Common Name:

General Information

Hevea nitida is usually a medium-sized, evergreen tree with a sparse crown; it can grow up to 28 metres tall. However, when growing in areas that are seasonally lightly inundated, it can become a stout tree up to 27 metres tall[].
The seeds are an important food source for native people in some parts of the Amazon, though in other areas they are used as a food in times of famine only.

Known Hazards

The seeds contain cyanic compounds are poisonous to humans unless treated[]. See notes on edible uses below[].

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - northern Brazil, Colombia.

Habitat

Usually found in light, sparse, caatinga forests on well-drained sandy soils, though it is also sometimes found in areas that are lightly inundated for part of the year[]. Lowland and lower montane rainforest at elevations up to 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	18.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

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

Seed - cooked[]. Poisonous raw, the seeds are boiled for 24 hours, then the liquid is strained off[]. The mass that remains has somewhat the colour and consistency of rice that has been boiled a long time[]. The seeds are commonly used by some native people, though other tribes view them only as famine foods when better foods are not available[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A thin, white latex is obtained from the tree[]. This latex is of no value as a source of rubber; indeed, if it is mixed (as has often happened when new jungle areas were opened to tapping) with the latex of other species, it acts as an anti-coagulant[].

Propagation

Seed -

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.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: what is greater, 5 or 9?