Ecuador laurel, Spanish elm
Cordia alliodora

Family: Boraginaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 12 m high. The trunk is smooth and light coloured. There or four branches develop from a swelling on the stem. The leaf stalks are 1-3 cm long. The leaf blades are oblong and 10-20 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. The flowers are in a loosely branched arrangement. This is 10-30 cm across. The fruit is about 5 mm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Fiji it is cultivated at low altitudes. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Amazonia, America, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Asia, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Columbia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Galapagos, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Malaysia, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico (country/location of origin), Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South America (country/location of origin), Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Suriname, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. The bark is used as a spice. It has a garlic scent.

Edible parts

Fruit, bark - spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seed can be stored in a refrigerator for 3 years.

Its other names

Local names

Aguadientillo, Ajo, Ajo ajo, Alatrique, Bajon, Baria, Capa, Cypre, Hormiguillo, Laurel negro, Mkamasi, Mkodia, Nogal cafetero, Salmwood

Synonyms

Cerdana alliodora Ruiz. & Pavon; Cordia andina Chodat; Cordia cerdana (Ruiz & Pavon) Roemer & Schultes; Cordia gerascanthus var. domingensis Cham.; Cordia gerascanthus var. subcanescens DC.; Cordia goudoti Chodat.; Cordia micrantha Mart.; Lithocardium alliodorum (Ruiz & Pavon) Kuntze; Varronia tuberosa S. & M.;