Brosimum

Brosimum
File:Brosimum guianense.jpg
Brosimum guianense parts drawing
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Moraceae
Tribe:	Dorstenieae
Genus:	Brosimum Sw.
Species
Several, see text
Synonyms
Alicastrum P.Browne Brosimopsis S.Moore Galactodendron Kunth Piratinera Aubl.

Brosimum is a genus of plants in the mulberry family, Moraceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas.

The Breadnut (B. alicastrum) was used by the Maya civilization for its edible nut. The dense vividly colored scarlet wood of Satine Bloodwood (B. paraense) is used for decorative woodworking. B. guianese, or snakewood, has a mottled snake-skin pattern, and is among the densest woods, with a very high stiffness; it was the wood of choice for making of bows for musical instruments of the violin family until the late 18th century, when it was replaced by the more easily worked brazilwood (Caesalpinia echinata). Plants of this genus are otherwise used for timber, building materials, and in a cultural context.

Selected species

• Brosimum acutifolium—tamamuri
• Brosimum alicastrum Sw.—Breadnut, Maya Nut, ramón (Spanish)
• Brosimum costaricanum Liebm.
• Brosimum discolor
• Brosimum gaudichaudii Trecul—Mama-cadela
• Brosimum glaucum Taub.
• Brosimum glaziovii Taub.
• Brosimum guianense (Aubl.) Huber—"snakewood" (= B. aubletii)
• Brosimum ovatifolium
• Brosimum paraense—Satine Bloodwood
• Brosimum parinarioides Ducke
  • Brosimum parinarioides ssp. amplicoma (Ducke) C.C.Berg (= B. amplicoma)
  • Brosimum parinarioides ssp. parinarioides
• Brosimum potabile
• Brosimum rubescens Taub. (= B. paraense)
• Brosimum utile (Kunth) Pittier (= B. galactodendron)

Formerly placed here

• Pseudolmedia spuria (Sw.) Griseb. (as B. spurium Sw.)

References

• Baker, Mark (2004): Wood for Woodturners. Guild of Master Craftsmen Publications, Sussex. ISBN 1-86108-324-6