Guarea is a genus of evergreen trees or shrubs in the family Meliaceae, native to tropical Africa and Central and South America. At their largest, they are large trees 20–45 m tall, with a trunk over 1 m diameter, often buttressed at the base. The leaves are pinnate, with 4–6 pairs of leaflets, the terminal leaflet present. They are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.[1] The flowers are produced in loose inflorescences, each flower small, with 4–5 yellowish petals. The fruit is a four or five-valved capsule, containing several seeds, each surrounded by a yellow-orange fleshy aril; the seeds are dispersed by hornbills and monkeys which eat the aril.

Guarea
Guarea guidonia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Meliaceae
Subfamily: Melioideae
Genus: Guarea
F. Allam ex L.
Species

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Species

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Species accepted by Plants of the World Online as of March 2019:[2]

Uses

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The timber is important; the African species are known as bossé, guarea, or pink mahogany, and the South American species as cramantee or American muskwood. It is said to possibly cause hallucinations if ingested.[3]

 
Corinthos sculpture in guarea wood by Barbara Hepworth at Tate Liverpool[4]

The wood can be used for sculpture and was favoured by the British 20th century sculptor Barbara Hepworth.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Pennington, T. D.; Styles, B. T. (1975). "A Generic Monograph of the Meliaceae". Blumea. 22: 419–540.
  2. ^ "Guarea". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  3. ^ McGuire, Kim (5 May 2009). "Scientists get dirt on mystery plant". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  4. ^ a b "Corinthos 1954–5". UK: Tate Gallery. Retrieved 5 August 2015.