Common Name:

General Information

Vatairea guianensis is a deciduous tree growing up to 30 metres tall[]. The bole can be 60 - 90cm in diameter with low flutes[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood - the wood is also traded.

Known Hazards

The wood and fruits are poisonous[]. This suggests that all parts of the plant are likely to be poisonous[].
The sawdust can cause allergies to woodmill workers[].

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Habitat

Rain and marsh forests, especially by rivers, it is also sometimes found in swamps[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of low elevations in the moist tropics, where it is usually found at elevations below 200 metres.

Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the bark is used as a dressing on ulcers[, ]. The bark is used in the treatment of scabies[].

The sap is used to treat ringworm[].

An infusion of the bark, plus the fruit-sap, is mixed with coconut oil and used in the treatment of ringworm and eczema[].

The leaves and the seed: are used to make a pomade remedy for skin diseases[]
The seed is applied as a plaster to treat itches and skin diseases such as dartre, eczema, scabies and sores[]. A less effective plaster for these ailments is sometimes made with the grated bark of the tree[].

The wood has been shown to contain quinones and chrisophanic acid, which are known to be active on certain dermatitis problems[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is bright yellow when freshly sawn, becoming light brown to dark brown or red brown upon exposure to air; it is clearly demarcated from the 4 - 7cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is coarse; the grain straight or slightly interlocked. The wood is moderately heavy to heavy; varying from soft to hard; elastic; moderately durable, being resistant to dry wood borers and moderately resistant to fungi and termites. It seasons fairly quickly with only a slight risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable to stable in service. There is quire a high blunting efect, stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; it planes easily; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring; gluing is correct. The wood has been recommended for decorative work, furniture, planking, ships, industrial flooring, etc[, , ].

Propagation

Seed -

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