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Family Combretaceae
Busida
Bucida spinosa Jenn.

DWARF GEOMETRY TREE

Scientific names Common names
Bucida spinosa Jenn. Busida(Tag.)
Bucida molinetii (M.Gomez) Alwan & Stace Dwarf geometry tree (Engl.)
  Ming tree (Engl.)
  Prickly tree (Engl.)
  Spiny black olive (Engl.)
Bucida spinosa Jenn. is a synonym of Bucida molinetii (M.Gómez) Alwan & Stace The Plant List


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
Bucida is 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 to black fruit seed-capsules.

Distribution
- Cultivated.
- A popular container and bonzai plant.

Constituents
- Reported to yield squalene.

Properties
- Bark yields a tanning agent.
- Styptic.
- Squalene considered as emollient, antioxidant and immunostimulant.

Parts utilized
Bark

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—to stop bleeding when applied to wounds.
Others
Immune System Stimulant: 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.

Cosmetics: Source of squalene which is used as emollinet, antioxidant, and immunostimulant. (3)

Studies
No studies found.


Availability
Ornamental cultivation.


Updated October 2017 / November 2014

Photos © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Sun's Soup / Oncology Encyclopedia

(2)
Bucida spinosa Jenn. is a synonym of Bucida molinetii (M.Gómez) Alwan & Stace / The Plant List
(3)
POTENTIAL OF HERBS AS COSMACEUTICALS / Jain A et al / IJRAP 2010, 1 (1) pp 71-77

It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page.

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