Common Name: Itauba

General Information

Mezilaurus itauba is usually a large, evergreen tree with an unusually roundish crown; it can grow 20 - 40 metres tall, though when growing in rocky, sandy terrain it is only a shrub[]. The bole is straight and more or less cylindrical, about 60 - 80cm in diameter[].
The tree yields a high quality timber and is commonly harvested from the wild for local use and for export. It is also harvested locally for its edible fruit and medicinal uses.
The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Habitat

Primary forests of high terrain, with sandy or clayey-sandy soils, well-drained and of low fertility[]. Humid tropical and subtropical forests in Bolivia[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun or dappled shade[].
Although a plant of primary forests, it regenerates easily in open areas[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. The fruit is an ellipsoid berry, around 2 x 1cm[]. No more details.

Medicinal

The bark is used as an abortifacient[].

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from the bark[]. It contains apiol[].

The heartwood is a yellow-brown to a dark, lustrous brown; it is not clearly demarcated from the 2 - 5cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is fine; the grain interlocked and sometimes wavy; the surface has an oily aspect. The wood is heavy; moderately hard to hard; elastic; very durable, being very resistant to fungi, dry wood borers and termites, and reported to be highly resistant to marine borer attack. It seasons slowly, with only a low risk of distortion but a high risk of checking; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It has a fairly high blunting effect, stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; the interlocked grain means that it can be difficult to cut and to plane; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring; gluing is correct for interior purposes only. A high quality wood, it is used sometimes as a substitute for teak (Tectona grandis). It is much used in external heavy construction for items such as bridges, railway ties, marine works, poles etc, for beams; and is also suitable for high class furniture, cabinet making, turnery etc; as well as for cart bodies, boat building, furniture components, joinery etc[, , , ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a position in light shade, in individual containers, as soon as it is ripe[]. Germination rates are usually low, occurring in 3 - 5 weeks[]. Plants grow away slowly[].

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