Common Name:

General Information

Iryanthera hostmannii is a tree with a spreading crown; it can grow up to 20 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 25 - 35cm in diameter, and free of branches for up to 9 metres[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama.

Habitat

Dense primary forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit is edible[]. Fruit in clusters attached to trunk[].

Medicinal

The resin of this tree, locally called cumala colorada, is 'put on cotton and applied to the roof off the mouth for pateo, a disease where a white substance appears in a child's mouth'[].
The resin that exudes from the trunk and stems is applied topically as a treatment for anal itches and mouth sores; it is also placed in the orifice of the penis to treat gonorrhoea[]. This reddish exudate is also applied to aching teeth as an anodyne[].

A cold water infusion of leaves, bark and sap used to treat children's mouth sores and fevers[].

Other Uses

When incised the bark yields a moderate quantity of bitter, reddish brown resin[].
The aromatic bark is removed in strips to make perfumed arm bands; leaves and flowers are also used similarly as perfume and as ornamentation[].
The resin-rich bark can be ground into a powder, mixed with clay and then used for the manufacture of pots[].

The heartwood is a thin core of dull reddish brown; it is clearly defined from the deep pinkish brown, sometimes with a grayish cast, sapwood. Wood vessels are often filled with a highly lustrous deposit. The texture is fine; the grain straight or roey. The wood is rather heavy and strong; durable. It takes a smooth, lustrous finish, and holds its place well when finished. The wood is used to some extent for general carpentry and construction[].
We do not have any more information on the wood of this species. However, the following is a general description for the wood of this genus:-
The heartwood is variable, light pinkish-cinnamon, dull oatmeal, or medium to dark brown, sometimes reddish or purplish; it is often not very sharply demarcated from the wide band of oatmeal-coloured sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain mostly straight; lustre is medium to fairly high; there is no distinctive odour or taste. The durability of all species is rated from nondurable to only moderately durable based on pureculture decay resistance tests. The woods are also prone to blue stain. It can be air dried with little or only moderate difficulty; slight to moderate checking and warp may develop. All of the species have very good machining properties and produce smooth surfaces on the normally straight-grained material. The wood is easily peeled for veneer. It is used for millwork, turnery, furniture, boxes and crates, veneer and plywood, general construction, fiberboard, and particleboard[].

Propagation

Seed -

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