Dipteryx micrantha
Harms
Fabaceae
Coumarouna ferrea Ducke
Coumarouna micrantha (Harms) Ducke
Dipteryx ferrea (Ducke) Ducke
Common Name: Charapilla
General Information
Dipteryx micrantha is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 40 metres tall[
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.
].
The wood is of high value and is often harvested from the forest for local use and for trade (often illegally)[
1439- Title
- Rapid Inventories; Biological and Social 28 Perú: Medio Putumayo-Algodón
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nigel Pitman, Adriana Bravo et al (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.fieldmuseum. Org
- Publisher
- Fiel Museum Publications; Illinois
- Year
- 2016
- ISBN
- 978-0-9828419-6-9
- Description
-
]. The plant is also harvested for local use as a food.
Known Hazards
None known
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.
Range
S. America - Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Brazil
Habitat
Primary and secondary lowland rain forest in areas not subject to inundation, pastures, plantations and farmland; at elevations up to 500 metres.
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 30.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The oily fruit is edible[
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.
].
Seed - boiled[
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
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The large trunks are used as drums[
520- Title
- Botanical Beads
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith R.J.
- Website
- http://www.botanicalbeads.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A website looking at seeds that are used for ornament. It is based on a book that the author had written.
].
The large seeds are used to make necklaces and also waist belts, where the seeds clicking together add a musical dimension to the sounds of drum beats and the dancer’s stomping feet[
520- Title
- Botanical Beads
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith R.J.
- Website
- http://www.botanicalbeads.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A website looking at seeds that are used for ornament. It is based on a book that the author had written.
].
The hard wood is used locally for constructing boats, traditional houses etc[
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.
,
1439- Title
- Rapid Inventories; Biological and Social 28 Perú: Medio Putumayo-Algodón
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nigel Pitman, Adriana Bravo et al (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.fieldmuseum. Org
- Publisher
- Fiel Museum Publications; Illinois
- Year
- 2016
- ISBN
- 978-0-9828419-6-9
- Description
-
]. It is selectively harvested and sold in local markets[
1439- Title
- Rapid Inventories; Biological and Social 28 Perú: Medio Putumayo-Algodón
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nigel Pitman, Adriana Bravo et al (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.fieldmuseum. Org
- Publisher
- Fiel Museum Publications; Illinois
- Year
- 2016
- ISBN
- 978-0-9828419-6-9
- Description
-
]
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a semi-shaded position in individual containers[
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.
]. Germination rates are usually low, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 40 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.
].
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
