Oxandra laurifolia aka Haya

Oxandra laurifolia is an evergreen tree in the Annonaceae family. Its common names include yaya, lancewood, and corcho blanco. It grows wild in the Caribbean, from Cuba to Martinique. Its range includes Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It lives in wet tropical forests, both lowland and montane. It also grows in gallery forests and wet limestone areas.

Garden references give a height of about 33 feet [10 metres]. They give a spread of about 26 feet [8 metres]. Wild trees reach 30–52 feet [9–16 metres], sometimes more. The trunk is straight and round in cross-section. Its diameter ranges from about 0.3–1.1 feet [0.1–0.35 metres]. The tree keeps its leaves year-round and grows at a moderate rate. The supplied sources give no detailed leaf or bark traits.

The flowers have a scent, but no flowering season is given. Each fruit contains two to seven separate units called monocarps. These are oval and range from yellow to dark maroon. Each measures about 0.04–0.06 feet [0.012–0.017 metres] long. The fruit contains thin, maroon juice, but this does not establish edibility. PFAF lists no known food or medicinal uses. The sources report no known hazards, rather than proof of safety.

PFAF places this tree in USDA zones 10–12. It calls for sun, moist soil, and good drainage. Sand, loam, and clay are all listed as suitable. The stated pH range runs from neutral to strongly alkaline. Wild trees grow on limestone, other lime-rich ground, and red sandy soils. Seed is the listed means of propagation. The sources give no firm account of garden performance or landscape use. They also provide no pest or disease details.

People harvest wild trees for timber sold locally and abroad. They also make charcoal for local markets. The pale yellow wood consists of sapwood with fine, straight grain. It is hard, strong, springy, and durable. Its density makes working it harder, though it takes a smooth finish. Uses include fishing rods, bows, billiard cues, and small tool handles. Craftspeople also use it for turned goods and machinery parts. The 2020 IUCN assessment lists the species as Least Concern. Forest loss occurs within its range, but that assessment found no major threat.