Apeiba tibourbou
Family:
Native to:
Habitat:
Malvaceae
Central America and northern South America
Dense dry or moist forests, formerly cultivated land. Up to 800 meters above sea level. 12 meters tall.
Ecological value:
Fast growth (pioneer) – can reach 4 meters within 2 years from seed. Often found in secondary forests and on disturbed land. Can be used for reforestation projects. Prefers full sun. Genus is found throughout tropical America (10 species) and in the West Indies.
Material uses:
Wood is lightweight and spongy, of low durability. Used for packaging and crates, insulating panels, for rafts and small boats. Fuelwood. Coarse ropes, woven mats, and other related products can be made from a fiber from the bark.
Edible uses:
No record on this species.
Medicinal use:
Flowers are used to relieve muscle spasms.
Other details:
This genus belongs to the Malvaceae family, in which most species are pollinated by insects. Bees in the tribe Emphorini of the Apidae are known to specialize on Malvaceae species, including bees Ptilothrix, Diadasia, and Melitoma.
Research:
Alyssa Achacoso/Christine Facella
Sources:
“Apeiba Tibourbou Aubl. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.” n.d. Plants of the World Online. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:833270-1/general-information.
“Apeiba Tibourbou - Useful Tropical Plants.” n.d. Tropical.theferns.info. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Apeiba+tibourbou.
Wikipedia Contributors. 2019. “Malvaceae.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. October 29, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malvaceae.
Bolza. E. & Christensen. F.J., ‘South American Timbers: the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 190 Species’, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization,1979
Lorenzi. H., ‘Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition’, Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil, 2002
Image source: Jorge EFO Silva