Brosimum rubescens aka Bloodwood Cacique

Brosimum rubescens is an evergreen tree in the mulberry family, Moraceae. Common names include bloodwood cacique, Brazilian redwood, and cardinal wood. Its native range runs from Panama south to Brazil. It also grows in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and the Guianas. Its home is wet evergreen forest at low elevations. Sources chiefly describe trees growing wild and harvested for timber.

The tree has a small crown and a straight trunk. Reference size figures give a height of 98 feet [30 metres]. The listed spread reaches about 66 feet [20 metres]. Some trees reach 131 feet [40 metres], though most stay smaller. Trunks can measure 1.6–2.3 feet [0.5–0.7 metres] across. The sources describe the trunk as lacking buttresses. Useful Tropical Plants also reports high prop roots. The tree keeps its leaves throughout the year.

For cultivation, it prefers a site with some shade. Plants For A Future also lists tolerance of deep shade. Young trees grow at a moderate pace after planting. The soil should stay moist. Suitable soils include sand, loam, and clay. The listed pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 10–12. Seeds give the best results when sown soon after ripening. Sow them in separate pots and place them in partial shade. Germination is often poor and takes about 40–60 days.

The dark red heartwood can show deeper streaks. A clear boundary separates it from the surrounding sapwood. Its fine texture and grain suit fine woodwork. The grain may run straight or form an interlocked pattern. The wood is dense, heavy, hard, and durable. It resists termites and other organisms that attack wood. Uses include furniture, musical instruments, parquet floors, and turned items. Harvesters take timber from wild trees for sale abroad. The wood dries slowly but has little risk of splitting or warping. Once dry, it holds its shape well. It dulls tools, and screws and nails need predrilled holes.

Neither Plants For A Future nor Useful Tropical Plants records food uses. They report no known hazards, rather than proof of safety. Traditional medicine uses the latex for coughs and colds. This records a use, not evidence that treatment works. The supplied sources give no details of flowers or fruit. They also provide no account of garden pests or diseases.