''Castilla'' (sometimes incorrectly spelled ''Castilloa'') is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of 3 species of large trees in the family

Moraceae The Moraceae — often called the mulberry family or fig family — are a family of flowering plants comprising about 38 genera and over 1100 species. Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates; however ...

, native to

Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

Etymology

This genus is named after

Juan Diego del Castillo Juan Diego del Castillo (1744–1793) was a Spanish pharmacist and botanist who joined Vicente Cervantes in Mexico. Castillo wrote ''Plantas descritas en el viaje de Acapulco''. He died in Mexico. Castillo had been a contemporary of Martín ...

(d. 1793), a Spanish botanist who was a friend of

Vicente Cervantes Vicente (Vincente) de Cervantes (Ledrada, Salamanca España; 1755 - México; 1829) was a notable Spanish and Mexican physician and botanist. Background Don Vicente Cervantes was a contemporary of Martín Sessé y Lacasta and corresponded with J ...

, who chose the name in his friend's honor.

Description

''Castilla'' species are monoecious or dioecious trees up to 40 meters tall, with buttressed trunks and abundant white latex of commercial value. The branchlets have scars left by the fallen stipules. The leaves are oblong to elliptic, with entire margins. The inflorescences are surrounded by bracts and have small flowers. The male flowers are borne in lengthwise-folded kidney-shaped inflorescences and female flowers in globose inflorescences. The infrutescence varies in shape and has orange or red fruits.

Ecology

''Castilla'' species exhibit a phenomenon known as

cladoptosis Cladoptosis (Ancient Greek "branch", "falling" oun sometimes pronounced with the p silent) is the regular shedding of branches. It is the counterpart for branches of the familiar process of regular leaf shedding by deciduous trees. As in leaf ...

, the regular shedding of branches. This may be an adaptation to prevent the growth of climbing plants. ''Castilla elastica'' is a weedy tree which has become invasive in areas where it has been introduced, such as in Tanzania and the South Pacific.

Uses

The main species is ''Castilla elastica'', one of several plants from which rubber has been extracted. The vernacular name is ''Panama rubber tree'' or ''castilloa rubber''. The pre-Columbian MesoAmericans used the latex of this plant to make a ball used in a ceremonial game.

Species

References