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Metopium brownei

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Metopium brownei
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Metopium
Species:
M. brownei
Binomial name
Metopium brownei

Metopium brownei (also known as chechem, chechen, or black poisonwood) is a species of plant in the family Anacardiaceae.

Distribution and habitat

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It is found in Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Cuba, Jamaica, northern Guatemala, Belize, and from the Yucatán to Veracruz in Mexico.

Description

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Like its cousin, Metopium toxiferum, it produces urushiol in its bark, which can cause contact dermatitis; therefore, live trees and fresh cut logs should be handled carefully. The wood of this tree is a valuable source of lumber in Central America and the West Indies.

References

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  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). "Metopium brownei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T61984043A149062143. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T61984043A149062143.en. Retrieved 30 November 2021.