Common Name:

General Information

Achatocarpus nigricans is a small tree with a short trunk and a dense, spreading crown; it can grow around 5 - 8 metres tall. The branches are often armed with stout sharp spines[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood.
Achatocarpus nigricans has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; C. America - Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, north to central Mexico

Habitat

Dense thickets near the coast or on low plains; at elevations up to 325 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	6.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The flowers are fragrent[].
A dioecious species; both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Drupes, whitish- to greenish-white-translucent when ripe, are edible (as reported in Mexico), but can be unpleasant tasting[].

The leaves are eaten in Bolivar, Colombia[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is a pale greenish-brown, the sapwood white to pale yellowish-brown, . It is said to be used for railroad ties in southern Mexico[].

Propagation

Seed -

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