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Useful Tropical Plants

Vismia gracilis

Hieron.

Hypericaceae


There is some disagreement over the correct name for this species. We have followed the treatment in 'Flora do Brasil' (http://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/2010/), but some other authorities use the name Vismia glaziovii[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Vismia amazonica Ewan

Vismia glaziovii Ruhland

Common Name:

Vismia gracilis
Resprouting from the base after a forest clearing
Photograph by: Rob Westerduijn
Creative Commons License

General Information

Vismia gracilis is a shrub or small tree with a spreading crown.
The tree is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *
HabitShrub
Height0.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, mainly found in lowland areas but extending to elevations of 1,000 metres or more.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An orange-red latex (or sap) obtained from the bark is applied onto the skin as an anti-fungal; is used as a treatment for ringworm; and is also used for treating eczema[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

The bark and sap are applied to persistent sores to effect a complete healing[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

Other Uses

Although we have seen no specific information for this species, plants in this genus usually have a reddish to dark brown heartwood with a pinkish brown sapwood that often has a greyish cast, The wood is medium to fairly coarse textured; moderately light to medium in weight; inclined to be fibrous; brittle; easy to work; takes a fairly lustrous or lustrous finish; and is moderately durable[
453
Title
Woods of Northeastern Peru
Publication
 
Author
Williams L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
Field Museum Press; Chicago.
Year
1936
ISBN
 
Description
Gives information on the properties of the wood of well over 1,000 species of woody plants from northeastern Peru. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Because of its generally small size and low quality, it is only used locally - sometimes as a timber but more commonly for fuel[
453
Title
Woods of Northeastern Peru
Publication
 
Author
Williams L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
Field Museum Press; Chicago.
Year
1936
ISBN
 
Description
Gives information on the properties of the wood of well over 1,000 species of woody plants from northeastern Peru. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Vismia+gracilis>

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