Copaifera reticulata
Ducke
Copaiba
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Summary
Source: WikipediaEvergreen tree reaching 30m tall and wide, growing slowly with nitrogen-fixing ability. Features pink to red-brown heartwood with copper veins, medium texture, and straight to interlocked grain. Thrives in light sandy to medium loamy, well-drained soils across mildly acid to basic pH ranges. Tolerates full shade to semi-shade and adapts to dry or moist conditions. Hardy to UK zone 10.
Description
Evergreen tree reaching 30m tall and wide, growing slowly with nitrogen-fixing ability. Features pink to red-brown heartwood with copper veins, medium texture, and straight to interlocked grain. Thrives in light sandy to medium loamy, well-drained soils across mildly acid to basic pH ranges. Tolerates full shade to semi-shade and adapts to dry or moist conditions. Hardy to UK zone 10.
Edible Uses
The resin of Copaifera reticulata has been officially approved in the U.S. as a food additive and is used in small amounts as a flavouring agent in foods and beverages.
Medicinal Uses
Copaiba balsam, an oily oleoresin tapped from the trunk, has a long history of medicinal use among South American indigenous peoples, a practice later adopted by European settlers. It is particularly valued for clearing mucous from the chest and genito-urinary system. The resin has a bitter, burning, aromatic taste and acts as a stimulant herb. Both the resin and the bark are anodyne, antacid, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, cytostatic, demulcent, digestive, disinfectant, diuretic, expectorant, mildly laxative, vermifuge, and vulnerary. The resin contains 30–90% essential oils and unusual condensed tannins; the essential oil includes alpha- and beta-caryophyllene, sesquiterpenes, resins, and terpenic acids. It supports digestion, has diuretic and expectorant effects, and combats bacterial infections. Clinical research has confirmed traditional uses, particularly as a topical wound healer and anti-inflammatory agent. The anti-inflammatory action is largely attributed to sesquiterpenes, especially caryophyllene, which also demonstrates pain-relieving properties, antifungal activity against nail fungus, and gastroprotective effects. The whole resin and two of its diterpenes — copalic acid and kaurenic acid — show significant antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria. Kaurenoic acid has also shown selective antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria. Other constituents have demonstrated notable antitumour activity. Taken internally, it treats respiratory conditions including tuberculosis, bronchitis, and sinusitis, as well as urinary and reproductive conditions such as cystitis, kidney and bladder infections, vaginal discharge, and gonorrhoea. It is also used for stomach ulcers, tetanus, herpes, pleurisy, and haemorrhages. Applied externally, it treats insect bites, eczema, chilblains, sores, psoriasis, wounds, and bleeding. As an antiseptic gargle it is used for sore throats and tonsillitis. The resin is used in infusions or distilled for its essential oil, and should be used with care given its noted toxicity.
Known Hazards
The resin should be used with care due to toxicity concerns.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, South America,
Cultivation
A plant of the moister tropics, it requires a high humidity and a minimum temperature that does not fall much below 13°c. Prefers a well-drained sandy soil and a position in shade. A single copaiba tree can provide about 40 litres of oleoresin annually, making it a sustainable rainforest resource that can be harvested without destroying the tree or the forest in which it grows. The resin accumulates in cavities within the tree trunk and is harvested by tapping or drilling holes into the wood of the trunk and collecting the resin that drips out, much in the same manner as harvesting maple syrup. When tapped, the initial oily resin is clear, thin, and colourless; it thickens and darkens upon contact with air. Commercially sold resins are a thick, clear liquid, with a colour that varies from pale yellow to golden light brown.
Propagation
Grow from seed.
Other Uses
An oleoresin is obtained from the tree, though the resin of this species has an unpleasant smell and taste. It nonetheless serves as an important fixative in perfumes, particularly those with violet, woody, or spicy notes. In the United States, copaiba resin is used as a fragrance component in perfumes and cosmetic preparations — including soaps, bubble baths, detergents, creams, and lotions — valued for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and emollient properties. It is also used in varnishes and lacquers, and can be used directly from the tree as a substitute for diesel oil. The heartwood is pink to red-brown with copper-coloured veins, clearly demarcated from a 2–3cm wide sapwood band. The texture is medium, with straight or interlocked, sometimes wavy grain. The wood is light to very light in weight, soft to moderately hard, and somewhat durable — resistant to dry wood borers but susceptible to fungi and termites. It seasons quickly with minimal risk of checking or distortion and is moderately stable to stable once dry. It can be worked with standard tools and generally finishes well, though tools must be kept sharp to avoid fuzzy surfaces; nailing and screwing are often poor, but gluing is satisfactory. Uses include general construction, light carpentry, interior panelling and joinery, flooring, boxes and crates, furniture, veneer, and fibre boards.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Copaifera reticulata. Other Names: Reticulated Copaiba, Copaiba Balsam
References (2)
- Brazil: Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition. http://www.b4fn.org/countries/brazil/
- Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
