Calycophyllum candidissimum (Vahl) DC., Rubiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate; score: 1 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Calycophyllum candidissimum)

Other Latin names:  Macrocnemum candidissimum Vahl; Mussaenda candida Poir. [illeg.]; Mussaenda candidissima (Vahl.) Schult.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: lancewood, lemonwood

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Tree 40-60' tall. Lf peti to 1.25" long; blades elliptic to ovate, 2-5" x 1-3", underside sparsely pubescent; stipules ovate, ca 0.25" long, deciduous. Flws in 3s, middle flw sometimes with 1 white, ovate to circular, leaflike cal lobe to 2" long; cor ca 0.25" long, white, tube ≤length of 4 reflexed lobes; stam 4, projecting; stigma eventually recurved. Capsule oblong-cylindrical, ca 0.25" long; widest above middle. Seeds slender, winged at ends. . . . The flowers are sweet-scented and . . . yellowish wood. . . . The white calyx lobes are often long-persistent and remain on the fruit." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 486)

Habitat/ecology:  "[Calycophyllum candidissimum] . . . is one of the commonest trees of the Pacific plains of Central America.⁴²⁷" (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 486)

Habitat: "Dry semi-deciduous forest [307]. Common on shaded hillsides and along waterways, often in pure stands [316]." In cultivation: "Prefers a rich, deep, well-drained soil and a position in full sun [307]. Established plants are very drought tolerant [307]. The flowers are a good source of nectar for bees [307]." (Useful Tropical Plants)

Propagation:  Propagation is by seed. (Useful Tropical Plants)

Native range:  "[Calycophyllum candidissimum] is native from southern Mexico to Columbia and Venezuela and is one of the commonest trees of the Pacific plains of Central America.⁴²⁷" (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 486)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  If you know of other invaded habitats or impacts, please let us know.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180903
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180903
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180903
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180903
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180903
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180903
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)		Useful Tropical Plants (year unknown) "Panama to southern Mexico" accessed 20180903
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) "SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Chiapas]" accessed 20180903
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)		Useful Tropical Plants (year unknown) "Panama to southern Mexico" accessed 20180903
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180903
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia		Useful Tropical Plants (year unknown) accessed 20180903
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180903

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Cuba	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180903
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Cuba		Useful Tropical Plants (year unknown) accessed 20180903
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Puerto Rico		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Trinidad		Useful Tropical Plants (year unknown) accessed 20180903
Venezuela Venezuela	Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)		Useful Tropical Plants (year unknown) accessed 20180903

Comments:  "planted as a street tree in some parts of Honolulu" (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 486)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Calycophyllum candidissimum, please let us know.