Herrania balaensis
H. Preuss
Velvetyflower herrania
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) gmena, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) sam_moreta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A small evergreen tree. It grows 7.5 m tall. The trunk is straight and 15 cm across. The fruit are oval and 14 mm long.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw. The sweet white pulp surrounding the seeds is eaten. This white, acidulous pulp is eaten raw and is most delicious just before the complete ripening of the fruit. The ovoid fruit is about 14cm long. The following report is based mainly on the seeds of H. Nitida, but the seed of this species is likely to be very similar. The seed contains up to 66% oil. It is solid at room temperature, turning liquid at 25 - 29°c. The oil comprises 18 - 26% linoleic acid, 2 - 7% oleic acid and 74 - 76% saturated acids.
Traditional Uses
The fruit are eaten raw.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in wet coastal forest. It grows up to 500 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Amazon, Colombia, Ecuador*, South America,
Other Uses
The following description of the wood is for H. Nitida. The wood of this species is likely to be very similar. The heartwood is pinkish brown, the sapwood pale pink. The wood has no distinctive odour or taste; it is straight- or wavy-grained; coarse-textured. It is light in weight; soft; not durable. It requires sharp tools in order to cut smoothly across the grain.
Other Information
It is occasionally cultivated.
Notes
Also in the family Byttneriaceae.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Anacuilan, Apilon, Arisco, Cacao de monte, E cacabo chi, E kakabu chi, Senori, Shiva qui tetacho, Sunori
References (7)
- Barfod, A. S. & Kvist, L. P., 1996, Comparative Ethnobotanical Studies of the Amerindian Groups in Coastal Ecuador. The Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. p 80
- Etkin, N.L. (Ed.), 1994, Eating on the Wild Side, Univ. of Arizona. p 158
- Fern, K., 2012, Tropical Species Database http://theferns.info/tropical/
- Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 298
- Kew Plants of the World On line
Show all 7 references Hide references
- Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
- Torre, de la, L., et al, 2008, Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador. Herbario QCA. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. p 598
