Micropholis resinifera
(Ducke) Eyma
Sapotaceae
This species is possibly not distinct from Micropholis guyanensis[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Pouteria resinifera (Ducke) Baehni
Sideroxylon resiniferum Ducke
Common Name:
General Information
Micropholis resinifera is a tree growing up to 40 metres tall[
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 bole has flat buttresses up to 2 metres tall[
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 as the source of a gum, and probably also a good quality timber. This species is closely related to Micropholis guyanensis and so, like that species, might also have an edible fruit that is gathered from the wild for local consumption.
This species is only known from a few collections[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. It has been classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
S. America - northern Brazil in the Amazon basin.
Habitat
Non-flooded highland and lowland forest[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 40.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The following entry is for the related M. Guyanensis. It possibly also applies to this species[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Fruit[
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 pulp is soft, white and transparent[
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 ellipsoid fruit is 12 - 25mm long and 15 - 20mm wide[
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.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The tree yields a gum known as 'Balata Rosada'[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. Balata is a gum made from tree sap and resembling rubber. It is used for gaskets, chewing gum, and as a gutta-percha substitute.
Because this species is closely related (and possibly part of) Micropholis guyanensis, its wood is likely to be very similar and have the same uses. These are described below:-
The heartwood of Micropholis guyanensis is yellow to greyish-brown, sometimes with a reddish or greenish tinge; it is not clearly demarcated from the 125 - 175mm wide band of sapwood. The texture is fine; grain straight; lustre medium; with indistinct growth rings. The wood is hard, heavy, strong, tough; it is reported to be resistant to teredo, but susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. The rate of air-seasoning is rapid, and the amount of degrade is minor. The wood contains silica; its machining characteristics are as follows: planing, turning, and mortising are good; shaping and boring are excellent; sanding and resistance to screw splitting are fair. Sawing and machining are moderately difficult because of the silica in the wood, which dulls the saw teeth and cutting edges. However, the wood takes a high polish. It is used in construction and is also suitable for marine piling, furniture, cabinetwork, interior trim, flooring, paddles, farm implements, tool handles, veneer, plywood, and general carpentiy[
341- Title
- South American Timbers: the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 190 Species.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bolza. E. & Christensen. F.J.
- Publisher
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
- 0 643 02582 0
- Description
- A very useful guide.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
