Plukenetia polyadenia
Müll.Arg.
Euphorbiaceae
Elaeophora abutifolia Ducke
Elaeophora polyadenia (Müll.Arg.) Ducke
Plukenetia abutifolia (Ducke) Pax & K.Hoffm.
Common Name:
General Information
Plukenetia polyadenia is a vigorous climbing shrub, twining around other trees for support and able to reach up into the canopy.
The seeds are harvested from the wild as a source of oil. They are sometimes sold in local markets.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
674- Title
- A Contribution to the Guianan Flora: Dalechampia, Haematostemon, Omphalea, Pera, Plukenetia and Tragia (Euphorbiacea
- Publication
- Smithsonian Contributions to Botany No. 86
- Author
- Gillespie L.J. & Armbruster W.S.
- Website
- http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Botany/
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 97-10535
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of papers by the Smithsonian Institute, it can be downloaded from their website.
Range
S. America - Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, the Guyanas.
Habitat
Clambering into the canopy in moist to wet lowland or lower montane forest, at elevations from sea level to almost 1,000 metres[
674- Title
- A Contribution to the Guianan Flora: Dalechampia, Haematostemon, Omphalea, Pera, Plukenetia and Tragia (Euphorbiacea
- Publication
- Smithsonian Contributions to Botany No. 86
- Author
- Gillespie L.J. & Armbruster W.S.
- Website
- http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Botany/
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 97-10535
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of papers by the Smithsonian Institute, it can be downloaded from their website.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Climber |
| Height | 30.00 m |
| Self-fertile | No |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the moist tropical lowlands, mainly found at elevations below 650 metres.
The plant is usually dioecious, though it is sometimes monoecious. If dioecious, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.
Edible Uses
The seeds are sold for their oil in local markets[
674- Title
- A Contribution to the Guianan Flora: Dalechampia, Haematostemon, Omphalea, Pera, Plukenetia and Tragia (Euphorbiacea
- Publication
- Smithsonian Contributions to Botany No. 86
- Author
- Gillespie L.J. & Armbruster W.S.
- Website
- http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Botany/
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 97-10535
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of papers by the Smithsonian Institute, it can be downloaded from their website.
]. This report does not specifically say that the oil is edible, though at least one other member of this genus does produce an edible oil[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
The bark is used in a decoction to treat fevers[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
Other Uses
An oil is obtained from the seed[
674- Title
- A Contribution to the Guianan Flora: Dalechampia, Haematostemon, Omphalea, Pera, Plukenetia and Tragia (Euphorbiacea
- Publication
- Smithsonian Contributions to Botany No. 86
- Author
- Gillespie L.J. & Armbruster W.S.
- Website
- http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Botany/
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 97-10535
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of papers by the Smithsonian Institute, it can be downloaded from their website.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
