This species has been much confused with Heliocarpus americanus in the past and the two species have been considered to be conspecific. However, although there is no clear agreement amongst botanists, we are following the treatment in the on-line 'Flora Do Brasil' which holds them to be distinct and for H. Popayanensis to be the only species in S. America - H. Americanus being restricted to C. America. It is very likely that the two species have identical, or very similar, useful properties[].

Common Name:

General Information

Heliocarpus popayanensis is a semideciduous tree with a dense crown; it can grow 6 - 12 metres tall. The moderately straight bole can be 30 - 50cm in diameter, often branching from low down[, , ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its wood and fibre. It can be used as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland or establishing woodland gardens. A very ornamental plant when in bloom, especially the female form, it is suitable for use in landscaping[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica.

Habitat

Broadleaved, semideciduous forests, mainly around clearings in the woods in more secondary formations; favouring clayey, very fertile soils[]. At elevations above 1,000 metres in the high tropics, descending to sea level in Argentina[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	9.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Prefers a clayey, very fertile soil in the wild[].
The plant produces large quantities of wind-dispersed seeds each year. This has helped it to escape from cultivation in Hawaii, where it has become somewhat invasive[].
A very fast-growing plant, easily able to reach a height of 5 metres within 2 years from seed[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing plant that succeeds in full sun, it can be used as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland and can also be used when establishing a woodland garden[, ]. It should, however, only be used within its native range because of the risk of it becoming invasive elsewhere[].

Other Uses

The bark of the young branches yields a strong, durable fibre from which a coarse rope is made. It is used also for weaving mats and baskets[].

The creamy-white wood has a moderately high, silky lustre; straight-grained; medium to rather coarse-textured; it is odourless and tasteless. The wood is light in weight, soft, strong for its weight, porous, with poor mechanical properties and not durable when exposed. It requires a sharp knife to cut smoothly across grain, saws slightly woolly, easy to
work, but does not take a smooth finish, and holds its place well. It is only used for items such as light boxes, toys, pencils, press plates etc. The light wood can also be used to make rafts[, , , ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A high germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 10 - 12 days[]. When the seedlings are 3 - 5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out less than 4 months later[].
The seed has a viability in excess of 3 months in storage[].

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