Damburneya ambigens
Specifications
Family
Lauraceae
Species
Damburneya ambigens (S.F. Blake) Trofimov
Description
It is yellowish or olive brown in colour, shiny, with a medium texture and varied grain, and a volumetric weight of around 0.50.
Plant morphology
It is a tree that reaches 40 meters in height and 1 meter in diameter, with an erect, cylindrical trunk with buttresses at the base and a dense, rounded crown composed of ascending branches. The bark is coffee-colored and occasionally black, with irregular scales. The leaves are spirally arranged, 11 to 30 cm long, with entire margins, and a pointed tip and base. They are dark green when mature and pink when young. The flowers, very small, pink, and fragrant, are gathered in racemes up to 25 cm long. The edible fruits are round, with a wrinkled dark purple surface and a green interior. They are sweet-tasting and contain an ovoid seed.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Central and South America: Mexico, Honduras.
Habitat and ecology
It is found on calcareous soils at altitudes between 600 and 900 m, in areas characterised by a warm, humid climate.
Uses
Application areas
It is used for carpentry, furniture, furnishings, plywood, and veneer.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
The main threats to the conservation of this species are deforestation and the conversion of its habitat into agricultural areas.
Conservation measures
It is present in various protected areas and in 3 ex situ collections (BGCI 2019).
IUCN Red List
IUCN
LC - Least Concern - Low Risk
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
2019
1975
2050
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
2019
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Slightly obvious
Texture
Medium