''Astronium graveolens'' is a species of

flowering Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

tree in the

cashew Cashew is the common name of a tropical evergreen tree ''Anacardium occidentale'', in the family Anacardiaceae. It is native to South America and is the source of the cashew nut and the cashew apple, an accessory fruit. The tree can grow as t ...

family,

Anacardiaceae The Anacardiaceae, commonly known as the cashew family or sumac family, are a family of flowering plants, including about 83 genera with about 860 known species. Members of the Anacardiaceae bear fruits that are drupes and in some cases produce ...

, that is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Bolivia. Common names include glassywood, ronrón (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

), and aroeira ( Portuguese). This plant is cited in '' Flora Brasiliensis'' by

Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius Carl Friedrich Philipp (Karl Friedrich Philipp) von Martius (17 April 1794 – 13 December 1868) was a German botany, botanist and explorer. Between 1817 and 1820, he travelled 10,000 km through Brazil while collecting botanical specimens. His m ...

Description

''Astronium graveolens'' grows to a height of . The trunk can have a diameter of up to and is straight and cylindrical. At the base it has buttresses which may be about tall. The crown is rounded with irregular branches. The bark is grey, shiny and smooth, with paler patches where pieces have peeled off. The leaves are alternate and pinnate, with five to seven oblong or obovate leaflets with pointed tips. The tree flowers during the dry season. The flowers are hermaphrodite, small, yellowish-green in axillary or terminal panicles. The fruit is a drupe-like nut, blue ripening to black, with semi bitter flesh and a single seed. This plant is also called "gateado", according to Webster's Third New International Dictionary

Timber

When fresh, the heartwood of ''Astronium graveolens'' is reddish-brown or orange-brown with variable width stripes of medium to dark brown. The timber becomes darker after exposure to the air and the stripes become nearly black. The sapwood is up to thick and is whitish or dull grey. The timber is fine-grained, dense and durable, and resistant to rot. It is used for heavy duty construction work, joinery, veneers and furniture. Speciality uses include turnery, carving, knife handles, brush backs, bows for archery and billiard cues.

References

External links

''Astronium fraxinifolium''

''Astronium graveolens''

photo
Flora Brasiliensis: ''Astronium graveolens''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q10292530 graveolens Trees of Brazil Trees of Central America Trees of Northern America Trees of Venezuela Trees of western South America Flora of the Atlantic Forest Flora of the Cerrado Plants described in 1760 Taxa named by Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin