Citronella gongonha
(Mart.) R.A.Howard
Cardiopteridaceae
Cassine gongonha Mart.
Ilex gongonha (Mart.) D.Don
Myginda gongonha (Mart.) DC.
Villaresia congonha Miers
Villaresia cuspidata Miers
Villaresia gongonha (Mart.) Miers
Common Name:
General Information
Citronella gongonha is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a dense, globose crown; it can grow 4 - 5 metres tall. The short bole can be 25 - 30cm in diameter[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- 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.
].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its low quality wood. It can be used as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
S. America - Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, southern, eastern and central Brazil.
Habitat
A plant of secondary forest formations and open land, growing in gallery forests and poorly drained soils[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- 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.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 4.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Prefers a position in full sun or with some shade[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- 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.
]. Succeeds in poorly-drained soils[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- 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.
].
Young plants have a moderate rate of growth[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- 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.
].
Edible Uses
The fruit has a succulent, sweet-tasting pulp[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- 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.
]. This report does not say that the fruit is edible[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. The fruit is a dark purple, oval drupe around 10mm long and 6mm wide containing a single seed[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- 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.
].
The leaves have sometimes been used to make a tea as a substitute for maté (Ilex paraguariensis)[
739- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Brazil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications; Michigan.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-917256-42-5
- Description
- An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
].
Medicinal
The leaves are aromatic, diuretic, stimulant[
739- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Brazil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications; Michigan.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-917256-42-5
- Description
- An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The plant is a natural pioneer species with a moderate rate of growth and providing food for the native fauna. It can be used in reforestation projects for restoring native woodland[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- 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.
].
Other Uses
The heartwood and sapwood are not clearly demarcated. The wood is moderately heavy, easy to cut but of low durability if exposed to the elements. It is only used for making light packing boxes[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- 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.
].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate in excess of 80% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 50 days[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- 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.
].
Air layering.
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
