Cordia boissieri

Cordia boissieri

The Cordia boissieri is a deciduous tree of the genus Kordien ( Cordia ) in the family of Boraginaceae ( Boraginaceae ). The species is native to southern North America.

Name for the species in the natural sites are " Texas Olive" and " Wild Olive " (English ) and " Anacahuita " (Spanish ).

Description

Cordia boissieri is a slow-growing shrub or small tree with plant height up to 6 meters, rarely anything about it. It is often evergreen, on colder sites, however, summer green; it loses many leaves with lighter frosts. The bark is thin and easily damaged mechanically. The silvery green leaves are obovate (inversely egg-shaped ) and up to 12 cm long.

The flowering period is usually from late spring to early summer; in some locations, however, Cordia boissieri blooms several times a year or even continuously throughout the growing season. The trumpet-shaped flowers are about 4-7 cm tall; they are mostly white, but yellow inside.

The fruit is round, yellow-green and about 2.5 cm in size; it contains one, rarely up to four seeds. The raw fruits are mildly toxic and can cause dizziness; at least cooked they are safe for human consumption. The fruits are eaten by birds.

Distribution and location

The home of Cordia boissieri ranges from the U.S. state of Texas south to central Mexico; the deposits extend across the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas and Veracruz. The natural occurrences are so rare that the plant is considered threatened in its portfolio.

The plants tolerate frost to about -8 ° C. In other climate particularly mild areas of the southern United States, including California, Arizona and Florida, it is cultivated as an ornamental tree.

Propagation

Propagation from seed is somewhat difficult; for germination temperatures are above 35 ° C low. Comfortable is the proliferation of cut in the summer cuttings.

Others

In the " National Register of Big Trees " by " American Forests " a particularly handsome specimen of Cordia boisseri of Mercedes in the U.S. state of Texas is registered. Its dimensions (as of 1995) were 7.5 m height, crown diameter of 11.6 m and 0.6 m trunk diameter.

System

The first description of Alphonse Louis Pierre de Candolle Pyrame was published in 1845. The specific epithet honors the Swiss botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier ( 1810-1885 ).