Diospyros guianensis
(Aubl.) Gürke
Ebenaceae
Diospyros paralea Steud.
Paralea guianensis Aubl.
Common Name:
General Information
Diospyros guianensis is a shrub or a tree with a dense, umbrella-shaped crown; it can grow from 5 - 25 metres tall. The bole is straight and cylindrical[
363- Title
- Technical Information on 134 Species of Bolivian Woods
- Publication
-
- Author
- USDA Forest Service -- Forest Products Lab
- Website
- http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/publications/
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A PDF file, available for download. Exactly what the title says, brief and to the point.
,
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]..
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
S. America - northern Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.
Habitat
Swamp forests, on pegasse[
922- Title
- Non-timber forest products of the North-West District of Guyana
- Publication
- Tropenbos-Guyana Series 8a
- Author
- van Andel T.R.
- Publisher
- Tropenbos-Guyana Programme; Georgetown, Guyana
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 90-393-2536-7
- Description
- A very detailed study of the peoples and the plants they use, it includes a field guide to almost 500 species of useful plants.
]. Forests, in areas subject to periodic inundation[
363- Title
- Technical Information on 134 Species of Bolivian Woods
- Publication
-
- Author
- USDA Forest Service -- Forest Products Lab
- Website
- http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/publications/
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A PDF file, available for download. Exactly what the title says, brief and to the point.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 22.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The fruit pulp is occasionally eaten[
922- Title
- Non-timber forest products of the North-West District of Guyana
- Publication
- Tropenbos-Guyana Series 8a
- Author
- van Andel T.R.
- Publisher
- Tropenbos-Guyana Programme; Georgetown, Guyana
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 90-393-2536-7
- Description
- A very detailed study of the peoples and the plants they use, it includes a field guide to almost 500 species of useful plants.
]. The fruit is a shiny black, globose berry around 20mm in diameter, containing 6 - 7 large seeds[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
Medicinal
The bark is febrifuge[
476- Title
- Handbook of S. American Indians.
- Publication
- Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 143
- Author
- Steward J. H. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- US Government Printing Office; Washington
- Year
- 1946 - 1950
- ISBN
-
- Description
- In six volumes, a detailed look at the native peoples of S. America - their culture, lifestyle, use of plants etc,
]. A decoction of the bark is used as a wash for fevers[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The leaves are crushed in a little oil and the juice is applied to certain eczematous dermatoses[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The stem-bark contains a naphthaquinone, which alleviates certain dermal lesions, as well as the terpenes lupeol, betulinol and betulinic acid[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
Other Uses
The heartwood is dark brown; it is clearly defined from the yellowish-white sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight; lustre is medium; there is no distinctive taste or aroma. The wood is of low durability, being susceptible to blue stain and the attack of insects. It is easy to work and finishes well. It is used for purposes such as carpentry, cabinet work, furniture[
363- Title
- Technical Information on 134 Species of Bolivian Woods
- Publication
-
- Author
- USDA Forest Service -- Forest Products Lab
- Website
- http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/publications/
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A PDF file, available for download. Exactly what the title says, brief and to the point.
]. The wood is sometimes sawn into boards or used to make cricket bats and balls[
922- Title
- Non-timber forest products of the North-West District of Guyana
- Publication
- Tropenbos-Guyana Series 8a
- Author
- van Andel T.R.
- Publisher
- Tropenbos-Guyana Programme; Georgetown, Guyana
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 90-393-2536-7
- Description
- A very detailed study of the peoples and the plants they use, it includes a field guide to almost 500 species of useful plants.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
