If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Herrania breviligulata

R.E.Schult.

Malvaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

Herrania breviligulata
Drawing of the leaves and flowers
Photograph by: E.W. Smith; otanical Museum Leaflets, Harvard University, Vol. XVI 1953
Public Domain

General Information

Herrania breviligulata is a small, slender, graceful evergreen tree growing up to about 4.5 metres tall. The erect bole is around 6 - 7cm in diameter[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].

Known Hazards

The fruits of many members of this genus have some or many stinging hairs on them[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Botanical References

635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

Northern S. America - Colombia, Ecuador.

Habitat

Found in rainforests at elevations from 540 - 750 metres[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height4.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Succeeds in most soils[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Edible Uses

The following report is based mainly on the seeds of H. Nitida, but the seed of this species is likely to be very similar[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The seed contains up to 66% oil[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It is solid at room temperature, turning liquid at 25 - 29°c[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The oil comprises 18 - 26% linoleic acid, 2 - 7% oleic acid and 74 - 76% saturated acids[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Although we have no specific information for this species, the pulp surrounding the fruits of most, if not all members of the genus are edible. This white, acidulous pulp is eaten raw and is most delicious just before the complete ripening of the fruit[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Medicinal

The ashes of the bark of Herrania breviligulata are employed to dry up and cure infected wounds and ulcers[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Other Uses

The following description of the wood is for H. Nitida. The wood of this species is likely to be very similar[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The heartwood is pinkish brown, the sapwood pale pink[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The wood has no distinctive odour or taste; it is straight- or wavy-grained; coarse-textured. It is light in weight; soft; not durable[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It requires sharp tools in order to cut smoothly across the grain[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Herrania+breviligulata>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.