Common Name: Pracaxi

General Information

Pracaxi is an evergreen tree with a more or less rounded crown; it can grow up to 35 metres tall[, ]. The straight and cylindrical bole is up to 130cm in diameter, sometimes with small buttresses[, ]. Trees with a bole above 70cm usually have hollow piths[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and a source of oil, tannins and timber. It is sometimes used as a pioneer species in reforestation projects.

Known Hazards

Both seeds and bark contain a toxic alkaloid 'paucine'[, ]. Long contact with the sawdust and bark may cause allergies[].
The inner bark is used as a fish poison[].

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Brazil, Venezuela, the Guyanas, north to Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean and through Central America to Nicaragua.

Habitat

Amazonian rainforest, mainly in areas subject to inundation[]. A dominant canopy tree, found mainly along the sides of rivers where the soil can be flooded for most of the year[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland, moist tropics, where it is found at elevations from near sea level to 600 metres[]. It prefers areas in which the mean annual temperature is within the range 24 - 30°c[, ]. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in excess of 2,500mm[, ].
Succeeds in full sun or light shade[]. Succeeds in light to heavy, acidic soils[]. Plants are tolerant of waterlogged soils[].
Young plants usually establish well and grow away quickly[]. When grown in a sunny position they can start flowering when only two years old[].
The flowers are a good source of nectar[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

Seed[]. The seed contains 45 - 48% lipids, 27 - 28% protein and 12 - 14% carbohydrates[]. Some caution is advised because the seed is known to contain toxic substances, see the notes above on known hazards.

An oil obtained from the seeds can be used in cooking[].

Medicinal

The sap is used to cleanse sores[].

The bark is antiseptic, emetic and styptic[]. A decoction is used to promote vomiting, and to remedy diarrhoea, stomach ulcers, stomach aches and biliousness[].
Applied externally, the bark is used as a wash on snakebites, sores, sprains, ulcers, cuts, bruises etc, in order to cleanse the area and stop bleeding[]. It is given to babies as a treatment for thrush[].
A decoction of the inner bark is used as a treatment for jaundice[].

The leaves are used to treat chickenpox and measles[].

The seed is used to make plasters for treating itches[].

Extracts of the plant contain alkaloids such as caffeoylputrescine[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is a pioneer species and is suitable for reforestation projects within its native range[]. As a fast-growing, nitrogen-fixing pioneer species it has great potential in forest regeneration and reclamation of degraded lands[, ].

Other Uses

The seeds have a high content of oil that may be used industrially in lubricants and soaps[, ]. The seeds contain 45 - 48% oil, 27 - 28% protein, 12 - 14% carbohydrates and lack endosperm[].

The bark is a source of tannins[, ].

The heartwood is a reddish-brown to dark red; it is clearly demarcated from the whitish sapwood, which becomes pinkish upon exposure to the air. Texture is medium: the grain is straight; taste is astringent; there is no discernible aroma once dried. The wood is heavy, very hard, tough, strong. It is moderately durable, easy to work, and with moderate mechanical properties. The wood is of high quality and often used as a substitute for mahogany[]. It is used for many purposes including boat construction, furniture, floor beams and house frames[, , , , , ].
The wood is sometimes used for fuel[, ].

Propagation

Seed - of very short viability, even when handled carefully and kept moist most seeds will not germinate after one week[]. They are best sown as soon as ripe in individual containers in a position in light shade[]. It is preferable to sow the seeds with the pointed end down[]. Cover seeds with 10mm of soil and do not allow to dry out. The germination rate is usually high, with up to 90% of seeds sprouting in 30 - 40 days[]. Seedlings can be planted into their permanent positions after 4 - 5 months when 25 - 40cm tall[, ].

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