Protium panamense
(Rose) I.M.Johnst.
Burseraceae
Common Name:
General Information
Protium panamense is an evergreen tree growing 10 - 20 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole is frequently marked by elevated knobs, it can be 40cm or more in diameter[
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its resin and its wood, which burns readily and also makes excellent kindling.
The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Northern S. America - Colombia; Central America - Panama, Costa Rica.
Habitat
An understorey or sub-canopy tree in very humid, deep forest habitats[
]. Hillsides in light forest growth[
551- Title
- A Century of Trees of Panama.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Pittier H. Mell C.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A work that was very difficult to get published according to the correspondence contained at the start!. A treatment of 100 different species with descriptions and details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 15.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Self-fertile | No |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
A resin obtained from the trunk is used to treat sores[
551- Title
- A Century of Trees of Panama.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Pittier H. Mell C.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A work that was very difficult to get published according to the correspondence contained at the start!. A treatment of 100 different species with descriptions and details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Other Uses
A clear resin is obtained from the incised bark. It has medicinal applications and is used as an incense in churches[
551- Title
- A Century of Trees of Panama.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Pittier H. Mell C.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A work that was very difficult to get published according to the correspondence contained at the start!. A treatment of 100 different species with descriptions and details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The heartwood is brown; the rather thick band of sapwood is light brown. The wood is straight and close-grained; relatively soft and heavy; not strong. It is easily worked and takes a very good polish[
551- Title
- A Century of Trees of Panama.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Pittier H. Mell C.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A work that was very difficult to get published according to the correspondence contained at the start!. A treatment of 100 different species with descriptions and details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It is little used[
551- Title
- A Century of Trees of Panama.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Pittier H. Mell C.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A work that was very difficult to get published according to the correspondence contained at the start!. A treatment of 100 different species with descriptions and details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
This tree is renown for its flammability: even the green wood ignites readily due to the highly combustible nature of its hydrocarbon-based sap[
]. The flammable nature of the sap makes the green wood and bark of this species useful as kindling for starting campfires and the like[
].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. The seed usually germinates within two weeks[
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
