Cordia alliodora

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Description

Tree up to 20 m high, with grey, fissured bark. All herbaceous parts densely covered by very short, stellate hairs, especially the inflorescence. Leaves: petiole 1-3 cm long; blade broadly elliptic, 10-55 by 5-25(-30) cm, base obliquely truncate, subacute, apex subacute to acuminate, coriaceous, margin entire, upper surface glabrous, with slightly impressed nerves, lower surface stellate-pubescent with prominent nerves. Inflorescence terminal, laxly branched, with numerous, crowded flowers. Fruit 5 mm long, c. 3 mm in diam., deciduous together with calyx and corolla.

Distribution

Central and South America south to Bolivia, north to Mexico, and in the West Indies present, Distr. Sandakan present

Native in Central and South America south to Bolivia, north to Mexico, and in the West Indies. Malesia: in Sabah (Distr. Sandakan) introduced as a plantation tree.

Ecology

Remarkable for its myrmecophily; swellings are formed on branches and sometimes also in inflorescences, which serve as domatia for ants. Ants use to cut the leaves into small pieces.