. Bulnesia arborea is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Bulnesia arborea thrives in an altitude of 0 to 1200 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is -3°C and optimally between 20 - 35°C. The optimal rainfall is 1300 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 450 - 1700 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 6.0 - 8.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is tolerant to wind tolerant and to fire intolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

and

diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are intermediate and can be stored for 3 months. There are approximative 1600 seeds/kg. Unfortunately propagation instruction is missing.

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