''Tabebuia heterophylla'' is a species of tree native to the Caribbean, and is also cultivated elsewhere. It is also known as roble blanco, pink manjack, pink trumpet tree, white cedar, and whitewood.
Description
''Tabebuia heterophylla'' grows up to 20 to 30 feet tall. Leaves are opposite and palmately compound with five or fewer leaflets. ''T. heterophylla is considered brevi decidius''. Flowers are showy pink, tubular and five lobed (2 to 3 inches long). The flowering time is spring and summer. Its fruit is a seedpod, it splits along 2 lines to shed the numerous thin light brown seeds (1/2 to 1 inch long with 2 white wings).
Flower anatomy
The flowers of ''Tabebuia heterophylla'' are in an inflorescence of the umbellate type. It is a perfect and complete flower with radial (actinomorphic) symmetry, and the whorls of the corrolla and the calyx are connately joined. The ovary is superior with an axile placentation, two locules and two carpels.
Distribution and habitat
The tree is native to the Caribbean, notably Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles. It is particularly common throughout Puerto Rico except in the higher elevations of the
Sierra de Luquillo
The Sierra de Luquillo (English: "Luquillo Mountains") is a steep-sided, high-precipitation, and deeply-forested subrange of the Cordillera Central mountain range in the main island of Puerto Rico. Separated from the southeastern Sierra de Cayey ...
and the
Cordillera Central Central Cordillera refers to the New Guinea Highlands.
Cordillera Central, meaning ''central range'' in Spanish, may refer to the following mountain ranges:
* Cordillera Central, Andes (disambiguation), several mountain ranges in South America
** ...
. It can be found in high concentrations in the Sierra de Cayey and a protected area there,
La Robleda, has recently become famous for its blooms which happen for a few weeks every year.
Use
Pink manjack is used as a
street tree
Urban forestry is the care and management of single trees and tree populations in Urban area, urban settings for the purpose of improving the urban environment. Urban forestry involves both planning and management, including the programming of ...
. Its height allows for it to provide lasting shade and as a result it can provide shade for a residential property near the patio or deck. Its floral display allow it to be valued and as a result, it is known as an ornamental tree.
Wood
This tree is valuable for its timber production and grown for such purposes on plantations. It is commonly harvested from the wild for use locally and for export.
[Fern, Ken, and Ajna Fern. “Tabebuia Heterophylla.” No Record - Useful Tropical Plants, Useful Tropical Plants Database, 2014, tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Tabebuia heterophylla.]
Gallery
File:Tabebuia heterophylla fruit is it- in Hyderabad W IMG 7041.jpg, Fruit
File:Tabebuia heterophylla in São Paulo 002.jpg, Flowers
File:Tabebuia heterophylla - San Juan Botanical Garden - DSC07055.JPG, Bark
File:Tabebuia heterophylla - Leaf.jpg, Leaves
File:Starr-170923-0257-Tabebuia heterophylla-lots of flowers habit-Hawea Pl Olinda-Maui - Flickr - Starr Environmental.jpg, Ornamental use in Hawaii
File:Larobledaprotectedarea.jpg, Full bloom in Puerto Rico
References
heterophylla
Ornamental trees
Trees of the Caribbean
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