Didymopanax morototoni - Mountain trumpet
Family:
Native to:
Habitat:
Araliaceae
Central and southern Central America and most of South America.
Wet tropical forests, open woodlands, savanna. 15 meter tall tree, up to 2140 meters above sea level.
Ecological value:
Can be used as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland, is fast-growing and adaptable to a variety of habitats. Good source of food for native fauna. Reaches 3-4m within two years from seed. Coppices easily. Flowers year round. Tolerant of dappled shade.
Material uses:
Wood is light in color, light in weight and soft. Susceptible to damage from wood-boring insects. Used in general carpentry, interior applications boxes, toys, paper pulp and matchsticks. Potential uses: utility grade plywood and as a substitute for heavier grades of balsa.
Edible uses:
No part of tree is known to be edible.
Medicinal use:
Infusion of bark treats malaria and other fevers. Boiled bark relieves itching skin. Sap treats abscesses. Similar properties to Chinese ginseng (Pan ginseng).
Other details:
Prefers open forests where light is abundant and is frequently found on savannah margins and upland forests. Known as ‘matchwood’. Members of the Schefflera genus can be toxic to dogs, due to content of calcium oxalate.
Research:
Adrian Chiu/Christine Facella
Sources:
“Didymopanax Morototoni (Aubl.) Decne. & Planch. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.” n.d. Plants of the World Online. Accessed November 16, 2023. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:90355-1/general-information.
“Schefflera Morototoni - Useful Tropical Plants.” n.d. Tropical.theferns.info. Accessed November 16, 2023. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Schefflera+morototoni.
Uphof. J. C. Th., ‘Dictionary of Economic Plants’, Weinheim, 1959
Lorenzi. H., ‘Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition’, Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil, 2002
“Schefflera.” n.d. Pet Poison Helpline. Accessed November 18, 2023. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/schefflera/.
Image sources: Alex Popovkin.