Common Name: Bastard Cedar

General Information

Guazuma ulmifolia is a tree with a spreading, rounded crown; it can grow 10 - 30 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole is 30 - 40cm, occasionally to 60cm in diameter[]. The plant is evergreen, except in areas with a long, dry season[].
A very useful multi-purpose tree being harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It has a long history of herbal use, and is much used in modern herbal medicine in S. America[]. It is often gathered from the wild for this purpose[]. A useful pioneer species for restoring native wodland, it is also cultivated in India and Sri Lanka for medicinal use, and is often planted as shade and ornamental tree elsewhere in the tropics[, ].
Guazuma ulmifolia is native to much of South and Central America and the Caribbean. The species has a wide native range and is not exposed to major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, north throughout S. America and Central America to Mexico

Habitat

Colonizes recently disturbed areas and is also found growing along stream banks and in pastures. It is a common species in secondary forest[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the dry to moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 32°c, but can tolerate 10 - 36°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 500 - 1,700mm[]. The plant can tolerate up to 2,500mm annual rainfall[, ].
Prefers a sunny position[, ]. The plant is widely adapted, found growing in both alluvial and clay soils[]. Succeeds on a variety of soils but is most common where pH is higher than 5.5[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating .5 - 7.5[].
The plant can escape from cultivation and become a weed tree in areas outside its native range[].
A fast-growing tree[].
The tree can flower all year round in the more equatorial part of its range[].

Edible Uses

The seeds are edible, fresh or cooked[, ]. The mature seeds and fruit are ground into a powder that is used for making tortillas, atole (a traditional Mexican beverage), and pinole[]. The seeds are about 3mm long[].
The seeds are roasted and then ground to powder for making coffee when the real coffee bean is unobtainable[]

Fruits - raw or cooked[]. Eaten immature when still green, the fruits can be crushed in water to make a beverage or used to flavour other foods[].

Fruit - honey scented318].

Medicinal

The plant is antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antifungal, antitussive, antiviral, astringent, blood purifier, cardiac, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, haemostatic, hypotensive, oxytocic, vulnerary[].
The bark is a rich source of tannins and antioxidant chemicals called proanthocyanidins[]. One in particular, procyanidin B-2, has been shown in various studies to help promote hair growth and alleviate baldness[]. Other independent research indicates that procyanidin B-2 also has antitumor and anticancer effects (even against melanoma) as well as lowers blood pressure and protects the kidneys[].
The bark also contains a chemical called kaurenoic acid which has been documented with antibacterial and antifungal properties in many studies over the years[].
The leaves of mutamba contain caffeine, however none has been found in the bark of the tree[].
Other studies have shown that the plant lowers heart rate and blood pressure, relaxes smooth muscles and stimulates the uterus[]. Various studies using leaf and bark extracts have clinically demonstrated remarkable antibacterial activity against several disease-causing pathogens, including Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, E. coli, and Neisseria gonorrhea[]. One of the recent 2003 studies also confirmed its antioxidant effects[]. In a 1995 in vitro study, mutamba also demonstrated antiviral activity[].

The bark is the part most used. It is used as to induce perspiration, as a tonic and a blood cleanser[], and is employed to treat a wide range of disorders including; digestive tract problems such as gastrointestinal pain, liver problems, diarrhoea and dysentery; urinary and reproductive tract problems such as kidney problems, uterine pain, prostate problems, venereal disease and as an aid to childbirth; respiratory tract problems such as asthma, bronchitis, coughs and pneumonia; fevers and haemorrhages[].
Applied externally, it is used to bathe wounds, rashes and sores; to treat skin problems, including dermatosis, elephantiasis and leprosy; it is applied to the scalp to arrest hair loss and combat parasites of the scalp[, ].

The fruit (in Mauritius), the roasted seeds (in Java), and the bark (in India) are officinal remedies against elephantiasis)[].

An infusion of the crushed, seed soaked in water, is used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, colds, coughs and venereal diseases. It is also used as a diuretic and astringent[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A natural pioneer species that colonizes recently disturbed areas, it is fast-growing, tolerant of full sunlight and provides food for the native fauna. It can be used as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland, but is best not used outside of its native range[, ].

Other Uses

The tough, fibrous bark and young stems are used to make rope and twine[, ].

The mucilaginous sap is used sometimes in sugar fabrication to clarify syrup[, ].

An extract of the whole plant is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin protector[].
An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin protector[].

The heartwood is pinkish to brownish; it is not clearly demarcated from the light brown sapwood[]. The texture is coarse; the grain is straight to interlocked; lustre is medium; there is no distinctive taste or aroma. The fibrous wood is light in weight; it is not durable, being very susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. It is easy to work and finishes well. It is used for posts, interior carpentry, light construction, furniture, boxes and crates, shoe horns, tool handles etc[, , , ].
The tree can be used for fuel and to make charcoal[, ]. The charcoal is of high quality[].

Propagation

Seed - requires scarification before planting[]. Pour boiling water over the seeds, let them soak for 30 seconds and then drain[]. With fresh seed, germination occurs in 7 - 14 days at a rate of 60 - 80%[]. Seedlings are ready for out-planting when they reach a height of 30 - 40cm (about 15 weeks)[].
The plant can also be established by direct seeding[].
Cuttings[].

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