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Useful Tropical Plants

Herrania nitida

(Poepp.) R.E.Schult.

Malvaceae

+ Synonyms

Abroma nitidum Poepp.

Brotobroma aspera H.Karst. & Triana

Herrania aspera (H.Karst. & Triana) H.Karst.

Herrania atrorubens Huber

Theobroma aspera (H.Karst. & Triana) K.Schum. ex C.J.J.Hall

Theobroma nitidum (Poepp.) K.Schum.

Common Name:

Herrania nitida
Ripening fruits
Photograph by: C. E. Timothy Paine
Creative Commons License
Herrania nitida Herrania nitida

General Information

Herrania nitida is a small, graceful evergreen tree growing up to 3.6 metres tall[
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 bole is usually less than 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.
].
Although not cultivated, the tree is normally left standing when forest is cleared for agriculture.

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

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia.

Habitat

Rainforests, usually in sites that are not inundated every year, though occasionally in areas subject to light inundation for a few weeks each year, growing at elevations from 75 - 570 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.
]. Often found in secondary growth areas[
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 *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height3.00 m
Cultivation StatusSemi-cultivated, Wild

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.
]. Although a tree of the understorey in rainforests, it grows very well when in a sunny position, fruiting more heavily in such a site[
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

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.
]. The white, acidulous pulp surrounding the seed is eaten raw[
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 pulp 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.
].

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

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

This species germinates and grows well in sunny positions when young. Thus it is often found acting almost like a weed in agricultural clearings and can be used as a pioneer species[
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.
,
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Other Uses

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. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Herrania+nitida>

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