Common Name:

General Information

Himatanthus obovatus is a deciduous tree with an irregular, open crown; it can grow 4 - 5 metres tall. The crooked bole can be 15 - 25cm in diameter with a very thick, corky bark[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It can be grown as a pioneer when restoring native woodland. An ornamental tree, it could be used in landscaping[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Guyana.

Habitat

Savannah and woodland savannah, favouring areas of secondary vegetation in well-drained, clayey to sandy soils of low fertility[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	4.50 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position[]. Succeeds in sandy to clayey soils of low fertility[]. Requires a well-drained soil[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A slow-growing plant[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves, and the latex obtained from the trunk, are said to have medicinal properties[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Although slow growing, the tree succeeds in full sun, is tolerant of poor soils and of drought. It can be used as a pioneer for restoring woodland cover within its native range[].

Other Uses

A latex is obtained from the trunk. It is used medicinally[].

The wood is fine-textured, straight-grained, moderately heavy, soft to cut, with poor mechanical properties and low durability. It is only used locally for low value and small items such as boxes and tool handles[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 35 days[]. When the seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 5 - 7 months later[].

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