# Prockia crucis

Prockia crucis, most commonly known as guasimilla, is a species of flowering plant in the family Salicaceae. It is the type species of its genus, Prockia. It goes by other names as well, including albaricoquillo, and botón de oro.
The plant has a very wide distribution, spanning from Central America down to Argentina. It also has a presence in most of the Caribbean and South America, throughout many countries. The species is commonly found in disturbed habitats, humid forests, and tropical to subtropical regions at elevations of 80–2,500 m (260–8,200 ft). It is also found within bush vegetation, gallery forests, forest borders with grassland, secondary forests, tropical deciduous forests, semi-evergreen tropical forests, oak forests, thorny rainforests, shrublands, on limestone, and in serpentine soils.

## Description

Prockia crucis grows as shrubs or small trees ranging from 1.2–10 m (3 ft 11 in – 32 ft 10 in) in height, occasionally reaching 20 m (66 ft), with trunks up to 20 cm (7.9 in) in diameter and bark varying from smooth and light gray to rough and brown. The branches are cylindrical, either glabrous or variously pubescent, occasionally lenticellate. Leaves are alternate and spirally arranged, borne on petioles 0.3–3 m (1 ft 0 in – 9 ft 10 in) long, which are glabrous or softly pubescent and often bear a pair of glands at the junction with the blade. The blades, ovate to lanceolate and sometimes elliptic, measuring 2–15 cm (0.79–5.91 in) in length and 1–11 cm (0.39–4.33 in) in width, with acuminate apices, rounded to cordate bases, serrate or crenate margins, and surfaces that are chartaceous to membranaceous, either glabrous or sparsely pubescent, and occasionally discolorous. Stipules, which are prominent and markedly inequilateral, range from 3–20 mm (0.12–0.79 in) in length, are lanceolate or subreniform with glandular-serrate margins, and may persist or be early deciduous. Inflorescences are axillary or terminal, paniculate or racemose, with 2–12 fragrant flowers, measuring 4–14 mm (0.16–0.55 in) in diameter. Sepals number 3–4, ovate to subcordate, 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long, tomentellous externally and glabrous or sparsely pubescent internally, and are green. Petals, when present, are yellow, often early deciduous, and may display tomentellous surfaces. Stamens are numerous, with glabrous filaments of unequal lengths, while the superior ovary is globose to ovoid, either glabrous or pubescent, with an elongate style and a finely lobed or slightly thickened stigma. The fruit is a globose berry or drupe, and are 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) in diameter, glabrous or pilose, with a thin pericarp transitioning from green to deep red or black at maturity. Seeds are ellipsoid, 1.2–1.5 mm (0.047–0.059 in) long, with a smooth or striate testa. It flowers primarily from May to August and fruits between June and November. Its flowers and fruits exhibit significant morphological variability across its range.

## Taxonomy

Prockia crucis was first named by Patrick Browne in 1759. Over time, the species gained a list of synonyms, including 16 names formerly recognized as species of Prockia.

## Cultivation

The plant thrives in dappled, woodland shade and demonstrates a preference for moist soils. It exhibits tolerance to seasonal inundation, making it adaptable to varying moisture conditions. Young specimens display a moderate growth rate.
Seeds are optimally sown immediately upon ripening in a partially shaded nursery seedbed. Due to their diminutive size, the seeds are best placed directly on the soil surface, where they should be gently pressed to ensure contact with the substrate, taking care to prevent displacement during watering. Germination rates are typically low, with emergence occurring within 40–60 days.

## Uses

The fruit is characterized by its sweet and succulent pulp, which is not explicitly confirmed to be edible, but it is possible they are. The leaves are said to have medicinal properties.
The wood is white in color, rough in texture, and straight-grained. It is lightweight and easily workable, though it lacks durability. No specific uses for the wood are known.

## Conservation status

Prockia crucis is considered abundant, with a large and stable population, and is experiencing no current survival problems. It has been recorded frequently, and the existence of fertile collections indicates the presence of numerous healthy populations. Furthermore, it benefits from well-conserved habitats and is found in many protected areas. No significant threats have been identified, and it is not currently experiencing any severe impacts. As a result, the species is assessed as LC by the IUCN Red List.
In Mexico, it is found within the protected areas of Sierra de Manantlán, Los Tuxtlas, La Sepultura, El Triunfo, La Frailescana and Huatulco.