Bwapen mawon
Magnolia dodecapetala

Family: Magnoliaceae

What it is like

Found in the Carribean, Magnolia dodecapetala is a 40 m tall tree with a large rounded canopy. It has a straight, cylindrical buttressed trunk that can be up to 90 cm in diameter and branchless for up to 18 m. It has no reported medicinal and edible uses. The wood is hard strong, and durable. It is highly valued as flooring material and for small boat construction and in the hulls of fishing canoes.

Magnolia dodecapetala is an evergreen Tree growing to 35 m (114ft) by 30 m (98ft) at a slow 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: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 35

Where it is found

Generally distributed in the humid, many-storied forests at elevations between 420 - 750 metres. It develops best. in deep, rich, soils in valleys and on level sites at middle elevations in hot, humid climates. It is never found on ridges or slopes.

Caribbean - Trinidad and Tobago, Leeward Islands, Windward Islands.

Conservation Status: Status: Vulnerable B1ab(iii)

Countries/locations it is found in

Dominica; Guadeloupe; Martinique; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Other Uses The heartwood is dull dark brown or black, often streaked with shades of brown; it is sharply demarcated from the white to light yellow sapwood. The texture is fine; the grain straight; when seasoned it is without distinctive odour or taste. The wood is reported to be hard, tough, and strong, there are mixed reports on durability with some saying the heartwood is never attacked by insects, whilst others say that it is susceptible to termite and fungus attack. The timber is also reported to be resistant to shock, stress, compression, and tension, and is difficult to split or twist. Its elasticity is also reported as fairly good. The wood works easily and well, but does not take nails or screws well. The wood is prized for flooring because of it's stability and the variety of colours present in the heartwood; it is also used extensively in small boat construction and in the hulls of fishing canoes. Other uses include marquetry, interior finish, gunstocks, and furniture.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

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: Slow

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

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Bwapen mawon

Synonyms

Annona dodecapetala Lam. Magnolia fatiscens Rich. ex DC. Magnolia linguifolia L. ex Descourt. Magnol