Common Name:

General Information

Helicostylis tomentosa is an evergreen tree with a narrow, elongated crown; it can grow 15 - 26 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 40 - 50cm in diameter[].
The tree produces a delicious fruit and also has medicinal properties and a very useful timber; it is commonly harvested from the wild for local use and trade.
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

The latex of this tree is considered to be toxic when ingested[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama.

Habitat

A canopy tree in rainforests at elevations from sea level to 1,600 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	21.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Young plants require the dappled shade of the woodland, but become more tolerant of light as they grow larger, eventually accepting full sun[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A delicious flavour[]. The yellow, more or less globose fruit can be around 3cm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The red, milky sap from the bark is drunk as an hallucinogen in order to contact the spirits[].

The rasped bark, mixed with alcohol, is used as a remedy for stomach cramps and pain accompanying a high fever[].

Extracts prepared from the inner bark have been pharmacologically evaluated and are reported to elicit central nervous system depressant effects; and certain of the effects are described as being similar to those expected with Cannabis sativa. Because of the close taxonomic relationship of this species to Cannabis, one might expect similar types of chemical constituents in both genera. Whether or not the effects are due to the presence of cannabinoids remains to be determined[].

Other Uses

The tree contains a yellow latex[].

The heartwood is dark brown, somewhat streaked or variegated with black and yellow; it is sharply demarcated from the wide band of golden, lustrous sapwood. Lustre is medium in the heartwood; texture medium; grain straight to roey; without distinctive odour or taste. The wood is moderately heavy, with very good mechanical properties, durable and resistant to wood-eating insects. It is rated fair to good in all machining operations but does cause excessive dulling of cutting edges; takes a high natural polish. Easy to work, it is used in general construction for purposes such as scantlings, beams, door and window frames, floors etc; also for lathe work and making furniture[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can generally be expected, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 60 days[].

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