Herrania camargoana
R.E.Schult.
Malvaceae
Theobroma camargoanum (R.E.Schult.) Ducke
Common Name:
Drawing of the leaves, flowers and fruit
Photograph by: E.W. Smith; otanical Museum Leaflets, Harvard University, Vol. XIV 1949
Public Domain
General Information
Herrania camargoana is a graceful, slender, evergreen tree usually growing 3 - 6 metres tall with exceptional specimens to 8 metres[
630- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
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 erect bole is about 10 - 12cm in diameter[
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 plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Known Hazards
The fruits of many members of this genus have some or many stinging hairs on them[
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.
].
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
S. America - Brazil, Colombia.
Habitat
Near or on the summits of barren granitic mountains up to 150 metres above the level of the river, at elevations of 360 - 500 metres. Rarely, in sandy riverside savannahs[
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.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Habit | Evergreen Tree |
Height | 6.00 m |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Prefers sterile white sand and the most inhospitable of rocky slopes strewn with granite blocks and often nearly devoid of soil (the conditions in which it grows in the wild)]635].
Edible Uses
Although we have no specific information for this species, the pulp surrounding the fruits of most, if not all members of the genus are edible. 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 bitter seeds are pulverized and used as a condiment[
630- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. 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 -
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