Stemmadenia litoralis
(Kunth) L.Allorge
Apocynaceae
Echites bignoniiflorus Schltdl.
Odontostigma galeottianum A.Rich.
Peschiera litoralis (Kunth) Miers
Stemmadenia bella Miers
Stemmadenia bignoniiflora (Schltdl.) Miers
Stemmadenia galeottiana (A.Rich.) Miers
Stemmadenia greenmanii Woodson
Stemmadenia insignis Miers
Stemmadenia macrophylla Greenm.
Tabernaemontana laurifolia Schott ex Miers
Tabernaemontana litoralis Kunth
Common Name:
General Information
Stemmadenia litoralis is a shrub or small tree growing up to 10 metres tall[
369- Title
- Flora of Costa Rica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
].
The latex obtained from the plant is sometimes used as a masticatory. A very ornamental plant, it is often grown in gardens, being valued especially for its highly aromatic flowers. When in full bloom, perfume fills the area with a soft, musky sweetness.
Known Hazards
The plant is reported to be highly poisonous, and it is stated that use of ashes from the wood in treating corn for making tortillas has sometimes caused grave accidents[
369- Title
- Flora of Costa Rica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
].
Botanical References
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
369- Title
- Flora of Costa Rica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
Range
Northern S. America - Colombia, through Central America to Mexico.
Habitat
Moist or wet forests at elevations up to 700 metres[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Grows well in full sun (if the climate is not too hot), as well as in semi-shade, and can tolerate deeper shade as well, where it's glossy leaves become large and dark green. Plants can tolerate a little sea spray.
Edible Uses
A latex obtained from the plant is used as a masticatory[
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.
]. Some caution should be employed since there are reports that the plant is very poisonous.
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
