Castilla (plant)

Taxobox
name = "Castilla"


image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Castilla elastica"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Moraceae
genus = "Castilla"
genus_authority = Cerv.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text
synonyms ="Castilloa" ("lapsus")

"Castilla" (sometimes incorrectly spelled "Castilloa") is a tree genus belonging to the family Moraceae found native in Central America. It is named after Juan Diego del Castillo (d. 1793), a botanist, who was friends with Vicente Cervantes, who chose the name in his friend's honor.

The main species is "Castilla elastica", one of several plants from which rubber has been extracted. The vernacular name is "Panama rubber tree" or "castilloa rubber". The pre-Columbian MesoAmericans used the latex of this plant to make a ball used in a ceremonial game. "Castilla elastica" is a weedy tree which has become invasive in areas where it has been introduced, such as in the South Pacific.

"Castilla" species exhibit a phenomenon known as cladoptosis (the regular shedding of branches). This may be an adaptation to prevent the growth of climbing plants.

;Species and subspeciesVerify source|date=November 2007
*"Castilla elastica" (Panama rubber tree, Castilloa rubber, "palo de hule, olicuáhuitl"
*"Castilla ulei" Warb. (Caucho rubber)

ee also

Rubber

References

Vicente (Vincente) de Cervantes (b. 1755, d. 1829), "Castilla", in Gazeta de Literatura de México 1794, Suppl.: 7. (2 July 1794)

External links

* [http://www.hear.org/pier/species/castilla_elastica.htm Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER): "Castilla elastica"]