Common Name:

General Information

Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus is a semideciduous, aromatic shrub or small tree with a dense, characteristic, roundish crown; it can grow 4 - 10 metres tall. The normally straight bole can be 20 - 30cm in diameter[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally. The flower buds (cloves) can be used as a substitute for the true cloves. The plant can be grown as a pioneer when restoring native woodland or establishing a woodland garden and, with its ornamental qualities, can be used in urban plantings, especially for growing in narrow streets and under power lines[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - southern and eastern Brazil, Bolivia.

Habitat

Forests at moderate to higher elevations, often in more open spaces and secondary formations, favouring well-drained, sandy soils that can be of low fertility[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	7.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Often found wild in poor, sandy, well-drained soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Young plants have a moderate rate of growth[].
The whole plant is aromatic, with a clove-like aroma[].

Edible Uses

The flower buds can be used as a substitute for cloves (Syzygium aromaticum)[]. The report does not specify if it substitutes as a condiment or as a medicine, or both; but the food uses of cloves are:-
Flower buds - dried and used as a spice in a variety of foods such as cakes, baked apples and mincemeat[, ]. The buds are sometimes chewed after meals[].

Medicinal

The flower buds can be used as a substitute for cloves (Syzygium aromaticum)[]. The report does not specify if it substitutes as a condiment, or as a medicine, or both; but the medicinal uses are:-

Cloves, and the essential oil contained in them, are often used medicinally[]. A spicy, warming, stimulant herb, it is strongly antiseptic, relieves pain, controls nausea and vomiting, improves digestion, protects against intestinal parasites, and causes uterine contractions[].
Cloves are taken internally as a tea in the treatment of internal parasites, stomach upsets, chills and impotence[, ]. The flower buds are chewed to freshen the breath or ease the pain of toothache[].

The essential oil is applied externally in the treatment of toothache, headache, cold, arthritis and rheumatism[, ]. It is also useful for treating ulcers, bruises, burns, bronchitis, asthma, minor infections and colic. It is sometimes used to ease nausea[]
Two little-known compounds in clove oil have shown 'strong activity' against bacteria associated with plaque formation and gum disease[].
Clove oil is very potent and can cause gum irritation, it is advisable to dilute it with equal amounts of vegetable oil. For infants an even milder dilution is required. Use should be avoided during pregnancy, or if with sensitive skin[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree has a moderate rate of growth, succeeds in full sun, provides food for the native fauna and has various uses for humans. It can be used as a pioneer when restoring native woodland and also for establishing woodland gardens[, ].

Other Uses

The wood is fine to medium-textured, wavy-grained, very heavy, hard, splits easily and is more or less durable. Because of its small dimensions, it is only used locally for internal carpentry work[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the seed in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 25 - 35 days[].

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