Clusia major
Encyclopedia
Clusia major the autograph tree, copey, balsam apple, pitch-apple, and Scotch attorney, is a tropical and sub-tropical plant species in the genus Clusia
.
, including the Bahamas, Hispaniola
, Cuba
, and Puerto Rico
- such as in Los Haitises National Park
. It is a hemiepiphyte
plant. The flowers are white. The upper leaf tissue registers 'writing' giving it the common name autograph tree. The tree produces a fleshy, light green but poisonous fruit; once the fruit has split, the seeds are favored by birds and other wildlife.
Clusia major has become a great threat to Sri Lanka, Hawaii, and many other countries as an invasive plant. In Florida, however, it is a popular and useful ornamental that has not escaped cultivation.
In Sri Lanka it's known as ගල් ගොරක or ගල් ඉද්ද in Sinhala.
, for its flowers, foliage, and fruit. It is planted in garden
s as a fruiting and ornamental tree in sub-tropical climates, and used as a houseplant
in many climates.
-_leaf_with_autograph,_flower,_fresh_fruit,_and_dried_fruit.jpg)
Clusia
Clusia is the type genus of the family Clusiaceae. Comprising 140-150 species, it is native to tropical and subtropical America. Its species are shrubs, vines and small to medium-size trees up to 20 m tall, with evergreen foliage...
.
Description
Clusia major is a tree found in the CaribbeanCaribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, including the Bahamas, Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
- such as in Los Haitises National Park
Los Haitises National Park
Los Haitises National Park is a national park located on the remote northeast coast of the Dominican Republic. It is a protected virgin forest with little road access. The number of tourists allowed is limited, but since 2000 it has been a relatively popular destination for ecotourism...
. It is a hemiepiphyte
Hemiepiphyte
A hemiepiphyte is a plant which begins its life as an epiphyte but which later grows roots down into the ground. The seeds of hemiepiphytes germinate in the canopy and initially live epiphytically...
plant. The flowers are white. The upper leaf tissue registers 'writing' giving it the common name autograph tree. The tree produces a fleshy, light green but poisonous fruit; once the fruit has split, the seeds are favored by birds and other wildlife.
Clusia major has become a great threat to Sri Lanka, Hawaii, and many other countries as an invasive plant. In Florida, however, it is a popular and useful ornamental that has not escaped cultivation.
In Sri Lanka it's known as ගල් ගොරක or ගල් ඉද්ද in Sinhala.
Cultivation
This plant is cultivated as an ornamental plantOrnamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
, for its flowers, foliage, and fruit. It is planted in garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s as a fruiting and ornamental tree in sub-tropical climates, and used as a houseplant
Houseplant
A houseplant is a plant that is grown indoors in places such as residences and offices. Houseplants are commonly grown for decorative purposes, positive psychological effects, or health reasons such as indoor air purification...
in many climates.