Cecropia obtusifolia
Bertol.
Trumpet tree
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(c) Carlos Venegas-Elizondo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaCecropia obtusifolia is a species of plant in the family Urticaceae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico and Panama. Common Names include blunt-leaved trumpet tree, pop-a-gun, tree-of-laziness, and snakewood tree. In Central America it is known as Guarumo. Though impressive silhouetted against the sky, it is an invasive species in the islands of Hawaii. Cecropia obtusifolia is used in traditional Amerindian medicine. Many other species of the genus Cecropia share the folk reputation of curing heart failure, cough, asthma and bronchitis. Cecropia obtusifolia has vasorelaxant activity due possibly to inhibition of angiotensin.
Description
A tall tree. The leaves have 10 or more long lobes. The fruit spikes can be 50 cm long.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The fruit are edible.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in forest clearings and near the edges of forests. In Mexico it grows from sea level to 1,650 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Andes, Belize, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hawaii, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, South America, USA, West Indies,
Notes
Also put in the family Cecropiaceae.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Chancarro, Guarina, Guaruma, Guarumbo, Guarumo, Hormiguillo, Huagadeug, Huitapil, Huitipil, Jarilla, Juaquequistii, Kooche, Palo de violin, Sarumo, Shushanguji, Tequescuahuiti, Trompeta, Trompetillo, Tzilte, Yaba, Yabioo, Yage-gacho, Yarumo
References (9)
- Condit, R., et al, 2011, Trees of Panama and Costa Rica. Princeton Field Guides. p 456
- Gonzalez-Espinosa, M. et al, 2011, The Red List of Mexican Cloud Forest Trees. Flora and Fauna International, Cambridge. p 123
- Grandtner, M. M., 2008, World Dictionary of Trees. Wood and Forest Science Department. Laval University, Quebec, Qc Canada. (Internet database http://www.WDT.QC.ca)
- Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 113
- Novi Comment. Acad. Sci. Inst. Bononiensis 4:439. 1840
Show all 9 references Hide references
- Piedra-Malagón, E. M. et al, 2022, Edible native plants of the Gulf of Mexico Province. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e80565 p 17
- Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Zuchowski W., 2007, Tropical Plants of Costa Rica. A Zona Tropical Publication, Comstock Publishing. p 47
