Olivo Negro (Bucida buceras) [Spn/Eng]

Saludos Comunidad

Greetings Community

Happy start to the week filled with health, energy, wonderful ideas, and magic. May it be a time for connection with your inner self and great enthusiasm in every activity you undertake.

One of the ways I start my days is by taking a walk in the areas near my home. I like to do it in the mornings because of the soft, sometimes cool, but delightful breeze, before everything changes as the day progresses. In a park I visit often, I take more time to observe the trees and flowers. Here, the Bucida buceras is a tree species belonging to the Combretaceae family.

I've always loved this tree because of the shape of its branches; it's known as the umbrella tree. The green of its leaves is striking, and even in the height of summer, it's always there to offer some respite from the sun for those who stop to rest for a while in its shade.

Furthermore, this tree brings back many memories because it was planted in a plaza near my house when I was a child. That reforestation of the plaza was completely lost, and this Bucida buceras is the one that remains with its green leaves, providing shade. There are a few other species of leafy trees that can withstand anything; that's nature.

This tree is known by different names; here's the explanation of why it's called Black Olive. The black olive (Bucida buceras), also commonly known as ucaro or ucarillo (and sometimes confused with the búcaro), is a tropical tree very popular in urban landscaping in Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of northern South America. It is often called "olive" because of its small, dark fruits, although it is not related to the Mediterranean olive (Olea europaea).

Aquí presento varias características :

Nombre Científico: Bucida buceras (Familia Combretaceae).

Aspecto: Árbol perenne con una copa densa, a menudo extendida horizontalmente en capas.

Tamaño: Puede alcanzar alturas significativas, a menudo entre 10 y 30 metros, aunque en entornos urbanos se mantiene más pequeño.

Hojas: Pequeñas, coriáceas (textura de cuero), de color verde claro a verde azulado oscuro.

Flores y Frutos: Produce espigas de flores pequeñas de color amarillo-verdoso, seguidas de pequeñas cápsulas de semillas de color marrón a negro.

Tronco y Ramas: Corteza rugosa de color verde oliva o grisáceo, y las ramas suelen ser espinosas, especialmente en ejemplares jóvenes.

Tambièn son importantes su usos y beneficios

Sombra y Ornamental: Es muy valorado por su densa copa, ideal para dar sombra en parques, jardines, banquetas (aceras) y camellones.

Raíces No Invasivas: Una de sus mayores ventajas urbanas es que sus raíces son poco invasivas, lo que reduce el riesgo de dañar banquetas o tuberías.

Resistencia: Tolerante a la sequía, al calor y a diversos tipos de suelo, incluyendo zonas costeras.

Madera: Su madera es densa y muy resistente, utilizada en construcción y carpintería.

Diferencias con otros "Olivos"

No es el olivo de aceite: Bucida buceras es un árbol tropical de tierras bajas, mientras que el olivo verdadero (Olea europea) es mediterráneo.

Confusión con Búcaro: A veces se confunde el término, pero el "Búcaro" en algunos lugares se refiere al Erythrina poeppigiana (buche), un árbol de flores rojas, que es totalmente distinto al olivo negro.

Sus Cuidados

Luz: Requiere pleno sol para desarrollarse correctamente.

Riego: Prefiere suelos con buena nutrición y drenaje. Aunque tolera la sequía, se beneficia de riegos regulares, especialmente cuando es joven.

Mantenimiento: Bajo mantenimiento, pero puede requerir poda de formación para controlar su extensión horizontal. Su poda es horizontal, asì como lo encontramos en los sitios naturales parques y plazas.

Here are several characteristics:

Scientific Name: Bucida buceras (Family Combretaceae).

Appearance: Evergreen tree with a dense, often horizontally spreading crown.

Size: Can reach significant heights, often between 10 and 30 meters, although it tends to be smaller in urban environments.

Leaves: Small, leathery, light green to dark bluish-green.

Flowers and Fruit: Produces spikes of small, yellowish-green flowers, followed by small, brown to black seed capsules.

Trunk and Branches: Rough, olive-green or grayish bark, and branches are usually thorny, especially in young specimens.

Its uses and benefits are also important:

Shade and Ornamental: Highly valued for its dense crown, ideal for providing shade in parks, gardens, sidewalks, and medians.

Non-Invasive Roots: One of its greatest urban advantages is that its roots are not very invasive, reducing the risk of damaging sidewalks or pipes.

Resistance: Tolerant of drought, heat, and various soil types, including coastal areas.

Wood: Its wood is dense and very resistant, used in construction and carpentry.

Differences with other "Olive Trees"

It is not the oil olive: Bucida buceras is a tropical tree of lowlands, while the true olive (Olea europaea) is Mediterranean.

Confusion with the Búcaro: The term is sometimes confused, but "Búcaro" in some places refers to Erythrina poeppigiana (buche), a tree with red flowers, which is completely different from the black olive.

Its Care

Light: Requires full sun to develop properly.

Watering: Prefers well-nourished, nutrient-rich soil. Although it tolerates drought, it benefits from regular watering, especially when young.

Maintenance: Low maintenance, but may require formative pruning to control its horizontal spread. Its pruning is horizontal, as found in natural areas such as parks and plazas.

The black olive, also known as the Júcar tree or Bucida buceras, is a subtropical evergreen tree that grows well in Florida. Often used for shade, the black olive is not a true olive tree, although it produces similar-looking black seed pods.

¿Es bueno tener un árbol de olivo en casa?

Is it good to have an olive tree at home?

Besides bringing freshness and a Mediterranean touch to your garden or patio, an olive tree can live for hundreds of years, making it a family heirloom. It is also an excellent option for those looking for a fruit tree that doesn't require much space or intensive care.