Amyris elemifera

Amyris elemifera is a species of flowering plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae. Its common names include sea torchwood, smooth torchwood,[1] candlewood, sea amyris, tea, cuabilla, and bois chandelle.[2] It is native to Florida in the United States, the Caribbean, and the Central American countries of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. It is also known from northern South America.[1] The species name elemifera is from the Greek, meaning "resin bearing".[3]

Amyris elemifera

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Sapindales
Family:
Rutaceae
Genus:
Amyris
Species:
A. elemifera
Binomial name
Amyris elemifera

Description

Sea torchwood attains a maximum height of 4 to 12 metres (13 to 39 ft).[2] The smooth, gray bark matures into a rough and furrowed surface with plates. The wood is close-grained.[4] The species has a vertical branching habit. It has a weak taproot, but the lateral roots are stiff and strong. The yellow-gray twigs turn gray with age. The hanging foliage is fragrant. The compound leaves are opposite or sub-opposite. A 3 cm (1.2 in) petiole supports three to five oval or lance-shaped leaflets. The fragrant, globose drupe is black and contains a single brown seed. The tiny, fragrant white flowers and fruit attract wildlife such as birds.[3]

Ecology

Sea torchwood tolerates full sun to light shade. In Florida, it often grows along the edges of hammocks.[4] It tolerates many soil types, including soil over rock and coastal sand.[2] It grows in well-drained sites,[4] but it tolerates 750 to 2,000 mm (29.53 to 78.74 in) of yearly precipitation in Puerto Rico.[2] Young plants linger in the understory until gaps allow further growth.[2]

In Florida, sea torchwood is a food source for the endangered Schaus' Swallowtail (Papilio aristodemus ponceanus).[5][2]

Uses

This species has been used for fences, fuel, and honey production.[2] The fine-grained, fragrant wood is resistant to dry wood termites. It is too scarce for common use.[2] The plant has yielded taxaline, an oxazole with antibiotic activity against Mycobacterium.[2]

References
  1. Amyris elemifera. NatureServe. 2012.
  2. Francis, J. K. "Amyris elemifera L." (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  3. "Torchwood (Amyris elemifera)". School of Forest Resources and Conservation. University of Florida. Archived from the original on 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  4. "Common torchwood (Amyris elemifera)". Natives for Your Neighborhood. Institute for Regional Conservation. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  5. "Schaus swallowtail butterfly". Conservation Management Institute. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Archived from the original on 2006-03-04. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
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