| Krugiodendron ferreum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rhamnaceae |
| Genus: | Krugiodendron |
| Species: | K. ferreum |
| Binomial name | |
| Krugiodendron ferreum (Vahl) Urban |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Rhamnus ferreus |
|
Krugiodendron ferreum, commonly known as the Black Ironwood or Leadwood, is a species of tree in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae. It is found in southern Florida, throughout the Caribbean and from southern Mexico to Honduras.[1] Originally described by Martin Vahl, its specific epithet is the Latin adjective ferreus 'iron-like'.[2] The genus Krugiodendron presently contains two species; K. ferreum and K. acuminatum. Its name honors Leopold Krug (1833-1898), a student of West Indian flora. The common names for K. ferreum refer to the extremely dense wood that is produced by this tree. Typical air-dry samples have densities of approximately 1.30g/cc but have reached 1.42g/cc.[S. Record, Tropical Woods, Vol. 8, 1926 (ISSN: 0097-6857)]
Krugiodendron ferreum is a small tree 5–10 metres (16–33 ft) in height with oppositely arranged, emarginate leaves and small greenish flowers. The fruit is a drupe, 5-7 mm long which goes from green to purplish red as it matures.[1]
It is widely cultivated in gardens or parks as a specimen tree, and is drought tolerant.