Common Name:

General Information

Acanthosyris paulo-alvinii is a semideciduous tree with a small, open, roundish crown; it can grow 12 - 15 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 20 - 35cm in diameter[]. The plant is a hemiparasite, able to obtain nutriments through the roots of another species, but also able to photosynthesize and produce its own nutriments[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun to fairly dense, dappled shade[]. Prefers a moist soil[].
The plant is a hemiparasite, able to extract nutriments from the roots of other plants though also able to survive without this relationship. We do not know how many species it can have this relationship with, but it is considered a weed species in its native range because it invades cacao (Theobroma cacao) plantations and can kill the cacao[, ].
Young plants have a rapid rate of growth[].
The fruits are a good food for the native fauna[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. A sweet tasting pulp[]. The yellowy-green, globose drupe can be around 9cm in diameter, containing a single, large seed around 5cm in diameter[].

Seed[]. Rich in oil[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is coarse-textured, irregular-grained, moderately heavy, hard, fairly durable. It can be used in general construction[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate of be expected, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 60 days[].

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