Caraipa densifolia
Mart.
Calophyllaceae
Caraipa excelsa Ducke
Caraipa fasciculata Cambess.
Caraipa insidiosa Barb.Rodr.
Caraipa laurifolia Spruce ex Choisy
Caraipa laxiflora Benth.
Caraipa melhemiana Paula
Caraipa myrciifolia Spruce ex Benth.
Caraipa sellowii Turcz.
Caraipa variabilis Cambess.
Common Name:
Looking up the trunk of a tree growing in dense forest
Photograph by: Tarciso Leão
General Information
Caraipa densifolia is an evergreen tree with a dense, irregularly shaped crown; it can grow from 8 - 20 metres tall. The cylindrical bole can be 100 - 220cm in diameter[
528- Title
- Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fonseca E. T. De
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use and also for its timber.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
S. America - Amazonia in Peru and Brazil.
Habitat
Humid forests on sandy, wet floodplains[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 10.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Prefers a position in dappled shade[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. Plants can tolerate seasonal inundation of the soil[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
Young plants have a moderate rate of growth, the most vigorous are almost 2 metres tall after 2 years[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
An oil extracted from the seeds is used externally in the treatment of itchy skin problems including scabies, mange and herpes[
528- Title
- Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fonseca E. T. De
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It is also used in the treatment of rheumatism[
528- Title
- Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fonseca E. T. De
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
A balsam resin obtained from the trunk is used for healing wounds[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. A decoction of the resin is used to treat scabies and other skin conditions[
739- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Brazil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications; Michigan.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-917256-42-5
- Description
- An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
].
A decoction of the bark is used to treat scabies and other skin conditions[
739- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Brazil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications; Michigan.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-917256-42-5
- Description
- An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
].
Other Uses
A balsam resin is obtained from the trunk[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
526- Title
- An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and Allied Sciences.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gould G.M.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- P. Blakiston's Son & Co.; Philadelphia.
- Year
- 1907
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A major work at the time, though very dated now. Contains quite a lot of information about medicinal plant uses.
]. It is known as 'tamacoari balsam'[
526- Title
- An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and Allied Sciences.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gould G.M.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- P. Blakiston's Son & Co.; Philadelphia.
- Year
- 1907
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A major work at the time, though very dated now. Contains quite a lot of information about medicinal plant uses.
].
The wood is medium-textured, irregular-grained, moderately heavy with a low susceptibility to rot[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. It is used in general construction, ship building, internal applications, cabinet making, general carpentry etc[
528- Title
- Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fonseca E. T. De
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a nursery seedbed in a partially shaded position. A germination rate in excess of 90% can be expected, with the seeds sprouting within 25 - 35 days[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. Seedlings grow away moderately quickly[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
