Roupala montana – Faieira
Family:
Native to:
Habitat:
Proteaceae
Central America and northern and central South America.
In savannas, forests with moist and sandy soil. 1000-2000 meters above sea level. 15 meter tall tree.
Ecological value:
The leaves are food source for insects, including 26 species of caterpillars
which feed on this plant. Medium growth rate. Can be cultivated in a wide range of soil types, although it prefers well-drained soil. Does best in full sun.
Material uses:
Wood is durable, hard, heavy. Suitable for making furniture. Used in naval
construction, window, and door frames, furniture, cases, and carved objects. Durable when immersed in salt water, or exposed to very dry conditions.
Edible uses:
No record on this species.
Medicinal use:
The bark can be used in an infusion for stimulating nerves and as an aphrodisiac.
Other details:
Produces a high quality charcoal. Ornamental. The graination of the wood is considered ornamental and is compared to European oak. Leaves and branches known to have an odor of fish. Sometimes referred to as Leopardwood.
Research:
Emilyn Chang/Christine Facella
Sources:
“Roupala Montana Aubl. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.” n.d. Plants of the World Online. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:706342-1.
“Roupala Montana - Useful Tropical Plants.” n.d. Tropical.theferns.info. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Roupala+montana.
Lorenzi. H., ‘Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition’, Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil, 2002
Uphof. J. C. Th., ‘Dictionary of Economic Plants’, Weinheim, 1959
Winer, Lise, ‘Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad & Tobago: On Historical Principles’. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2009
Image source: João de Deus Medeiros