Balatá Tree (Manilkara bidentata)
Scientific Name: Manilkara bidentata — Balatá, also called Bulletwood.
Native Home: Tropical forests of Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America.
Height: 20–40 m.
Lifespan: Several decades, potentially over 100 years.
Uses and Harvesting
Timber: Dense, heavy, durable wood used for flooring, construction, and furniture.
Harvesting: Mature trees are selectively felled for timber and latex where permitted.
Age to Harvest: Around 30–50 years for substantial timber, depending on growing conditions.
Products: Timber, flooring, furniture, and balata latex historically used in industrial products.
History and Global Production
Traditional Use: Indigenous communities used its latex and wood for practical purposes.
Global Spread: Native to tropical America and harvested commercially in parts of its native range. Overharvesting has reduced some natural populations.
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