Lacmellea ramosissima
(Mull.Arg.) Markgr.
gbif· cc-by-nc
Field Museum of Natural History - Botany Department
gbif· cc-by-nc
C. Dennis : Field Museum of Natural History - Botany Department
gbif· cc-by-nc
Rapid Reference Collection (RRC) | Field Museum of Natural History - Keller Science Action Center
Description
A tall shrub or small tree in the dogbane family with a spreading crown, growing up to 5 m tall with a straight trunk 20 cm across.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw. The latex of some species is palatable. The latex of this species is sweet-flavoured.
Traditional Uses
The fruit are eaten raw.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The bark and sapwood, when incised, exude a viscid, sweet latex, said to be tapped during the rainy season for medicinal use.
Distribution
S. America - Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela.
Where It Grows
Fruit,
Cultivation
Plants are grown from seeds.
Other Uses
The latex obtained from the plant is of low quality, but is sometimes used to adulterate rubber from Hevea brasiliensis. The wood is pale cream-coloured to dark pinkish brown. It is straight or fairly straight-grained; medium-textured; light and firm to rather heavy and tenacious; not difficult to work and takes a smooth polish; appears to be durable.
Other Information
Apocynaceae
Notes
A tall shrub or a small tree. The crown is spreading. It can grow 5 m tall. The trunk is straight and 20 cm across.
