Black lancewood, lancewood, haya prieta
Oxandra lanceolata

Family: Annonaceae

What it is like

Oxandra lanceolata, commonly known as Haya Prieta or Lancewood, is an evergreen tree about 15 m tall that is valued for its high quality wood and grown in the Caribbean. The wood is extremely strong and hard, durable, and elastic.

Oxandra lanceolata is an evergreen Tree growing to 10 m (32ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 10

Where it is found

Woods and thickets, often on limestone soils at elevations up to 450 metres.

Caribbean - Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cuba.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Cuba; Haiti; Dominican Republic; Jamaica; Puerto Rico; Mexico, West Indies.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Other Uses The light yellow wood is made up entirely of sapwood. The texture is very fine; the grain straight; lustre is medium; there is no distinctive odour or taste. The wood is very strong, extremely hard, elastic; durable. It is moderately difficult to work because of its high density, but finishes smoothly and is excellent for turnery. Said to be the equal of boxwood in hardness, it is used for making fishing rods, billiard cues, archery bows, articles of turnery, masts, textile machinery, and small tool handles

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

How it is grown

Not known

Propagating it: Seed -

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

black lancewood, lancewood, haya prieta, asta - Spanish, yaya - Spanish, Yaya, Bois de lance.

Synonyms

Bocagea virgata (Sw.) Benth. & Hook.f. Cananga lancea Poit. ex DC. Guatteria virgata (A.Rich.) Dunal