Citharexylum spinosum

“Bellasombra” or “Fiddlewood”.

West Indies.

A medium sized tree to 16m in height. Deciduous or semi evergreen foliage; it produces small white flowers in pendant racemes, followed by orange fruits which turn black when ripe. The leaves are opposite, eliptical, most are glossy on both sides. The tree produces a hard wood used in the construction of buildings and also in the production of musical instruments such as the fiddle, hence the common name “fiddlewood” adopted by the English.