Lacmellea standleyi

(Woodson) Monach.

Apocynaceae 1 iNaturalist observations

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Rapid Reference Collection (RRC) | Field Museum of Natural History - Keller Science Action Center

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D. M. Le : Field Museum of Natural History - Botany Department

gbif· cc-by-nc

D. M. Le : Field Museum of Natural History - Botany Department

Description

Lacmellea standleyi is a tree growing 5 - 11 metres tall. The bole is abundantly armed with woody prickles. The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its fruit and latex. Lacmellea standleyi appears to be a common and widely distributed species that is not very demanding on specific conditions or a particular habitat. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021).

Edible Uses

Fruit - probably edible. It has the aroma of mangos. A latex obtained in abundance from incisions in the stems is used as a drink. It is not altogether agreeable in consistency.

Medicinal Uses

The fruits have great antioxidant power and apparently have medicinal properties.

Distribution

Central America - Honduras, Belize, Guatemala.

Where It Grows

Belize, Central America, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, South America,

Cultivation

A plant of mainly low elevations in the moist tropics.

Other Uses

The wood is soft and light in weight.

Synonyms

Coe, F. G. & Anderson, G. J., 1997, Ethnobotany of the Miskitu of Eastern Nicaragua. Journal of Ethnobiology 17(2): 171-214 Fern, K., 2012, Tropical Species Database http://theferns.info/tropical/ Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia. Reis, S. V. and Lipp, F. L., 1982, New Plant Sources for Drugs and Foods from the New York Botanical Garden herbarium. Harvard. p 242