Some botanists view Sloanea venezuelana Steyerm., (treated here as a synonym) as a distinct species[].

Common Name:

General Information

Sloanea laurifolia ranges considerably in size from a shrub a few metres tall to a large, emergent evergreen tree of the rainforest growing up to 40 metres tall. The bole has radiating buttresses[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana; C. America - Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize.

Habitat

An emergent tree in the rainforest growing in lowland areas subject to periodic inundation, at higher elevations in non-flooded habitats it is a sub-canopy tree or even just a shrub[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The branches are very brittle[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. (As Sloanea venezuelana) The fresh fruit, when eaten, is believed to cause a 'loco' type of feeling. When ground and cooked it is prepared into a tortilla similar to that of arepa de maiz[]. The fruit comprises a single seed up to 17mm long surrounded by a thin layer of fleshy, orange-coloured pulp[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is very hard[].

Propagation

Seed -

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