''Brosimum'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of plants in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Moraceae Moraceae is a family of flowering plants comprising about 48 genera and over 1100 species, and is commonly known as the mulberry or fig family. Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates; however, their ...

, native to

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contrasts with the temperate or polar regions of Earth, where the Sun can never be directly overhead. This is because of Earth's ax ...

regions of the

Americas The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America and South America.''Webster's New World College Dictionary'', 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. When viewed as a sing ...

. The breadnut ('' B. alicastrum'') was used by the

Maya civilization The Maya civilization () was a Mesoamerican civilization that existed from antiquity to the early modern period. It is known by its ancient temples and glyphs (script). The Maya script is the most sophisticated and highly developed writin ...

for its edible nut. The dense vividly colored scarlet wood of '' B. paraense'' is used for decorative woodworking.Baker (2004) '' B. guianense'', or

snakewood Snakewood is a common name of several different plants: * ''Acacia'' species (family Fabaceae) in Australia, ''Acacia eremaea'', ''Acacia intorta'', ''Acacia xiphophylla'' * ''Brosimum guianense'' (= ''Piratinera guianensis'') (family Moraceae) (Le ...

, has a mottled snake-skin pattern, and is among the densest woods, with a very high stiffness; it was the wood of choice for making of bows for musical instruments of the

violin family The violin family of musical instruments was developed in Italy in the 16th century. At the time the name of this family of instruments was viole da braccio which was used to distinguish them from the viol family (viole ''da gamba''). The standa ...

until the late 18th century, when it was replaced by the more easily worked brazilwood (''

Paubrasilia echinata ''Paubrasilia echinata'' is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae, that is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. It is a Brazilian timber tree commonly known as Pernambuco wood or brazilwood (, ; Tupi: ) and is the na ...

''). Plants of this genus are otherwise used for

timber Lumber is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes (dimensional lumber), including beams and planks or boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, window frames). ...

, building materials, and in a cultural context. Bufotenin has been identified as a component in the latex of the takini ('' Brosimum acutifolium'') tree, which is used as a psychedelic by South American shamans.

Species

19 species are accepted. * '' Brosimum acutifolium'' – ''tamamuri'' * ''

Brosimum alicastrum ''Brosimum alicastrum'', commonly known as breadnut, Maya nut or ramon, and many others, is a tree species in the family Moraceae of flowering plants, whose other genera include figs and mulberries. Two subspecies are commonly recognized: * ''B. ...

'' Sw. – breadnut, Maya nut, ''ramón'' (

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 ...

) * '' Brosimum amazonicum'' * '' Brosimum costaricanum'' Liebm. * ''

Brosimum gaudichaudii ''Brosimum'' is a genus of plants in the family Moraceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. The breadnut ('' B. alicastrum'') was used by the Maya civilization for its edible nut. The dense vividly colored scarlet wood of '' B. paraens ...

'' Trecul — Mama-cadela * '' Brosimum glaucum'' Taub. * '' Brosimum glaziovii'' Taub. * '' Brosimum guianense'' (Aubl.) Huber ex Ducke – snakewood (= ''B. aubletii'') * '' Brosimum lactescens'' (S.Moore) C.C.Berg * '' Brosimum longifolium'' Ducke * '' Brosimum melanopotamicum'' C.C.Berg * '' Brosimum multinervium'' C.C.Berg * '' Brosimum parinarioides'' Ducke ** ''Brosimum parinarioides'' ssp. ''amplicoma'' (Ducke) C.C.Berg (= ''B. amplicoma'') ** ''Brosimum parinarioides'' ssp. ''parinarioides'' * '' Brosimum potabile'' * '' Brosimum rubescens'' Taub. — satine bloodwood * '' Brosimum sprucei'' * '' Brosimum steyermarkii'' * ''

Brosimum utile ''Brosimum utile'' (Kunth), also called ''Galactodendron'', Pittier (= ''B. galactodendron)'' is a plant species in the family Moraceae. Description ''Brosimum utile'' can grow to a height of 30m. It is monoecious and has bisexual inflorescence ...

'' (Kunth) Oken (= ''B. galactodendron'')

Formerly placed here

* '' Pseudolmedia spuria'' (Sw.) Griseb. (as ''B. spurium'' Sw.)

Footnotes

References

* (2004): ''Wood for Woodturners''. Guild of Master Craftsmen Publications, Sussex. Moraceae genera Flora of the Neotropical realm Taxa named by Olof Swartz {{Moraceae-stub