Bulnesia arborea - Maracaibo verawood

Description and Uses

Bulnesia arborea (Maracaibo verawood) is a tropical tree from Colombia & Venezuela . It is mainly grown for its timber crops , which have a very long shelf life. The crop is harvested by ground gathering. It starts flowering after 7 - 13 years. The yield will be unknown, but in its top season there will be a yield of unknown. Other crop types include; ornamental, timber, . The {missing data} is used as inedible . The {missing data} is used as " plant part " with guaiacol (10% - 30%) as its significant phytochemical. There is Maracaibo verawood extracted by steam distillation from the tree's wood yielding 5% - 8% oil. The tree's wood is called Verawood oil and has a density of 920 - 1,100 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree's growing speed is moderate, it's energetic value is 4400 ckal/kg and the wood's drying speed is slow. 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.

Environmental limitations

The tree is 14 meters tall with a crown of 9 meters wide. The tree prefers a planting distance of 600 cm and a row distance of 600 cm. It is moderate fast growing and intolerant to shade. Bulnesia arborea has a shallow root-system and it has symbiotic associations with the Glomus intraradices fungi (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen with "any bacteria. The name(s) or string of bacteria include(s) "not applicable ". 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; optimally between 20 - 35°C. The optimal rainfall is 1300 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 450 - 1700mm (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.

Pests and Diseases

Bulnesia arborea is susceptible to the following pests: . And it's susceptible to the following diseases: no disease , , .

Seed Propagation

Seeds are intermediate and can be stored for 3 months. There are approximative 1600 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed:

• (1) Store harvested seeds in water or in the fruit at room temperature
• (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing.
• (3) press the seeds twice its size in the soil soil.