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Useful Tropical Plants

Guettarda angelica

Mart. ex Müll.Arg.

Rubiaceae

+ Synonyms

Matthiola angelica (Mart. ex Müll.Arg.) Kuntze

Common Name:

Guettarda angelica
Fruiting branch
Photograph by: Antonio Sergio
Creative Commons License

General Information

Guettarda angelica is an evergreen shrub when growing in exposed positions, becoming a tree in more sheltered sites.
The roots are a popular herbal medicine in Brazil, where they are often gathered from the wild. When large enough, the wood is harvested from the wild for local use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

S. America - northern and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Forests in arid areas.

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height0.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the 'Caatinga' dry forest region of northeast Brazil. The climate is hot and dry, there are usually 6 to 11 months without rain each year. The mean annual rainfall varies from 250 - 1,000mm, and the mean annual temperature is from 24 - 26°c.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The root is astringent and vulnerary[
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.
]. An infusion, or a decoction, is used in the treatment of menstrual spasms, constipation and fevers[
583
Title
Medicinal and poisonous diversity of the flora of 'Cariri Paraibano', Brazil.
Publication
 
Author
Agra M.F. Et al
Website
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.12.007
Publisher
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Year
2007
ISBN
 
Description
An article from the Journal of Ethnopharmacy, available as a PDF document on the Internet. Brief details of some medicinal plants from an area of Brazil.
]. The root is also used in veterinary medicine to treat diarrhoea[
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.
].

The wood, the bark and the root bark are abortifacient, aromatic, febrifuge, stomachic and tonic. They are recommended for use in the treatment of puerperal fever and delayed menstruation[
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.
].

Triterpenoids have been isolated from the plant[
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

The wood is fairly resistant to insect attach[
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 used in general and naval constructions, cabinet making, turnery 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 -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Guettarda+angelica>

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