Krugiodendron ferreum, commonly known as the black ironwood or leadwood, is a species of tree in the family Rhamnaceae. It is found in southern Florida, throughout the Caribbean and from southern Mexico to Honduras.
Taxonomy
It is the only species in the genus
Krugiodendron. The genus name honors Leopold Krug (1833–1898). The common names for this species refer to its dense wood.
Description
Typical air-dry samples have densities of approximately 1.30 g/cm
3, and up to 1.42 g/cm
3.
[Record, S. Tropical Woods, Vol. 8. 1926 ()] The tree reaches in height with oppositely arranged, emarginate leaves and small greenish flowers. The fruit is a
drupe 5 to 7 mm long turning purplish red as it matures.
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It is widely cultivated in gardens or parks as a drought-tolerant specimen tree.
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