Common Name: Huilihuiste

General Information

Karwinskia calderonii is a large shrub or a tree, sometimes growing to heights of 12 metres or more[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally. The fruit is also sometimes eaten, but care should be exercised due to possible toxicity.

Known Hazards

The fruit, or the seeds, are poisonous[]. Pigs are sometimes killed by eating the fruit[]. It is believed that the poisonous properties reside in the seeds which, if swallowed, cause paralysis, particularly of the lower limbs (in children), the paralysis spreading to other parts of the body and finally causing death[]. The same results are produced in pigs and chickens[]. No remedy is known for the poisonous effects, and the plant is, therefore, exceedingly dangerous[].

Botanical References

Range

Central America - Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico.

Habitat

Usually in dry thickets or forest, occasionally in oak-pine forest, sometimes in moist places, in the Oriente and along the Pacific slope, ascending from sea level to about 1,400 metres in Guatemala[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - a sweet flavour[]. Extreme care should be exercised, since the fruit might be poisonous and the seeds in the fruit are poisonous[] - see notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The dull-red to reddish-brown wood is of excellent quality[]. It is heavy, very hard, strong and durable[46. 331]. It is used for railroad ties, as well as for axles of carretas, bowling balls and other purposes[, ].
The wood is also used as a fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

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