Common Name:

General Information

Miconia prasina is an evergreen shrub or a tree with a spreading, occasionally round, crown; it can grow from 2 - 18 metres tall. The cylindrical, straight or fairly straight bole often branches from near ground level, though it can be free of branches for up to one third of its height; it is up to 30cm in diameter[, , ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as medicine, dye and a fuel. It can be used as a pioneer plant for restoring native woodland and establishing woodland gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Mexico; Caribbean.

Habitat

Secondary and remnant forests, brushy pastures, fencerows, creek-bottom galleries, coastal thickets, and disturbed areas, in moist or wet and sometimes swampy areas; at elevations up to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is within the range 1,600 - 3,500mm[].
Requires a sunny position[]. The plant grows wild in loamy and clayey soils that are derived from both sedimentary and igneous rocks - most of these soils have anaerobic subsoils[].
The tree has a moderate rate of growth and is relatively short-lived, especially if it becomes shaded[].
The plant sometimes flowers and produces fruit almost all year round[, ].
Plants respond well to coppicing[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. They are juicy, slightly sour but mostly tasteless[]. Seldom eaten[]. The blue to black, globose fruits of this species are 3 - 8mm in diameter, containing many minute seeds.

Medicinal

The crushed leaves are applied to wounds caused by the spines of certain fish[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A natural pioneer, the species appears to invade active pastures, taking advantage of disturbance by cattle, and persists as small individuals until the pastures are abandoned, after which they grow rapidly and dominate for 10 - 20 years. They disappear in a few seasons after being overtopped by the forest canopy[]. The plant has excellent potential for use as a pioneer to restore native woodland, or to establish a woodland garden[].

Other Uses

A black dye is obtained from the plant (part not specified)[].

The thin core of heartwood is a dark purplish brown; the sapwood is a creamy yellow or light brown. The wood is moderately fine-textured; of medium weight; hard; strong; durable only if kept dry. It is liable to check in drying. It is not difficult to work, though it splinters easily; it takes a smooth, lustrous finish[, ]. It is sometimes used to make tool handles[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - it is very small. When surface sown on wet peat, 57% of the seed germinated within 20 - 63 days[]. The seedlings are tiny and difficult to handle[].
Suckers.
Layering.

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