General
info
Well known as an ornamental tree.
Called "Dwarf Geometry Tree" in Hawaii. It's big brother,
Bucida buceras is a source of timber in the Carribean. In tropical America,
it is known for its termite-resistant dry wood and used for house and
fence construction, scaffolding, railroad ties and pilings.

Botany
A small, low and picturesque spreading
plant growing to a height of 4 feet. The branches are typically horizontal
giving it a layered appearance. Leaves are tiny, bright and light green,
about 1/4 inch long. New foliar growth is bronze-colored and ages to
light green. Stems are spiny. Flowers are yellow and insignificant,
followed by clusters of tiny brown fruits.
Distribution
A popular container and bonzaie plant.
Parts utilized
Bark
Properties
and constituents
Bark yields a tanning agent.
Uses
Folkloric
No known medicinal
use in the Philippines.
Elsewhere, medicinally the bark of Bucida spinosa is mixed with the
bark of mangrove Rhizophora mangle and processed into a styptic agent
(causing to stop bleeding when applied to wounds).
Others
One of the many components of Sun's Soup, a combination of 19 or more
vegetables and herbs (soybean, shitake mushrooms, garlic, scallions,
ginseng, etc), marketed as complementary therapy and dietary supplement
for its alleged anticancer properties and stimulant effect on the immune
system.
http://www.answers.com/topic/sun-s-soup?cat=health
Availability
Ornamental cultivation.
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