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Useful Tropical Plants

Casearia guianensis

(Aubl.) Urb.

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

Athenaea guianensis (Aubl.) J.F. Gmel.

Casearia arguta Kunth

Casearia fallax Miq.

Casearia ramiflora Vahl

Iroucana guianensis Aubl.

Samyda octandra Sessé & Moc.

Common Name: Guyanese wild coffee

Casearia guianensis
Fruiting stem
Photograph by: Environmental Sciences Program, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
© Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Casearia guianensis Casearia guianensis Casearia guianensis Casearia guianensis

General Information

Casearia guianensis is an evergreen shrub or a tree with a spreading crown; it usually grows up to 6 metres tall, but occasional specimens up to 20 metres are recorded. The short bole can be 5 - 15cm or more in diameter[
333
Title
Tree Species of Panama
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ctfs.arnarb.harvard.edu/webatlas/mainframe.php?order=s
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Factsheets on all the tree and shrub species of Panama, giving identification guide, brief guide to the species and some uses. A vast, but rather incomplete work as of 15/07/09.
,
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood.

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

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 - Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica; Caribbean - Trinidad to Cuba.

Habitat

Mainly in more open areas of rainforest, seasonal forest and coastal forest, also in savannah and steppe savannah, and areas of secondary growth, roadsides etc, growing in a range of soil types; at elevations up to 630 metres[
333
Title
Tree Species of Panama
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ctfs.arnarb.harvard.edu/webatlas/mainframe.php?order=s
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Factsheets on all the tree and shrub species of Panama, giving identification guide, brief guide to the species and some uses. A vast, but rather incomplete work as of 15/07/09.
,
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
,
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

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height5.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

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

The bark is astringent[
461
Title
Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
Publication
 
Author
Correa M.P.
Publisher
Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
Year
1926
ISBN
 
Description
A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
]. It is used in the treatment of urethral discharge[
461
Title
Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
Publication
 
Author
Correa M.P.
Publisher
Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
Year
1926
ISBN
 
Description
A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
].

Other Uses

The yellow or light brown wood is hard and heavy[
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
]. When available in sufficient size it can be used for lumber, for construction of traditional houses, fences etc.
The wood is used for fuel[
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].

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. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Casearia+guianensis>

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