Common Name:

General Information

Aegiphila integrifolia is a deciduous tree with a wide, flat-topped crown; it can grow 4 - 7 metres tall. The short bole can be 20 - 30cm in diameter with a thick, corky, deeply fissured bark[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It can be grown as a pioneer plant when restoring native woodland.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama; Caribbean - Trinidad.

Habitat

Semideciduous and rain forests, found almost exclusively in the various stages of secondary succession and very common along fences in pastures; found in a wide range of soils but avoiding the wetter areas[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils, but avoiding wet conditions[].
The plant commonly invades pastures, growing especially along fences, where it is considered to be a weed[].
The plant has a moderately fast rate of growth, able to reach a height of 2.5 metres or more within 2 years from seed[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Juice from the macerated leaves is used in the treatment of dermatosis or as a treatment for chicken pox, eczema, measles and sores[].

Bark rasped in a cold water infusion is used as a wash to treat fevers[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing plant, tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, succeeding in open, sunny situations and providing food for the native fauna. It can be used as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland[].

Other Uses

The heartwood and the sapwood are not clearly differentiated. The wood is light in weight, soft, of low durability when exposed. It is easy to work with and is used for internal works, boxes, brush handles and wooden shoes[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A low germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 50 - 100 days[]. When the seedbed-sown seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 4 - 5 months later[].
The seed usually has a viability in excess of 6 months in storage[].

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