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Useful Tropical Plants

Micrandra sprucei

(Müll.Arg.) R.E.Schult.

Euphorbiaceae

+ Synonyms

Clusiophyllum sprucei Müll.Arg.

Cunuria crassipes Müll.Arg.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Micrandra sprucei is an evergreen tree.
Although poisonous unless treated, the seeds are often gathered as a source of food for native people. The seed also supplies an oil used in lamps[
587
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 37
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1956
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst other articles, it contains an excellent article on the food uses of the genus Hevea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Known Hazards

The seeds contain cyanic compounds and are poisonous[
587
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 37
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1956
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst other articles, it contains an excellent article on the food uses of the genus Hevea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. They can, however, be prepared as food - see the method below in Edible Uses[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Botanical References


Range

Northern S. America - northern Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela.

Habitat

Sparse, caatinga forests on well-drained sandy soils[
587
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 37
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1956
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst other articles, it contains an excellent article on the food uses of the genus Hevea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height0.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the 'Caatinga' dry forest region of northeast Brazil. The climate is hot and dry, there are usually 6 to 11 months without rain each year. The mean annual rainfall varies from 250 - 1,000mm, and the mean annual temperature is from 24 - 26°c.
Found on well-drained, sandy soils in the wild[
587
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 37
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1956
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst other articles, it contains an excellent article on the food uses of the genus Hevea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[
587
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 37
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1956
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst other articles, it contains an excellent article on the food uses of the genus Hevea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The seeds are poisonous raw and need careful preparation to render them safe to eat. They are boiled and then washed several times to leech out the toxic compounds, after which they are broken up by hand. A paste resembling cream-cheese in appearance and taste can be prepared from them[
587
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 37
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1956
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst other articles, it contains an excellent article on the food uses of the genus Hevea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Alternatively, the damp mash can be gently toasted on a flat plate over the fire and reduced to a fine greyish white meal which is made into casabe or unleavened bread[
587
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 37
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1956
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst other articles, it contains an excellent article on the food uses of the genus Hevea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A quantity of oil is collected from the seed when they are boiled in water. A very bitter flavour, it is burned in lamps to provide illumination[
587
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 37
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1956
ISBN
 
Description
Amongst other articles, it contains an excellent article on the food uses of the genus Hevea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-05. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Micrandra+sprucei>

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