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Vochysia guatemalensis
Vochysiaceae FAMILY

Vochysia guatemalensis

Vochysia guatemalensis

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitTree
Growth—

A plant of the lowland humid tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres[1]. It grows in areas where the mean annual temperature is in the range 24 - 30°c, and the mean annual rainfall 600 - 3,200mm[2, 1]. Grows well on alluvial and residual soils[1]. Trees usually begin flowering when around 4 - 6 years old[1].

Propagation

Seed - it has a short viability and does not usually store for more than 6 months even in optimal conditions. The seed does not require pre-treatment. Sow the seed in boxes, covering them with fine sand. Unlike most other seeds, the radicle does not emerge through the micropyle but laterally through the seed coat. The best result is obtained when the seeds are placed horizontally in the soil allowing correct root anchoring and faster growth. Alternatively, the seeds can be sown vertically with the wing buried in the soil. Germination takes 10 - 30 days, with almost 100% of fresh seed germination[1]. Pot up the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle, and before the first pair of true leaves appears, and place in light shade[1]. Plants can be placed in their final positions about 4 -6 months later, when they are about 30cm tall[1]. Planting should not be delayed as the root has a fast growth rate and, if damaged, will have a negative effect upon growth[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Vochysia+guatemalensis>

Pollinators

Self

References

  1. [1]Seed Leaflets — Various · Forest & Landscape. Denmark · http://en.sl.life.ku.dk/Publikationer/Udgivelser/PopulaerPublikationer.aspx?katid={D28373CC-6EF3-4EF8-B097-6D83FABF209E}&serieid={9F1C3DB1-6E7B-4CF1-AF53-F480B0CB40EF}&sort=title ↩︎A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.
  2. [2]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
  3. [3]Flora of Costa Rica — Standley P.C. · Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago · 1938 · http://www.archive.org/ ↩︎Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
  4. [4]Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean — Longwood.F.R. · USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC. · 1962 ↩︎Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet.
  5. [5]Flora of Guatemala — Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark · 1946 - 1976 · http://www.archive.org/ ↩︎A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/