Common Name:

General Information

Ocotea puberula is a semideciduous tree with an elongated or pyramidal crown; usually growing from 7 - 25 metres tall, but with some specimens attaining 27 metres. The cylindrical bole is normally short, and can be 40 - 60cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a timber and source of medicines. It has potential for use as a pioneer plant.
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica.

Habitat

Lowland evergreen and partly deciduous forest formations[]. Found in a wide range of forest types, in Brazil it is especially prevalent in Araucaria forests. Found mainly as a pioneer in open areas and in forest clearings, rarely in primary forest[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a sunny position[]. Succeeds in virtually all soil types[].
Newly planted young trees grow away rapidly[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The interior of the stem (the older the better) combined with the bark is used in the treatment of boils and skin inflammations[].

The sap of the bark is used in making plasters that are used to draw thorns etc out of the body[].

A tea made from the plant (part not specified) is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing species producing a huge quantity of fruit for the native fauna. It naturally invades open areas and is one of the most common pioneer species in parts of its range[]. It could be used as a pioneer when re-establishing woodland[].

Other Uses

The wood is straight to irregular-grained, light, soft, with poor mechanical properties and moderately resistant to rot and wood-eating organisms[]. It is difficult to cut, hard to plane or to sandpaper[]. It is used in light building construction, internal construction, truck bodies, boxes, joinery, simple furniture etc[, ]. The wood is suitable for the production of cellulose and paper[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. The whole fruit can be sown, it is not necessary to remove the pulp[]. Sow in a semi-shaded seedbed. Germination can be quite variable and erratic, with some seed sprouting within 20 days and others taking 150 days. Around 75% germination rates can be expected[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual containers once they are 4 - 6cm tall, they should be ready to plant out in permanent positions 5 - 7 months later[].

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