Black olive - Bucida buceras

Description and Uses

Bucida buceras (Black olive) is a tropical tree from Caribeans. It is mainly grown for its timber crops (very long shelflife), but also Other uses include; apiculture, fuel, medicinal, ornamental, poison herbicide and timber can be produced. The crop is harvested by total removing. It starts flowering after 8 - 11 years. The first yield will be variable but in its top season there will be a yield of 30 cm log size after 10-20 yea. The fruit is edible. Medical uses include; Array The powdered leaf contains DPPH (55.249 - ± 9.829 µg/mL). The tree`s wood is called black olive and has a density of 750 - 930 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is very slow, its energetic value is 4200 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is medium; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 30 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Bucida buceras has a lifespan of 45 years.

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Environmental limitations

The tree is 27 meters tall. It is very slow growing and tolerates not less light than full sun. Bucida buceras has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations Glomus intraradices,Glomus mosseae (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is monoecious and is pollinated by bees. Bucida buceras is evergreen and a bit allelopathic and has no thorns.

Bucida buceras thrives in an altitude of 0 to 450 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 1°C and optimally between 24 - 28°C. The optimal rainfall is 1750 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 750 - 2000 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 7.0 - 8.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is tolerant to wind 4 and to fire intolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

Aleurodicus buprestid,Aleurodicus dispersus,Eriococcus ironsidei and there are no significant diseases diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are recalcitrant and can be stored for 1 months. There are approximative 37500 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Keep seeds in water between 20-27 C, (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing., (3) Remove the seeds from cold to a permanent warm temperature.

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