Common Name:

General Information

Alchornea triplinervia is an evergreen tree with a subround to spreading crown; it can grow 8 - 30 metres tall. The bole is straight, or moderately so, unbranched for 60 - 300cm and around 15 - 100cm in diameter[, 453].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It has potential for use as a pioneer species when in reforestation projects[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Honduras; Caribbean - Trinidad.

Habitat

Lowland areas in Peru, growing in dry loam in old clearings or along the edges of forest, at elevations from 120 - 150 metres[]. On slopes in the Atlantic rainforest, mainly in secondary formations, at elevations up to 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position[]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils[].
A fast-growing tree[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves are used in the treatment of diarrhoea[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A pioneer species within its native range, it grows rapidly and can be used in reforestation planting schemes[].

Other Uses

There is only a thin layer of heartwood, which is medium brown; most of the wood is sapwood, which varies in colour from pale pinkish yellow to deep pinkish brown, sometimes with long dark gum streaks. The wood is moderately straight-grained; medium to rather coarse-textured; it has no distinctive odour or taste. It is light in weight and fairly soft; with poor mechanical properties; requires a sharp knife to cut smoothly across grain, but takes a moderately smooth finish; does not appear to be durable[, ]. It is only used for purposes such as light boxing, door fillings, clogs, crutches and panels[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 40 days[]. When the seedlings are 3 - 5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers[].
The seed has a short viability of less than 60 days[].

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