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Useful Tropical Plants

Helicostylis scabra

(J.F.Macbr.) C.C.Berg

Moraceae

+ Synonyms

Helicostylis asperifolia Ducke

Pseudolmedia scabra J.F.Macbr.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Helicostylis scabra is an evergreen tree.
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.

Known Hazards

The latex is said to be toxic[
625
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2009
ISBN
85-86714-34-4
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.
].

Botanical References


Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height0.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. We have no specific details for this species, but the fruits of all members of this genus are edible[
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.
].

Medicinal

The latex is antifungal, bitter and vermifuge. Although believed to be toxic, it is taken internally in very small doses to alleviate cases of extreme intestinal parasitism[
697
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 29
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Year
1983
ISBN
 
Description
Some interesting notes on plant uses in tropical America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The latex is said to be bitter and is mixed with warm chicha (a kind of beer)[
697
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 29
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Year
1983
ISBN
 
Description
Some interesting notes on plant uses in tropical America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The latex is repeatedly painted and dried on infected parts of the skin to treat fungal diseases[
697
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 29
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Year
1983
ISBN
 
Description
Some interesting notes on plant uses in tropical America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The latex is applied to abrasions of the skin in the belief that it prevents infection[
762
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 26
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1978
ISBN
 
Description
A series of botanical leaflets. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]..

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-05. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Helicostylis+scabra>

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