Common Name: Saguaraji

General Information

Rhamnidium elaeocarpum is a deciduous tree with an open, upright crown; it can grow 8 - 16 metres tall[]. The bole can be 30 - 50cm in diameter, it is covered in a corky, vertically fissured bark[].
The edible fruit is sometimes gathered from the wild and used locally, though it is not widely appreciated[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador.

Habitat

Rain forest, high altitude semi-deciduous forest and savannahs. Usually found in stony, fertile soils, it is rare in primary forest formations but found more commonly in open formations[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of low to moderate elevations in the tropics, found at 150 - 1,200 metres.
Prefers a sunny position[].
Young plants are fast-growing[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. A thin, juicy pulp with a sweet, pleasant flavour[]. The black, ellipsoid fruit is about 12mm long, containing a single, large seed[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood and sapwood are not clearly differentiated. The wood is medium-textured, heavy, hard, highly resistant to rot even when exposed to the elements. It is used for external work such as poles, posts, railway ties, bridges, building construction and hydraulic work[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate of almost 100% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 5 - 15 days[]. When the seedlings are 3 - 5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 4 - 5 months later[].

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