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Useful Tropical Plants

Dipteryx micrantha

Harms

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Coumarouna ferrea Ducke

Coumarouna micrantha (Harms) Ducke

Dipteryx ferrea (Ducke) Ducke

Common Name: Charapilla

No Image.

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 *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height30.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

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.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Dipteryx+micrantha>

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