Common Name:

General Information

Bocconia arborea is a shrub or small tree with yellow latex and few, thick branches, growing 2.5 - 6 metres tall[].
The plant is gathered locally, mainly for its use in traditional medicine and as a dye plant[]. The tree is considered to be ornamental with its large, glaucous leaves that can be 45cm long and 30cm wide. It is often grown in gardens[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

C. America - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico.

Habitat

Damp or wet thickets or forest, frequently in oak forest, sometimes in second growth, at elevations from 500 - 2,630 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	4.50 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics and subtropics, it is intolerant of much winter cold[].
Requires a sunny position, preferring a light, well-drained soil[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The orange sap is a common remedy for toothache in Guatemala[].

The plant has been studied by Mexican pharmacists, and is said to contain several alkaloids similar to those found in poppies (Papaver spp.). If injected beneath the skin they cause local anesthesia. They have been used by surgeons of Mexico City while performing operations[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the bark. It has been used for dyeing feathers and other objects[].

The wood is reported to be used sometimes as a source of tannins[].

Propagation

Seed - germinates best at a temperature of 20 - 25°c[].

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