Common Name:

General Information

Ruizterania albiflora is a tree that can grow 50 metres or more tall. The long, clear bole has thick buttresses up to 2 metres tall, it can be unbranched for 20 metres and is often of a very large diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, and also for its timber, which is a source of 'mandioqueira' wood that is used locally and also exported.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, the Guyanas.

Habitat

Primary rainforests, usually on higher, non-inundated sites[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	35.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark is boiled and the water used to treat snakebite as an anti-venom[].

Other Uses

The freshly cut heartwood is a pinkish brown, becoming light reddish brown with a definite coppery or golden look upon drying; it is not clearly separated from the 3 - 6cm wide band of cream-coloured sapwood. The grain is straight to sometimes interlocked - when interlocked grain is present, a mild wavy figure is apparent on the tangential
surface; texture is medium to coarse; lustre is high, but without the characteristic sublustre so well developed in many high-grade cabinet woods; the unseasoned wood has an unpleasant odour, but no distinctive odour or taste is evident in seasoned wood. The wood is moderately heavy, moderately hard; somewhat variable in decay resistance but, in general, is moderately durable. It seasons at a normal rate, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is poorly stable in service. It has moderately good working properties; saws and planes well; takes nails and screws well; glues satisfactorily; but requires care in polishing. However, it dulls saws and cutting edges rather quickly because of the accumulation of silica in the parenchyma and ray cells - stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended. Chipped or torn grain is likely to occur when roey grain is present, and fuzzy surfaces and tearing are apt to occur in boring[]. The wood is used locally for such purposes as canoes, joinery, flooring, interior trim, furniture, and millwork. It has been used in the superstructures of bridges and has also been found suitable for packing cases, outside and inside sheathing, rafters, and implements[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

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