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Useful Tropical Plants

Casearia aculeata

Jacq.

Salicaceae


There are still considerable differences in the concept of species delineation within this genus. We are following the treatment of Marquete R. & Mansano Vidal F., in O Gênero Casearia Jacq. No Brasil[
1715
Title
O Gênero Casearia Jacq. No Brasil
Publication
Rev. Biol. Neotrop. 13(1): 69-249. 2016
Author
Marquete R. & Mansana V.F.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 
] for all the Brazilian species in this database[
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

Casearia alba A.J. Richards

Casearia avellana Miq.

Casearia berberoidea Rusby

Casearia berteroana Turczaninov

Casearia boliviana Briq.

Casearia dentata DC.

Casearia hassleri Briq.

Casearia hirta Sw.

Casearia microphylla Bertero ex Turcz.

Casearia nicoyensis Donn. Sm.

Casearia oblongifolia Rusby

Casearia obovata Schltdl.

Casearia obtusifolia Rusby

Casearia odorata Macfadyen

Casearia platyphylla Briq.

Casearia prunifolia Tul.

Casearia ramiflora Seem.

Casearia riparia S. Moore

Casearia rufidula Triana & Planch.

Casearia sericea L.O. Williams & Ant. Molina

Casearia spinosa Willd.

Casearia stjohnii I.M. Johnst.

Casearia urbaniana Gand.

Chaetocrater hirtum (Sw.) Raf.

Guidonia alba (A.J. Richards) M. Gómez

Guidonia hirta (Sw.) Maza

Samyda affinis Spreng.

Samyda enneandria Sessé & Moc.

Samyda multiflora Cav.

Samyda spinosa L.

Samyda tomentosa Sw.

Xylosma turrialbana Donn. Sm.

Common Name: Cockspur

Casearia aculeata
Flowering stem
Photograph by: Reinaldo Aguilar
Creative Commons License
Casearia aculeata Casearia aculeata Casearia aculeata Casearia aculeata Casearia aculeata

General Information

Casearia aculeata is a spiny, evergreen shrub or small tree, usually growing 2 - 3 metres tall, but with occasional specimens to 10 metres[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. The bole can be around 10cm in diameter[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for use as a medicine and source of timber. It is sometimes cultivated for medicinal use[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].
Casearia aculeata has a large distribution range and has a generalist habitat. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2015)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

The fruit is a capsute containing several seeds. Although the capsule of some species (and possibly also the seeds contained therein) is somewhat toxic, the fleshy aril surrounding the seeds is a different matter and in some species (see information below on edibility to see if this is one of them) is often eaten and is considered to be perfectly wholesome[
1438
Title
Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
Publication
 
Author
Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
Publisher
 
Year
2014
ISBN
 
Description
A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
,
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Botanical References

434
Title
Flora of Peru
Publication
 
Author
Macbride. J.F.
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History
Year
1936
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent attempt at a Flora of Peru, though it is clear that many of the plants were imperfectly known at that time and so information on them was sketchy. Available for download from the Internet.
,
1715
Title
O Gênero Casearia Jacq. No Brasil
Publication
Rev. Biol. Neotrop. 13(1): 69-249. 2016
Author
Marquete R. & Mansana V.F.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 

Range

S. America - Argentina, north to the Caribbean and through Central America to Mexico.

Habitat

Dry or moist thickets, sometimes in open forest[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. Dense rainforest, semideciduous seasonal forest, wooded and more open savannah; shrubby maritime vegetation; secondary vegetation; at elevations from 80 - 525 metres[
1715
Title
O Gênero Casearia Jacq. No Brasil
Publication
Rev. Biol. Neotrop. 13(1): 69-249. 2016
Author
Marquete R. & Mansana V.F.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height3.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Succeeds in full sun and in semi-shade[
1715
Title
O Gênero Casearia Jacq. No Brasil
Publication
Rev. Biol. Neotrop. 13(1): 69-249. 2016
Author
Marquete R. & Mansana V.F.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. Found in the wild in soils ranging from sandy, loamy, sandy loam, moist loam and dark loam[
1715
Title
O Gênero Casearia Jacq. No Brasil
Publication
Rev. Biol. Neotrop. 13(1): 69-249. 2016
Author
Marquete R. & Mansana V.F.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Edible Uses

The fruit is a capsule containing a number of seeds that are surrounded by a fleshy aril[
1715
Title
O Gênero Casearia Jacq. No Brasil
Publication
Rev. Biol. Neotrop. 13(1): 69-249. 2016
Author
Marquete R. & Mansana V.F.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. We have no specific reports of edibility for this species, but the aril of several species in this genus are known to be edible and, unless it is very bitter, in an emergency the aril of this species is likely to supply a tiny bit of nutriment[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The yellow wood is strong and compact[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. When freshly cut, the sapwood has a strong green charcoal odour which fades upon drying[
1715
Title
O Gênero Casearia Jacq. No Brasil
Publication
Rev. Biol. Neotrop. 13(1): 69-249. 2016
Author
Marquete R. & Mansana V.F.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. The wood is used for cabinet work[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].

Propagation

The seed of species in this genus often has a short period of viability and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe. The seed is collected when the fruits start to open - leave them in the sun to open completely to release the seed, then rinse the seed in water to remove the arils[
340
Title
Iracambi Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
Gallia. E.
Website
http://www.iracambi.com/english/herbarium.shtml
Publisher
 
Year
2003
ISBN
 
Description
Basic iInformation on 14 plants of the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil.
]. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed, only just covering the seed, and keep moist. Germination rates vary, but can usually be expected to be low, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 30 days[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. When the seedlings are 3 - 5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out a few months later[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
Cuttings.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-06. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Casearia+aculeata>

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