Hura crepitans L.

Euphorbiaceae, A. R.-Smith. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1987

Morphology General Habit

A much-branched tree up to 24 m. high, but more often 6–12 m. high, with a spreading crown.

Morphology General Bark

Bark light grey, covered with sharp spines.

Morphology Bole

Bole up to 2 m. diameter.

Morphology Twigs

Twigs sparingly lenticellate.

Morphology General Shoots

Young shoots glabrous or sparingly pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Petioles up to 15 cm. long, glabrous; glands turbinate, truncate; leaf-blades broadly ovate to orbicular-ovate, (5–)10–15(–18) cm. long, (3–)6–12 cm. wide, obtusely or subacutely cuspidate-acuminate, truncate to shallowly or deeply cordate, entire, subentire or shallowly and rather remotely serrate-denticulate, occasionally somewhat repand, thinly to firmly chartaceous, lateral nerves 8–15 pairs, not or scarcely prominent above, slightly so beneath, tertiary nerves ± parallel, glabrous above, patent-pilose along the midrib and main nerves at least towards the base and otherwise glabrous beneath, or else ± completely glabrous above and beneath, bright green and shiny above, somewhat paler and duller beneath.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules linear-lanceolate, (1–)1.5–2 cm. long, ± entire, densely pubescent abaxially, glabrous adaxially, or else ± glabrous on both surfaces, minutely ciliolate, readily deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences extending to 15 cm. long at maturity, with the peduncle up to 11 cm. long, and the ♂ portion cylindric-conic, 4–6 cm. long and 2 cm. wide when fully expanded, dull red, viscid; bracts rhombic, 1.5 mm. long, evenly to sparingly pubescent.

sex Male

Male flowers:calyx minute, scarcely visible; staminal column 5–7 mm. long, glabrous, anthers (1–)2–3-verticillate, 0.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers:peduncle 1–2 cm. long, 2–4 mm. thick; calyx-tube up to 7 mm. long and 8 mm. diameter, completely enclosing the ovary, purple; ovary subglobose, pale green; style 2–4 cm. long, stigma 1–2 cm. across, dark red. Male flowers:calyx minute, scarcely visible; staminal column 5–7 mm. long, glabrous, anthers (1–)2–3-verticillate, 0.5 mm. long.

sex Female

Female flowers:peduncle 1–2 cm. long, 2–4 mm. thick; calyx-tube up to 7 mm. long and 8 mm. diameter, completely enclosing the ovary, purple; ovary subglobose, pale green; style 2–4 cm. long, stigma 1–2 cm. across, dark red.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit deeply 5–20-lobed, concave at the apex and base, 4 cm. long, 8 cm. diameter, the lobes ± smooth, greenish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ± lenticular, 2.2 cm. long, 2 cm. deep, 4 mm. thick, smooth, dull brownish.

Habitat

Cultivated; sea-level to 1220 m.

Distribution

native of tropical America from the Greater Antilles and Costa Rica to N. Brazil and Bolivia, and widely cultivated in Africa and elsewhere as an ornamental, and often as a street treethe ‘Sand Box Tree’ K3 T3 T6 U4

The Useful Plants of Boyacá project

Ecology

Alt. 0 - 1550 m.

Distribution

Native from Colombia.

Conservation

Not Evaluated.

Morphology General Habit

Tree.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 1550 m.; Amazonia, Andes, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Pacífico.

Morphology General Habit

Árbol

Conservation

No Evaluada

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Andean, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–1550 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Boyacá, Cesar, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Norte de Santander, Santander.

Conservation

National Red List of Colombia (2021): Potential LC.

Habit

Tree.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Acuapar, Arenillero, Arenillo, Castañeto, Ceiba, Ceiba amarilla, Ceiba blanca, Ceiba lechosa, Ceiba tronadora, Ceibo, Ceibo mil pesos de leche

Use Animal Food

Used as animal food.

Use Environmental

Environmental uses.

Use Fuel

Used for fuels.

Use Food

Used for food.

Use Materials

Used as material.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.

Use Poisons

Poisons.

Use Social

Social uses.