Hancornia speciosa
Gomes.
Apocynaceae
Echites glaucus Roem. & Schult.
Hancornia gardneri (A.DC.) Miers
Hancornia pubescens Nees & Mart.
Willughbeia pubescens (Nees & Mart.) Mart.
Common Name: Mangabiera
General Information
Hancornia speciosa is a deciduous shrub or small tree with a low, globose crown,, growing up to 7 metres tall[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
,
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
,
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.
]. The crooked bole is profusely branched and around 20 - 30cm in diameter[
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.
].
The plant provides an edible fruit that is popular and commonly used locally, as well as a latex that has been exported in the past as a source of rubber[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
]. It is usually harvested from the wild, but is also sometimes cultivated for its fruit, which are often sold in local markets[
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
,
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.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Southern and western S. America - Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.
Habitat
Scrublands (caatinga) and barren lands in central Brazil[
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Deciduous Tree |
Height | 7.00 m |
Growth Rate | Slow |
Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the 'Caatinga' dry forest region of northeast Brazil. The climate is hot and dry, there are usually 6 to 11 months without rain each year. The mean annual rainfall varies from 250 - 1,000mm, and the mean annual temperature is from 24 - 26°c.
Requires a sunny position to be at its best[
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.
]. Grows best in a sandy soil, often growing in quite poor soils in the wild[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
,
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.
]. Established plants are drought tolerant[
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.
].
Young plants grow slowly and are difficult to cultivate[
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
].
A very variable plant, a number of varieties have been described[
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
]. The fruit needs to be very ripe and soft (fallen to the ground) to be free of any latex or bitterness[
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
]. Fully ripe fruits have a delicious, succulent, viscous, sweet, aromatic pulp[
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
]. A pleasant subacid flavour[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
]. The fruit can also be made into a juice, sherbet, preserves etc[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. It is much esteemed as a marmalade in parts of Brazil[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. The fruit is 3 - 6cm in diameter[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
].
Medicinal
The plant is an excellent remedy for bilious complaints[
460- Title
- Flora Medica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lindley J.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Longman, Orme, Brown, Green and Longmans: London
- Year
- 1838
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work - many of the botanical names have changed, but the book is still a wealth of information.
]. (Part not specified[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
])
Other Uses
The tree is a source of mangabeira rubber, which is of good quality and has in the past been exported from parts of Brazil[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
The wood is light, spongy, soft and easy to work with. It has little durability, even when protected from the weather. It is only used for making boxes and for fuel[
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.
].
Propagation
Seed - germinates easily[
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
]. It is best sown as soon as it is ripe and, since it does not transplant very well, is best sown 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, the seeds can be slow to sprout and also grow away slowly once they have sprouted[
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.
].
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