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Useful Tropical Plants

Varronia multispicata

(Cham.) Borhidi

Boraginaceae

+ Synonyms

Cordia bahiensis DC.

Cordia multispicata Cham.

Lithocardium multispicatum Kuntze

Varronia bahiensis (DC.) Borhidi

Common Name: Maria Preta

No Image.

General Information

Varronia multispicata is a much-branched, wide-spreading shrub in open ground, usually growing up to 2.5 metres tall and more wide. In secondary forest it sometimes adopts a scrambling habit, growing up to 5 - 6 metres tall into the surrounding vegetation[
699
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 16
Publication
 
Author
Rehder A. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University: Boston.
Year
1935
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal containing several interesting articles including one on the Boraginaceae of Amazonia.
].
The plant has been cultivated since pre-Columbian times for its medicinal virtues[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
]. It is a natural pioneer species, establishing in open places and providing a suitable habitat for rainforest trees to become established.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

699
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 16
Publication
 
Author
Rehder A. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University: Boston.
Year
1935
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal containing several interesting articles including one on the Boraginaceae of Amazonia.

Range

S. America - central and northeast Brazil, Guyana

Habitat

Abandoned pastures and other open spaces, secondary vegetation[
1908
Title
The role of the shrub Cordia multispicata Cham. as a 'succession facilitator' in an abandoned pasture, Paragominas,
Publication
Plant Ecology 115(2):91-99, 1994
Author
Vieira I.C.G.; Uhl C. & Nepstad D.C.
Website
http://10.1007/BF00044863
Publisher
 
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitShrub
Height2.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details


Succeeds in a sunny position, growing well on nutrient-depleted soils[
1908
Title
The role of the shrub Cordia multispicata Cham. as a 'succession facilitator' in an abandoned pasture, Paragominas,
Publication
Plant Ecology 115(2):91-99, 1994
Author
Vieira I.C.G.; Uhl C. & Nepstad D.C.
Website
http://10.1007/BF00044863
Publisher
 
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
The plant responds well to coppicing and can survive forest fires by resprouting from the roots[
1908
Title
The role of the shrub Cordia multispicata Cham. as a 'succession facilitator' in an abandoned pasture, Paragominas,
Publication
Plant Ecology 115(2):91-99, 1994
Author
Vieira I.C.G.; Uhl C. & Nepstad D.C.
Website
http://10.1007/BF00044863
Publisher
 
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Edible Uses

The red, fleshy, conical fruits are around 4.8mm long and 3.5mm wide.
Although we have seen no specific information for this species, the fruits of most Cordia (Varronia) species are comprised of a thin to fairly thick layer of pulpy, sweetish-tasting flesh surrounding a single seed and are more or less edible[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
], (though some are known to cause gastric disturbances).

Medicinal

An infusion of the leaves is taken as a tonic[
739
Title
Medicinal Plants of Brazil
Publication
 
Author
Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
Publisher
Reference Publications; Michigan.
Year
2000
ISBN
0-917256-42-5
Description
An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
]. They are also used in the treatment of grippe, bronchitis and prolonged cough[
739
Title
Medicinal Plants of Brazil
Publication
 
Author
Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
Publisher
Reference Publications; Michigan.
Year
2000
ISBN
0-917256-42-5
Description
An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
].
The leaves and aerial parts are used in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and rickets[
583
Title
Medicinal and poisonous diversity of the flora of 'Cariri Paraibano', Brazil.
Publication
 
Author
Agra M.F. Et al
Website
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.12.007
Publisher
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Year
2007
ISBN
 
Description
An article from the Journal of Ethnopharmacy, available as a PDF document on the Internet. Brief details of some medicinal plants from an area of Brazil.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

Varronia multispicata is a natural pioneer species. It is a common shrub that invades open ground throughout Amazonia, often being found in abandoned pasture where it grows quickly and provides suitable conditions for the establishment of other rainforest trees and shrubs[
1908
Title
The role of the shrub Cordia multispicata Cham. as a 'succession facilitator' in an abandoned pasture, Paragominas,
Publication
Plant Ecology 115(2):91-99, 1994
Author
Vieira I.C.G.; Uhl C. & Nepstad D.C.
Website
http://10.1007/BF00044863
Publisher
 
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
 
]..

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-03. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Varronia+multispicata>

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