Common Name:

General Information

Protium decandrum is an evergreen tree with a round, heavy crown; it can grow up to 27 metres tall[, ]. The bole is sometimes fluted, generally with short buttresses up to 90cm tall. It can be unbranched for up to 18 metres and up to 70cm in diameter, but is more commonly 40 - 50cm[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, as well as being a source of wood and resin. The wood is harvested commercially and exported.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Habitat

Margins of the rain forests and in the more open areas of secondary growth[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Most, if not all, species in this genus are dioecious, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An exudate from the stems is used in the treatment of arthritis[].

The bark is applied externally for treating burns, wounds and cuts[].

Other Uses

The bark contains large quantities of a whitish or yellowish, fragrant oleoresin. It is used as an incense in churches[]. The dried and powdered resin is a good kindling for fires[].

The pinkish-brown heartwood, characterized by irregularly spaced darker brown lines, is sharply demarcated from the pale buff-coloured sapwood. The texture is uniform and fairly coarse; the grain straight to interlocked and irregular; the lustre rather high[]. The wood is moderately strong, hard, heavy, moderately durable to non-durable when in contact with the ground, and very susceptible to termite damage[]. It resembles yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) in superficial appearance[]. Conversion of logs is rather difficult; resin accumulates and clogs the saw teeth - this could be partially overcome by debarking logs prior to conversion since the bark is the principal source of resin[]. Dry wood saws and planes to a smooth surface except for the tendency of raised grain to occur around the pores when inclined grain is present. When this occurs, considerable sanding is required for a first-class finish. The grain needs careful filling before polishing, but when finished is difficult to separate from the white type of crabwood[]. The wood is recommended for use as masts, spars, house framing, and plywood. It has also been designated as an acceptable wood for interior partitions and battens[]. In Surinam the wood is considered suitable for interior panelling, millwork, carriage bodies, and furniture[].
The reasonable good strength properties, moderate shrinkage values, and attractive colour and grain suggest the use of the wood in decorative plywood and veneer for panelling, furniture, and general cabinetwork, and use of the lumber in furniture and other interior work[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

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