Glassywood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glassywood |
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Astronium
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graveolens
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Astronium graveolens is a type of flowering tree that belongs to the cashew family. You can find this tree growing in Mexico, Central America, and even as far south as Bolivia in South America. People often call it glassywood. In Spanish, it's known as ronrón, and in Portuguese, it's called aroeira. This tree was mentioned in an important book about plants called Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.
Contents
About the Glassywood Tree
The Astronium graveolens tree can grow very tall, reaching up to 35 meters (about 115 feet) high. Its trunk can be as wide as 1 meter (about 39 inches) and is usually straight and round. At the bottom, the trunk has special supports called buttresses, which can be about 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall. These help the tree stand strong.
The top part of the tree, called the crown, is rounded and has branches that grow in different directions. The bark of the tree is grey, shiny, and smooth. It often has lighter spots where pieces of bark have peeled off.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the glassywood tree grow in a special way. They are alternate, meaning they don't grow directly opposite each other on the branch. Each leaf is made up of five to seven smaller leaflets. These leaflets are shaped like oblongs or ovals with pointed tips.
The tree blooms during the dry season. Its flowers are small and yellowish-green. They grow in clusters called panicles, either at the end of branches or where leaves meet the stem. These flowers are hermaphrodite, which means each flower has both male and female parts.
Fruit
After flowering, the tree produces a fruit that looks like a small nut. It starts blue and turns black when it's ripe. The fruit has a slightly bitter flesh and contains just one seed inside. This plant is also sometimes called "gateado."
Amazing Wood from Glassywood Trees
The wood from the Astronium graveolens tree is very special. When it's first cut, the inner wood, called heartwood, is reddish-brown or orange-brown. It has stripes of medium to dark brown that vary in width. After the wood is exposed to air, it gets darker, and the stripes can become almost black.
The outer part of the wood, called sapwood, is about 10 centimeters (4 inches) thick. It is whitish or dull grey.
Uses of Glassywood Timber
This wood is known for being fine-grained, very dense, and durable. It's also resistant to rot, which means it lasts a long time without decaying. Because of these great qualities, glassywood is used for many important things.
It's often used in heavy construction work, like building strong structures. It's also popular for making joinery (like doors and window frames), veneers (thin layers of wood used to cover other materials), and furniture.
Beyond these common uses, glassywood is also chosen for more unique items. It's used in turnery (making things on a lathe), carving, and even for making handles for knives. You might also find it in archery bows and billiard cues because of its strength and beauty.
See also
In Spanish: Astronium graveolens para niños
