Common Name: Jatoba Do Cerrado

General Information

Hymenaea stigonocarpa is a deciduous tree with an irregularly shaped crown; it can grow 6 - 9 metres tall. The twisted bole can be 30 - 50cm in diameter[, ].
The edible fruit is often gathered from the wild for local use, and is highly appreciated[]. The tree is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Paraguay, central, eastern and northern Brazil.

Habitat

Savannahs, wooded savannahs and barren lands[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	8.00 m
Pollinators	Bats
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a sunny position[]. Requires a well-drained soil[]. Established plants are somewhat drought tolerant[].
Trees are generally slow growing[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. The seedpod (legume) contains 2 - 4 seeds covered in a dry, farinaceous, aromatic pulp that has a slightly sweet flavour[, ]. It can be eaten raw, or is turned into a flour and used in making cakes, breads and porridge[, ]. It becomes somewhat laxative in quantity[]. The pod is around 16cm long and 6cm wide[].

Medicinal

The resin obtained from the base of the tree is balsamic, bechic, stomachic, tonic and vulnerary[].

The sap that flows from bore holes the trunk is considered to be fortifying and wound healing. It is used for treating chronic cystitis, urine retention, anaemia, prostatitis, blennorrhagia and chronic bronchitis[].

The bark is astringent and pectoral[].
A decoction of the bark, in a bath, is used as a treatment for skin diseases[].

Other Uses

A resin is obtained from the base of the trunk. It is used medicinally[].
The roots and trunk yield a pale yellow or red resin-like gum known commercially as 'South American copal'[, ]. The gum obtained from tapping the trunk is soft and considered to be of lower quality[] - it is used mainly for medicinal purposes[]. The best quality gum is quite old - it is found in hard lumps that have become buried in the soil at the base of a tree or at the site of a dead tree. A minor source of the gum (it is obtained mainly from Hymenaea courbaril), it can be used in making varnishes but also for incense and local medicines[, , ]. The copal is also used for patent leather, as an adhesive for crockery and in stains for tin ware[, ].

The heartwood and sapwood are distinctly demarcated[]. The wood is heavy, very hard and resistant, with moderate durability[]. It is suitable for house building and was at one time widely used for ship building[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and benefits from scarification before sowing to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the treated seed in a partially shaded position in individual containers.

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