Common Name:

General Information

Herrania nitida is a small, graceful evergreen tree growing up to 3.6 metres tall[]. The bole is usually less than 7cm in diameter[].
Although not cultivated, the tree is normally left standing when forest is cleared for agriculture.

Known Hazards

The fruits of many members of this genus have some or many stinging hairs on them[].

Botanical References

Range

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

Habitat

Rainforests, usually in sites that are not inundated every year, though occasionally in areas subject to light inundation for a few weeks each year, growing at elevations from 75 - 570 metres[]. Often found in secondary growth areas[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most soils[]. Although a tree of the understorey in rainforests, it grows very well when in a sunny position, fruiting more heavily in such a site[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. The white, acidulous pulp surrounding the seed is eaten raw[]. The pulp is most delicious just before the complete ripening of the fruit[].

The seed contains up to 66% oil[]. It is solid at room temperature, turning liquid at 25 - 29°c[]. The oil comprises 18 - 26% linoleic acid, 2 - 7% oleic acid and 74 - 76% saturated acids[].

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[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

This species germinates and grows well in sunny positions when young. Thus it is often found acting almost like a weed in agricultural clearings and can be used as a pioneer species[, ].

Other Uses

The heartwood is pinkish brown, the sapwood pale pink[]. The wood has no distinctive odour or taste; it is straight- or wavy-grained; coarse-textured. It is light in weight; soft; not durable[]. It requires sharp tools in order to cut smoothly across the grain[].

Propagation

Seed -

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