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Cordia alliodora

Cordia alliodora

oken
Laurel Negro

Family: Boraginaceae
Order: Boraginales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Phylum / Division: Magnoliophyta
Kingdom: Plantae

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Description


Cordia alliodora is a species of flowering tree in the family Cordiaceae, that is native to the American tropics. It is commonly known as Spanish elm, Ecuador laurel, cypre or salmwood. It can reach 35 m in height.

Taxonomy: The species was first described in 1799 by Hipólito Ruiz López and José Antonio Pavón Jiménez, as Cerdana alliodora. In 1841, it was transferred to the genus Cordia by Lorenz Oken. (Cerdana is treated as a synonym of Cordia.)

Among the synonyms of Cordia alliodora is Solanum mucronatum. Solanum is placed in a different family from Cordia (Solanaceae rather than Boraginaceae). Solanum mucronatum was described by Otto Eugen Schulz in 1909. In his description, Schulz expressed doubt that Solanum was the right genus.

Uses: Cordia alliodora is one of several Cordia trees called bocote in Spanish and its wood, which has very little figure, is usually called freijo or jennywood along with that of Cordia goeldiana. The wood is used for boat decking, furniture, cabinetry, guitar/bass building by luthiers, and sometimes substitutes for mahogany or teak.

Environmental aspects: Outside of its indigenous range, Cordia alliodora has been identified as a problematic invasive species.
For example, a timber-focused planting program of the species in Vanuatu during the mid-1970s has over time proved disruptive to native ecosystems and communities. The species has been described as a severe environmental nuisance, as it has overtaken natural forests by multiplying at a faster rate than being harvested, and has become susceptible to outbreaks of a form of root rot known as Phellinus noxius.

Source: Wikipedia, article Cordia alliodora. Content adapted from Wikipedia, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessed on 17/07/2026.





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Species records

Count: 3



Page 1 of 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
252643918/08/2026ArgentinaJujuyReserva Natural Provincial Las LancitasEduardo Nadal
233985702/06/2025ParaguayCanindeyúReserva Natural del Bosque MbaracayúHugo Caverzasi
141742729/05/2021ArgentinaMisionesReserva Privada San JoséMarcos Augusto Lartigau
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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Cordia alliodora – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 14/09/2026.