Trichilia havanensis aka Bastard Lime

Trichilia havanensis is a shrub or small tree in the Meliaceae family. Its native range runs from Mexico to northwestern Venezuela. It also grows in the Caribbean and across Central America. Kew places it in the wet tropical biome. Useful Tropical Plants records it in both dry and moist habitats. These include thickets and forests with a mix of trees. It also grows in areas where woodland has regrown after disturbance.

The tree has a listed height of about 33 feet [10 metres]. Some plants reach 39 feet [12 metres], according to the same source. These figures do not establish a usual size in gardens. The trunk can measure about 0.66 feet [0.2 metres] across. In Guatemala, records place it up to 4,921 feet [1,500 metres] above sea level. Its leaves have a scent and feel rather stiff. The supplied account gives no further details of leaf shape or bark. It shows flowering and fruiting branches but does not describe their features.

People gather this tree from the wild for several uses. They tie bunches of leaves onto poles to make brushes. These tools clear hot coals and ash from large adobe ovens. The account records this use from Guatemala to Costa Rica. It suggests that the stiff leaves may stand up to heat better than other foliage. People also bring cut branches into homes and churches as decorations. This is a documented use of branches, rather than a claim about garden performance.

The wood has a yellow cast and weighs little. It is soft and easy to shape, but lacks durability. People use it for boxes and other carpentry kept out of the weather. They also carve it into traditional dolls known as chintas. The bark has a recorded folk use as a malaria remedy. The supplied evidence does not establish that this treatment works. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known food uses for the species.

The same source reports no known hazards, but this does not establish safety. It gives seed as a means of propagation without further instructions. The evidence provides no tested guidance on light, watering, or soil. Nor does it supply hardiness limits or a flowering season. It names no pests or diseases affecting this tree.