The genus Conocarpus is composed of 2 species native to North America [1] and the shores of tropical America and Africa [1]. The word conocarpus means “cone fruit,” in reference to the cone-like rounded fruits.
Other Common Names: asokolo, asopolo, botoncahui, botoncillo, botonillo, buttonbush, button mangrove, button-tree, chene guadeloupe, conocarpe droit, estachahuite, Florida button, Florida buttonwood, geli, gray mangrove, grey mangrove, grignon, grijze mangle, grijze mangrove, iztac-cuahuitl, jele, kaba, k’an-chik’-inche, kanche, k’ank-ank-che, k’ank-che, madre de sal, mangel, mangel blancu, mangle, mangle blanco, mangle boton, mangle botoncillo, mangle cenizo, mangle garbancillo, mangle gris, mangle jeli, mangle lloroso, mangle marequita, mangle negro, mangle pinuelo, mangle prieto, mangle roche, mangle torcido, mangle zaragoza, manglier, manglier gris, mangrovia grigia, mangue, mangue branco, mangue de botao, maraquito, n ja, paletuvier, paletuvier gris, pash-ch’uhnul, pataban, saragosa, silver buttonwood, taabche, tabche, witte mangel, witte mangro, wortelboom, x-kanche, xtabche, yana, zaragosa, zaragoza mangrove.
Distribution: Native to the silt shores of coasts and islands of Florida, including the Florida Keys. Also widely distributed on coasts of tropical America from Bermuda and Bahamas through West Indies, including Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. From Mexico south on the Atlantic coast to Brazil and on the Pacific coast to Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands and Peru. On coasts of west Africa and in Melanesia and Polynesia.
The Tree: Buttonwood occurs in tidal lagoons and bays of brackish water. It forms dense thickets of shrubby growth, but becomes tree-like when growing alone. Flowers and fruits are produced year round. The tree reaches heights of 60 ft (18 m) and a diameter of 3 ft (1 m). The bark is thick and has broad plates of thin scales which are gray to brown. The bark is rich in tannins.
General Wood Characteristics: The heartwood of buttonwood is olive brown, with a reddish tinge, while the sapwood is lighter. The wood is moderately heavy, hard and strong. It has a high luster, medium texture, with a straight to mottled grain.
Weighta
Weight
Moisture Specific lb/ft3 kg/m3
content gravity
Green (47%) 0.69 64 1,025
12% 0.71 50 801
Ovendry 0.85 NA NA
aReference (59).
Mechanical propertiesa
Property Green Dry
MOE 1.19 106 8.205 GPa 1.58 106 10.894 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 7.40 103 51.023 MPa 10.2 103 70.329 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 4.10 103 28.270 MPa 7.85 103 54.126 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 1.14 103 7.860 MPa 1.63 103 11.239 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 6.2 42.749 kJ/m3 5.9 40.681
in-lbf/in3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
Hardness 1,110 lbf 4937.28 N NA NA
Shear| | 1.22 103 8.412 MPa NA NA
lbf/in2
aReference (59).
Drying and shrinkagea
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final moisture
content)
Type of 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
shrinkage
Tangential 8.5 NA NA
Radial 5.4 NA NA
Volumetric 14.6 NA NA
a Reference (59).
Durability: Moderately resistant to heartwood decay.
Preservation: No information available at this time.
Uses: Durable construction, fuel, charcoal.
Toxicity: No information available at this time.
Additional Reading: 29, 55, 68, 74. 55, 66, 68, 74, 79. 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 55, 56, 68, 72, 73, 74, 79, 92, 97, 102. 74, 75, 77, 99, 106. 101.