Alvaradoa

Title

Alvaradoa

Authors

Ethan H. Freid

Scientific Name

Alvaradoa amorphoides Liebm.

Description

Common Names

Alvaradoa

Simaroubaceae

Alvaradoa amorphoides grows as a large shrub to small tree up to 10 meters in height with pubescent branches. The compound leaves are arranged alternately, are odd-pinnate with 19 or more leaflets. The leaflets are light green, oval to oblong with a rounded or emarginate leaf apex and entire margin. The abaxial surface is pubescent.

The dioecious actinomorphic flowers are arranged in racemes. There is no calyx. There are 5 greenish-yellow petals. Staminate flowers have 5 functional and 5 non-functional stamens surrounding a non-functional ovary. Carpellate flowers have no stamens and a superior ovary with three locules and numerous seeds. The fruit is a samara, is covered with pubescence and turns reddish at maturity.

Alvaradoa amorphoides grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Woodlands or Shrublands (scrublands).

Alvaradoa amorphoides occurs in the central and northern island groupings of the Bahamian Archipelago as well as Florida, the Caribbean region and Mexico south to South America

Alvaradoa amorphoides is not used medicinally in the Bahamas.

It is used in the horticultural industry.