Licania heteromorpha
Benth.
Chrysobalanaceae
Licania benthamii Hook.f.
Licania biglandulosa Griseb. ex Urb.
Licania costata Spruce ex Hook.f.
Licania glabra Mart. ex Hook.f.
Licania guianensis Klotzsch
Licania subcordata (Fritsch) Fritsch
Common Name:
General Information
Licania heteromorpha is a tree growing up to 30 metres tall. The bole can be unbranched for up to 13 metres and 40 - 80cm in diameter[
528- Title
- Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fonseca E. T. De
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The tree has stilt roots and sometimes also has clusters of aerial roots at the base[
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, mordant and source of wood.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
,
734- Title
- Chrysobalanaceae Part 1. Species Plantarum: Flora of the World, Part 9: 1-319
- Publication
-
- Author
- Prance G.T.; Sothers C.A.
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb
- Publisher
- Australian Biological Resources Study; Canberra.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0 642 56832 4
- Description
- An excellent monograph, part of a very ambitious project to catalogue all the plants in the world. It can be downloaded as a PDF file from the Internet.
Range
S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; Caribbean - Trinidad.
Habitat
Marsh forests[
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]. Commonest in periodically flooded forest, but also occurring elsewhere[
734- Title
- Chrysobalanaceae Part 1. Species Plantarum: Flora of the World, Part 9: 1-319
- Publication
-
- Author
- Prance G.T.; Sothers C.A.
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb
- Publisher
- Australian Biological Resources Study; Canberra.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0 642 56832 4
- Description
- An excellent monograph, part of a very ambitious project to catalogue all the plants in the world. It can be downloaded as a PDF file from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 5.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
An infusion of the inner bark is drunk as a treatment for tuberculosis[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
An infusion of the bark is used to treat venereal diseases and diarrhoea[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The powdered outer bark is sprinkled on wounds to keep them clean and dry[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
An unspecified plant part is used as an antidiarrhoeal[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The sap of the plant is applied externally to treat sores and skin blemishes such as 'lotta', a fungal infection[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
Other Uses
An oil or resinous matter is extracted from the fruits. It is used for making paints[
528- Title
- Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fonseca E. T. De
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
An infusion of the inner bark is used as a mordant to fix the inks when decorating items such as bottle gourds[
528- Title
- Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fonseca E. T. De
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The wood is hard and very durable - in tests it lasted for 18 years in the soil[
528- Title
- Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fonseca E. T. De
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It is used for internal works and cabinet making.
The wood is a good fuel, burning well with a clean flame[
528- Title
- Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fonseca E. T. De
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1922
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
We have no more specific information on this wood - the following is a general description for the wood of this genus:-
The wood is a pale or pinkish brown with a greyish tinge, sometimes darkening on exposure, and with long, broad, prominent, dark reddish brown gum streaks[
453- Title
- Woods of Northeastern Peru
- Publication
-
- Author
- Williams L.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum Press; Chicago.
- Year
- 1936
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Gives information on the properties of the wood of well over 1,000 species of woody plants from northeastern Peru. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Straight-grained; medium or coarse-textured; when seasoned it is odourless and tasteless. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, and durable. It is easy to split and takes a smooth, fairly lustrous polish[
453- Title
- Woods of Northeastern Peru
- Publication
-
- Author
- Williams L.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum Press; Chicago.
- Year
- 1936
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Gives information on the properties of the wood of well over 1,000 species of woody plants from northeastern Peru. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It should be suitable for heavy construction[
453- Title
- Woods of Northeastern Peru
- Publication
-
- Author
- Williams L.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum Press; Chicago.
- Year
- 1936
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Gives information on the properties of the wood of well over 1,000 species of woody plants from northeastern Peru. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
