Very tall laetia
Laetia procera

Family: Salicaceae

What it is like

A large tree. The trunk is straight. The bark is dark brown with black spots. The branches are long and thin and horizontal. The leaves are simple and alternate. There are dense teeth along the edge. The flowers are small and white. They are in clusters along the branches. The fruit are capsules. They turn red and split open.

Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forest clearings and along the edges of forests.

Countries/locations it is found in

Belize, Bolivia, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Agamou kaman, Almendrillo, Apijo, Apreuba yemo, Areno, Ayamoyhiue, Caimite cimarron, Cascarudo, Casinga-cheirosa, Cotorrerillo, Cuajillo, Ceuro de sapo, Guacima, Guerrero, Jobo macho, Magaleto, Manga larga, Mascarey, Palo de yagua, Palo verbena, Pericoca, Plomo, Warakarojo, Yagua

Synonyms

Casearia belizensis Standl.; Casearia bicolor Urb.; Casinga procera (Poepp.) Griseb.; Guidonia procera (Poepp.) Kuntze; Laetia calophylla auct. non Eichler; Laetia casearioides Sagot ex Benth.; Laetia obtusifolia Eichler ex Benoist; Laetia suaveolens auct. non (Poepp.) Benth.; Samyda obtusifolia A.Rich. ex Eichler; Samyda procera Poepp. & Endl.;