Machaerium lunatum
(L.f.) Ducke
Fabaceae
Drepanocarpus lunatus (L.f.) G.F.Mey
Pterocarpus lunatus L.f.
Common Name:
General Information
Machaerium lunatum varies in habit from an evergreen shrub to small tree growing up to 5 metres tall, to a climbing shrub producing cylindrical stems up to 15 metres long and 12cm in diameter that climb into the surrounding vegetation[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
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.
,
648- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Vol. 51
- Publication
-
- Author
- Acevedo-Rodríguez P. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington.
- Year
- 2005
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A treatment of the climbing plants of Puerto Rico. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
648- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Vol. 51
- Publication
-
- Author
- Acevedo-Rodríguez P. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington.
- Year
- 2005
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A treatment of the climbing plants of Puerto Rico. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
S. America - Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua; Caribbean; West tropical Africa - Senegal to Angola
Habitat
In the coastal swamps that border on the mangroves in Puerto Rico[
648- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Vol. 51
- Publication
-
- Author
- Acevedo-Rodríguez P. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington.
- Year
- 2005
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A treatment of the climbing plants of Puerto Rico. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Swampy places, along salt marshes and tidal river estuaries, often in association with the mangrove community in west Africa[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Climber |
| Height | 10.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
755- Title
- Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
- Publisher
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The stem is cut and the liquid used as a wash for sick children[
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 leaves are styptic. They are used in a compress to stop bleeding[
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 unripe fruits are used in the treatment of abdominal troubles[
739- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Brazil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications; Michigan.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-917256-42-5
- Description
- An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
].
The root is astringent. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, dropsy, swellings, oedema, gout, leprosy, stomach troubles, venereal diseases[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
