Cordia dodecandra (common name: ziricote) is a small tree in the

borage family Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution. The APG IV system from 2016 classifies the Boraginaceae as single family of the orde ...

(Boraginaceae) native to southern Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Description

''Cordia dodecandra'' grows to a maximum height of at maturity. Flowers are produced in clusters at branch ends from February to May. Each flower is wide, bright orange in color, tubular, flaring ( salverform) with 11–18 lobes, bearing 13–18 stamens that are not equal in length. Short stamens are intercalated between long ones, resulting in two levels of stamens. The species is heterostylous and has been shown to be

self-incompatible Self-incompatibility (SI) is a general name for several genetic mechanisms that prevent self-fertilization in sexually reproducing organisms, and thus encourage outcrossing and allogamy. It is contrasted with separation of sexes among individuals ...

. White fruits follow the flowers, averaging in length. The fruits are locally made into sweets.

Uses

Ziricote wood is dark brown in color and has a Janka hardness of . It is used for furniture, veneer, cabinetry, flooring, gun stocks, musical instruments (including guitars and ukuleles), entrance doors, turnings, decorative beams, trim, and small specialty items.

Gallery

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q291992 dodecandra Plants described in 1845 Flora of Mexico Flora of Central America Flora of the Caribbean Flora without expected TNC conservation status