Sideroxylon lanuginosumChittamwood
科:山榄科
Family:Sapotaceae
common name:Chittamwood
introduce:Plant Type: Tree
Family: Sapotaceae
Missouri Native: Yes
Native Range: Southeastern United States, Mexico
Height: 15 to 45 feet
Spread: 10 to 30 feet
Bloom Time: June
Bloom Color: White
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium moisture
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Grow in dry to medium wet, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Winter hardiness is not well documented. It is therefore recommended that this species be planted in protected sites in the St. Louis area which is located at the far northern edge of this trees natural growing range.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Sideroxylon lanuginosum, commonly known as gum bumelia, woolly bumelia or woolly buckthorn, is a narrow-crowned, spiny, deciduous tree that typically grows 20 to 45 tall. It is native to the southeastern U.S. and northern Mexico north to Missouri. In Missouri, it occurs in dry or open rocky woods and glades in the southern 1/2 of the state south of the Missouri River. From Florida to Texas, it is also seen in moister soils along streams and swamps. Oblong-obovate leaves (to 3" long) are soft-hairy underneath and persist late into fall before turning an unexceptional yellow-green. Clusters of tiny white flowers appear in the leaf axils in early summer. Steyermark maintains that this is the last Missouri tree to flower other than the fall-flowering Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel). Flowers give way to small, globular, shiny, slender-stalked fruits (to 1/2" long) which mature black in fall. Branches have sharp thorns reminiscent of osage-orange (Maclura). Cut wood exudes a milky sap. Bumelia is in the same family (Sapote) as the tropical sapodilla tree (Manilkara zapota) which is the source of the chicle used in chewing gum. Lanuginosum means "having soft, downy hairs", in reference to the hair on the leaf undersides and twigs of this species. Formerly known as Bumelia lanuginosa.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses:
This tree has minimal ornamental value and is infrequently cultivated for landscape use. Moreover, it may be difficult to find at local nurseries. May be best utilized in wild areas, along property lines or in native plant gardens.
