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Useful Tropical Plants

Herrania balaensis

P.Preuss

Malvaceae

+ Synonyms

Theobroma balaensis (P.Preuss) De Wild.

Common Name:

Herrania balaensis
Seed capsule cut open to reveal the seeds
Photograph by: A. Gentry
Creative Commons License
Herrania balaensis Herrania balaensis Herrania balaensis

General Information

Herrania balaensis is an evergreen tree growing up to 7.5 metres tall. The very straight, erect, cylindrical bole can be 15cm in diameter and is usually unbranched[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The edible fruit is gathered from the wild for local consumption. It might be actively cultivated by the local people[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Known only from six populations in wet coastal forest, its habitat is fragmented due to colonization, mining, and deforestation[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. The tree is classified as 'Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

Western S. America - Colombia, Ecuador.

Habitat

Wet coastal forests at elevations up to 500 metres[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusEndangered
Edibility Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height0.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The sweet white pulp surrounding the seeds is eaten[
521
Title
Useful Plants of the Siona and Secoya Indians of Eastern Ecuador.
Publication
Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 15
Author
Vickers W.T.; Plowman T.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; USA.
Year
1984
ISBN
0015 - 0746
Description
Very terse, but it gives the uses of a large number of species. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. This white, acidulous pulp is eaten raw and is most delicious just before the complete ripening of the fruit[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The ovoid fruit is about 14cm long[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

The following report is based mainly on the seeds of H. Nitida, but the seed of this species is likely to be very similar[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The seed contains up to 66% oil[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It is solid at room temperature, turning liquid at 25 - 29°c[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The oil comprises 18 - 26% linoleic acid, 2 - 7% oleic acid and 74 - 76% saturated acids[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The following description of the wood is for H. Nitida. The wood of this species is likely to be very similar[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The heartwood is pinkish brown, the sapwood pale pink[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The wood has no distinctive odour or taste; it is straight- or wavy-grained; coarse-textured. It is light in weight; soft; not durable[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It requires sharp tools in order to cut smoothly across the grain[
635
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 39
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst the many botanical articles is a treatment of the genus Herrania. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Herrania+balaensis>

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