Rat Wood
Scientific name: Erythroxylum rotundifolium
IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern
GPS Location: 17° 43′ 0.42″ N, 64° 49′ 49.82″ W
Medicinal Uses
Erythroxylum rotundifolium, while part of the coca genus (Erythroxylum) known for stimulant properties (like cocaine from E. coca), isn’t widely documented for specific medicinal uses in general knowledge, but other genus members like E. coca (coca leaf) offer stimulation, hunger/thirst suppression, and pain relief, and E. vaccinifolium (catuaba) acts as an aphrodisiac, suggesting E. rotundifolium might have related traditional uses, though less established.
Observations:
Phenological Markers – Rat Wood (Erythroxylum rotundifolium)
Common Name: Rat Wood
Scientific Name: Erythroxylum rotundifolium L.
Family: Erythroxylaceae
Origin: Native to the Caribbean, including the Virgin Islands
Form: Shrub to small tree, typically 2–5 meters tall
Annual Phenological Cycle
| Phenophase | Typical Timing (St. Croix – Lowland Tropical) | Field Notes |
| Leaf Flush | April – June | New leaves emerge bright green and soft; often seen after early rains. |
| Flowering | May – August | Tiny white to greenish flowers; inconspicuous but fragrant. |
| Fruit Development | July – October | Small red drupes (resembling miniature cherries) mature through late summer. |
| Leaf Drop (Partial) | January – March (dry season) | May exhibit partial deciduousness under drought stress. |
| Dormancy | March – April (minimal visible growth) | Growth slows prior to wet season onset. |
Identification Notes
- Leaves are distinctly round to oval and alternate, giving rise to the species name rotundifolium.
- Bark is smooth to finely fissured and greyish-brown.
- Fruits are attractive to birds and small mammals.
- Tends to grow in dry forest margins, rocky slopes, and coastal scrub.
- The name “Rat Wood” may refer to its dense, twiggy growth and habitat in dry scrub where rodents are common.