Brosimum is a genus of plants in the family Moraceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. The breadnut (B. alicastrum) was used by the Maya civilization for its edible nut. The dense vividly colored scarlet wood of B. paraense is used for decorative woodworking. B. guianense, or snakewood, has a mottled snake-skin pattern, and is among the densest woods, with a very high stiffness; it was the wood of choice for making of bows for musical instruments of the violin family until the late 18th century, when it was replaced by the more easily worked brazilwood (Paubrasilia echinata). Plants of this genus are otherwise used for timber, building materials, and in a cultural context. Accepted species Brosimum acutifolium—tamamuri Brosimum alicastrum Sw.—breadnut, Maya nut, ramón (Spanish) Brosimum costaricanum Liebm. Brosimum gaudichaudii Trecul—Mama-cadela Brosimum glaucum Taub. Brosimum glaziovii Taub. Brosimum guianense (Aubl.) Huber—"snakewood" (= B. aubletii) Brosimum lactescens (S.Moore) C.C.Berg Brosimum longifolium Ducke Brosimum melanopotamicum C.C.Berg Brosimum multinervium C.C.Berg Brosimum parinarioides Ducke Brosimum parinarioides ssp. amplicoma (Ducke) C.C.Berg (= B. amplicoma) Brosimum parinarioides ssp. parinarioides Brosimum potabile Brosimum rubescens Taub.—Satine bloodwood Brosimum utile (Kunth) Pittier (= B. galactodendron) Formerly placed here Pseudolmedia spuria (Sw.) Griseb. (as B. spurium Sw.) Footnotes References (2004): Wood for Woodturners. Guild of Master Craftsmen Publications, Sussex. Moraceae genera