Many of the synonyms recorded here are treated as distinct species in some treatments. However, we are following the most recent treatment of this genus from Maas P.J.M et al; Confronting a morphological nightmare: Revision of the Neotropical genus Guatteria (Annonaceae); Blumea Vol. 60 1 - 219; 2015[, ].

Common Name:

General Information

Guatteria nigrescens is an evergreen shrub or a tree with a frondose, much-branched crown; it can grow from 1 - 26 metres tall. The usually short bole can be 6 - 40cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - southern and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest and the higher altitude broadleaved, semideciduous forests, growing as an understorey tree or in more open areas[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun to moderate shade[]. Tolerant o a wide range of soils[].
A slow-growing plant[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant (part not specified) is aromatic and excitant[].

Other Uses

The wood is medium-textured, soft-grained, light in weight, soft, with poor mechanical properties and of very low durability when exposed to the elements. Easy to work with but of low quality, it is only used for making items such as boxes, toys and light objects[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can be expected from untreated seed, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 60 days[].

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