Cancer Tree

Title

Cancer Tree

Authors

Ethan H. Freid

Scientific Name

Jacaranda caerulea (L.) Juss.

Description

Common Names

Cancer Tree, Boxwood, What-o’clock, Clock Bush, Knucker Box, Horse Bush

Bignoniaceae

Jacaranda coerulea grows as a tree to 14 meters in height and 30 cm in diameter. The bipinnately compound leaves are arranged oppositely and to 35 cm in length. The leaflets are in 4-20 pairs, have no petiolule, and are oblong with an acute leaflet apex.

The zygomorphic flowers are arranged in panicles. The calyx has 5 unfused sepals. The corolla has 5 fused purple, pubescent petals with 2 upper lobes and 3 lower lobes. There are 5 stamens and the upper center stamen is highly pubescent. The ovary is superior with 2 locules and numerous seeds. The fruit is a flat brown capsule at maturity that splits apart to disperse the seeds. The seeds are winged.

Jacaranda coerulea grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation -Forests/Shrublands (coppice/scrublands).

Jacaranda coerulea grows in the central and northern island groupings in the Bahamian Archipelago as well as the entire Caribbean area, the southern portions of South America and is now planted in the entire southern United States from California to Florida.

Jacaranda coerulea is used medicinally in the Bahamas for obstetric and gynecological issues and dermatological problems (skin cancer and other skin ailments).

Jacaranda coerulea is also used in the horticultural industry for its beautiful spring flowering.

Jacaranda coerulea is not considered a true Bahamian native and that it is originally from northern Argentina and has escaped cultivation.