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Useful Tropical Plants

Casearia silvana

Schltr.

Salicaceae

+ Synonyms

Casearia comptonii Baker f.

Melistaurum distichum J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Casearia silvana is a single-stemmed, unbranched or slightly-branched, evergreen shrub[
538
Title
Endemia.nc
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.endemia.nc/flore/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A web site focussing on the endemic flora and fauna of New Caledonia.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

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


Range

Pacific - New Caledonia

Habitat

Undergrowth of wet and dry forests, and in more open, scrubby areas, growing on more or less deep soils on various substrates[
538
Title
Endemia.nc
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.endemia.nc/flore/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A web site focussing on the endemic flora and fauna of New Caledonia.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height0.00 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 GĂȘnero 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

All Casearia species in New Caledonia are considered to be depurative and tonic. A decoction of their leaves is given to children as a fortifier[
620
Title
Les Plantes Medicinales de la Nouvelle Caledonie
Publication
 
Author
Rageau J.
Publisher
O.R.S.T.O.M.; Paris.
Year
1973
ISBN
 
Description
Very terse information on the medicinal uses of plants in New Caledonia.
].

Other Uses

None known

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. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Casearia+silvana>

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