Protium guianense
(Aubl.) Marchand
Burseraceae
Icica guianensis Aubl.
Icica viridiflora Lam.
Protium hostmannii (Miq.) Engl.
Tingulonga guianensis (Aubl.) Kuntze
Common Name:
General Information
Protium guianense is a small tree growing up to 6 metres tall with occasional specimens to 10 metres[
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 for local use as a medicine and source of resin.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
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.
Range
S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, the Guyanas.
Habitat
Rainforests and savannah forests, especially along rivers on sandy soils[
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.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Self-fertile | No |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the lowland tropics, usually found at elevations below 600 metres but occasionally extending to 1,000 metres, with records of plants at 1,600 metres in Venezuela[
592- Title
- Contributions to The Flora of Venezuela.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Steyermark J.A. Et al
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Chicago Natural History Museum; Chicago.
- Year
- 1951 - 1957
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent flora, though made at a time when botanical knowledge of the areas was still very lacking.
].
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[
745- Title
- Novon Vol. 9
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; Missouri.
- Year
- 1999
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical publication with a main focus on publishing the names of new and renamed species. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The sap is used to purge the stomach[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The resin is used as a remedy for coughs[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
An alcoholic tincture of the aromatic resin is used as a topical application for ulcers; to treat phthisis; and to relieve asthma[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
Other Uses
An elemi, known as 'Elemi of Guiana', is obtained from the area round the inner bark of the tree. Very aromatic, it is used for making lacquers and also as an incense in churches[
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.
,
526- Title
- An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and Allied Sciences.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gould G.M.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- P. Blakiston's Son & Co.; Philadelphia.
- Year
- 1907
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A major work at the time, though very dated now. Contains quite a lot of information about medicinal plant uses.
]. It can be used as a glaze on pottery[
476- Title
- Handbook of S. American Indians.
- Publication
- Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 143
- Author
- Steward J. H. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- US Government Printing Office; Washington
- Year
- 1946 - 1950
- ISBN
-
- Description
- In six volumes, a detailed look at the native peoples of S. America - their culture, lifestyle, use of plants etc,
]. Elemi is a fragrant resin obtained from various tropical trees and used for making varnishes, inks, ointments, perfumes etc.
The resin is burnt as a mosquito repellent[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The resin is obtained by making incisions in the bark. It is left to harden before being removed from the tree.
The resinous bark is used as a kindling for fires and also as a torch to provide light[
592- Title
- Contributions to The Flora of Venezuela.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Steyermark J.A. Et al
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Chicago Natural History Museum; Chicago.
- Year
- 1951 - 1957
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent flora, though made at a time when botanical knowledge of the areas was still very lacking.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
