Under the post headed "When trees flourished in Treasure Beach" in August of 2010, I had asked about a shrub that we locally called the Ebony Tree. Back then my good friend Carlton Reynolds suggested it may have been Pepper Rod (Carlton wha'a gwaan?). I recently found out that the real name is Brya Ebenus, or the Jamaican Rain Tree.
Happy New Year to all.
Just saw this after posting about the ones in Black River Nostalgic. CR, Pepper Rod will burn your sensitive places and is a shrub growing to a few feet. Ebony will grow to a tree 15'+ and blooms an orange flower with the sweetest scent.
Sam has one growing by his fence on the GB main.
Plant some for the grandkids.
The pepper rod bush is called croton humilis, but I am not sure it is the same plant mentioned here.
Your other post was quite a coincidence turey. I know of that particular plant you mentioned above. I never knew the flowers were scented though.
Apart from the uses you mentioned, I wonder if the flowers would be good for bee keeping. This is a resource (the plant) that doesn't require much effort or money as it is drought resistant and grows well in our arid soil.
I'm sure bees feed on the flowers Nostalgic. Ebony honey would be interesting. I used to get lignum vitae honey a while back, dark and strong. Doubt one can claim 100% of any pollen, only a dominance due to the flowering plants near the hives.