Common Name:

General Information

Saurauia tomentosa is a tree with an open crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The long, straight bole can be free of branches for up to 15 metres and 40cm in diameter[].
The edible fruit is gathered from the wild for local use. A beautiful tree, it is worthy of cultivation[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela.

Habitat

Wet mountain, submontane and secondary forest; edge of primary forest, open, wind-swept hillside; along shady wet places and streams; plantations; gardens; abandoned fields; roadside embankment and meadows; at elevations of 2,000 - 2,800 m[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can be cut back quite severely and will resprout[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. Sweet and mucilaginous[]. The green berries often have a purple or maroon tint; globose to ovoid, they are up to 15mm across[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The light brown wood is coarsely fibrous[].

We have no more information on the wood of this species, but the following is a general description of the wood from species in this genus.
The wood is little used, except locally for fuel. It is a pale reddish brown throughout; not attractive; lustre rather low; odourless and tasteless; rather light, but firm, tough, and strong; texture medium; grain straight; easy to cut, saws finely woolly, is rather hairy under the plane; probably not durable. Useful locally for general carpentry and interior construction[].

Propagation

Seed -

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