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Useful Tropical Plants

Sloanea picapica

Standl.

Elaeocarpaceae


One fairly recent publication (Nuevo Cat. Fl. Vasc. Venezuela. Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela, Caracas. Hokche, O., P. E. Berry & O. Huber. 2008.) has used Sloanea ptariana Steyerm., as the correct name for this species (treated here as a synonym)[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Sloanea ptariana Steyerm.

Common Name:

Sloanea picapica
Fruits splitting open
Photograph by: Reinaldo Aguilar
Creative Commons License
Sloanea picapica Sloanea picapica Sloanea picapica Sloanea picapica

General Information

Sloanea picapica is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 40 metres tall. The stout bole is very irregular with thick, wall-like buttress roots up to 2 metres tall that protrude from its base and extend away in all directions. Branching occurs only along the upper third of the bole and the crown produced by them is thick, vividly green, and finely textured - though often haphazardly shaped[
510
Title
Trees of Costa Rica's Pacific Slope
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cds.ed.cr/teachers/harmon/page1.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Information on over 80 species of tree from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its edible seed and also for its wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

677
Title
Contributions from the Gray Herbarium Vol. 175
Publication
 
Author
Earle Smith C. Jr.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Massachusets
Year
1954
ISBN
 
Description
A monograph of the Tropical American species of Sloanea.

Range

S. America - Peru, Colombia; C. America - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras.

Habitat

Wet and humid lowland forests, favouring water-saturated soils with poor drainage and often found near or beside small streams[
510
Title
Trees of Costa Rica's Pacific Slope
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cds.ed.cr/teachers/harmon/page1.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Information on over 80 species of tree from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height30.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Seed - a sweet flavour[
510
Title
Trees of Costa Rica's Pacific Slope
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cds.ed.cr/teachers/harmon/page1.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Information on over 80 species of tree from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The dark brown wood is hard. It resists rotting even when in contact with the soil or with water[
510
Title
Trees of Costa Rica's Pacific Slope
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cds.ed.cr/teachers/harmon/page1.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Information on over 80 species of tree from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
].

Propagation

Seed - germinates immediately upon falling from the tree[
510
Title
Trees of Costa Rica's Pacific Slope
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cds.ed.cr/teachers/harmon/page1.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Information on over 80 species of tree from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-04-23. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Sloanea+picapica>

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