Common Name: Pau de Lepra

General Information

Pau de lepra is a small, evergreen tree with an elongated, dense crown; it can grow from 10 - 20 metres tall[, ]. The bole is 30 - 40cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of medicines, wood, oil and food. It is rarely also cultivated for medicinal purposes[]. An ornamental tree, valued for its flowers and the strange form of its fruits, it is planted along the sides of roads[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Small and old forests[]. Mainly on alluvial plains in primary and secondary rain forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in a sunny position or dappled shade[]. Tolerates most soil types[].
Plants grow away slowly, hardly reaching 1.5 metres tall when two years old[].
There are male, female and hermaphrodite plants[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[].

Medicinal

The seed oil (officinal Oleum Carpotroche) is used externally in the treatment of leprosy[] and other dermatological conditions[]. It is also used as a parasiticide, a depilatory and anti-dandruff treatment[].

The oil contains sulphones, which have been shown to have an anti-leprosy action[]. It also contains chaulmoogric, hydnocarpic and gorlic acids. Cyanogenic glycosides are found in the seeds and pericarp[].

Other Uses

The oil from the seed has insecticidal and parasiticidal properties[].
The oil is also traditionally used to make a soap[].

The wood is moderately heavy, compact, difficult to work, splits easily and is moderately durable even under adverse conditions[]. It is used for internal purposes, cabinet making, carpentry, boxes etc[].
The wood is used for fuel and is made into charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - remove the seeds from the spherical pods and either germinate directly, or remove seed from the hard, outer shell[]. It can take up to 6 months to germinate[]. Do not germinate deep in soil[].
It is also possible to collect seedlings from under tree. Do not take more than 50% of the seedlings[].

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