Castilla is a genus of three species of large trees in the family Moraceae (order Rosales), native to Central and South America. These are monoecious or dioecious trees reaching up to 40 meters in height, with prominently buttressed trunks that produce abundant white latex of commercial and historical value. The branchlets bear characteristic scars left by fallen stipules. Leaves are oblong to elliptic with entire margins. The inflorescences, surrounded by bracts, are small-flowered; male flowers develop inside lengthwise-folded, kidney-shaped structures, while female flowers are borne in globose heads. The resulting infrutescence varies in shape and displays orange or red fruits. The genus is best known for Castilla elastica, the Panama rubber tree, a historically important source of natural latex used by pre-Columbian peoples for ball games and later exploited commercially. The genus name honors the Spanish botanist Juan Diego del Castillo, chosen by his friend Vicente Cervantes.
Etymology
The genus is named after Juan Diego del Castillo (d. 1793), a Spanish botanist. His friend Vicente Cervantes, also a botanist, chose the name in his honor. The genus is sometimes incorrectly spelled "Castilloa."
Distribution
Castilla species are native to Central and South America. Castilla elastica has been widely introduced elsewhere and is considered invasive in parts of Tanzania and the South Pacific.
Ecology
Castilla species exhibit cladoptosis — the regular, programmed shedding of branches — which is thought to be an adaptation to prevent climbing plants (lianas) from colonizing the tree. Castilla elastica is a weedy, fast-growing tree that behaves invasively in tropical regions where it has been introduced, including Tanzania and islands of the South Pacific.
Cultural Uses
Castilla elastica is one of several plants historically tapped for natural rubber; its common names include Panama rubber tree and castilloa rubber. Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican peoples used the latex to produce rubber balls for a ceremonial ballgame. On the Mosquito Coast (stretching from Honduras to Nicaragua), the Miskitu and Mayangna peoples traditionally made fabric from the inner bark of Castilla tunu.
Taxonomy Notes
The genus name is sometimes incorrectly rendered as "Castilloa." The genus contains three accepted species, with Castilla elastica being the most widely known and economically significant.
