Common Name:

General Information

Xylopia sericea is an evergreen tree with a globose, open crown; it can grow 6 - 8 metres tall. The cylindrical bole is 25 - 35cm in diameter[].
The plant is sometimes used locally, being gathered from the wild for food, medicines fibre and wood. The seeds have been sold in local markets for use as a condiment[]. A rather elegant tree, it can be used in landscaping[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Surinam.

Habitat

Semideciduous forests, where it is found towards the tops of hills in well-drained, sandy soils. It is usually gregarious in habit[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	7.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of mainly low elevations in the moist tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,000 metres.
Prefers a sunny position[]. Succeeds in dry soils of low fertility[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Newly planted young trees are slow to establish and grow away[].

Edible Uses

The aromatic seeds can be used as a substitute for black pepper (Piper nigrum) to flavour foods[, , ].

Medicinal

The seeds are aromatic and carminative[, , ]. They are used in the treatment of intestinal problems[].

The seed capsules are used in the treatment of piles. They are supposed to have vasoconstricting properties[].

Several diterpenes have been detected in the fruit[].

Other Uses

A fibre from the bark is used to make rough ropes[]. It has been used for boat cables[].
The fibre of this plant, if so it may be called, is of the coarsest description and consists only of the cortical layers of bark, which are torn from the trees in ribbon-like strips. These have no use that can be dignified by the name of manufacture, and are only rudely twisted or plaited by the local people into a kind of coarse cordage, which is used to tie fences and sometimes to secure cattle. Doubtless, in skilled hands, finer specimens of cordage might be produced, though, strictly speaking, it does not possess fibrous material. It would be available for mats[].

The wood is light in weight; soft but sufficiently flexible; moderately durable when kept dry; easy to work[]. It has been used in making the masts of small boats, stays, wagon wheels etc[].

Propagation

Seed - germination rates and time are improved if the seed is scarified by lightly abrading the seedcoat prior to sowing. Sow the seeds in a nursery seedbed. Germination rates are usually low, with sprouting taking place within 30 - 60 days. Transplant the seedlings into individual containers when they are 4 - 6cm tall. Seedlings are quite slow growing and it will take 9 - 11 months from germination until they are ready to plant into their permanent positions[].

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