Black Sweetwood
Ocotea foeniculacea
Black Sweetwood (Ocotea foeniculacea) is a medium-sized evergreen tree in the laurel family, characterized by its dark, aromatic bark and glossy, lance-shaped leaves that emit a distinctive fennel-like fragrance when crushed. This tropical tree plays a crucial ecological role as a food source for various bird species through its small, dark berries, while also providing nesting sites and contributing to forest canopy structure.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Laurales
Family
Lauraceae
Genus
Ocotea
Black Sweetwood belongs to the family Lauraceae, order Laurales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Black Sweetwood (Ocotea foeniculacea) is a medium-sized evergreen tree in the laurel family, characterized by its dark, aromatic bark and glossy, lance-shaped leaves that emit a distinctive fennel-like fragrance when crushed. This tropical tree plays a crucial ecological role as a food source for various bird species through its small, dark berries, while also providing nesting sites and contributing to forest canopy structure.
Black Sweetwood faces significant threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its range in the Caribbean and Central America. The species' limited distribution and specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to ongoing forest fragmentation and conversion of lowland forests for development and agriculture.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Black Sweetwood occurs in tropical moist lowland forests, secondary forests, and woodland areas primarily in the Caribbean islands and parts of Central America. The species typically grows in well-drained soils in both primary and disturbed forest habitats at low to moderate elevations.
Threats
Agricultural expansion and land conversion
Deforestation and forest clearing
Habitat fragmentation
Limited population size and distribution
Urban development pressure
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Black Sweetwood (Ocotea foeniculacea). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/black-sweetwood