Siparuna guianensis – Hierbo de pasmo/ Ant Bush
Family:
Native to:
Habitat:
Siparunaceae
Southern Central America and northern and central South America.
Near rivers, rainforests and savannas. 8 meter tall tree, up to 1450 meters above sea level.
Ecological value:
Pioneer, can be used in restoration schemes. Often found in disturbed landscapes. Shade tolerant, understory tree found on edges and in the interior of forests and forest fragments. Pollinated by gall midges. Sweet arils consumed by birds.
Material uses:
Medium weight wood, strong and easy to work but splinters easy. The heartwood and sapwood are both brown in color, with fine texture. Essential oil can be extracted from the leaves
and is used in cosmetics.
Edible uses:
No part of tree is known to be edible.
Medicinal use:
The bark is commonly used to treat fevers including malaria. The leaves are used to improve blood circulation and heal wounds. Contains liriodenine which is used to suppress coughing.
Other details:
The plant is known to have an overall pleasant aroma. Male and female plants are needed to produce fruit. Extracts from plant is used to repel insects. Over 70 species are found in this genus, and are all known for being aromatic.
Research:
Maryangela S. Rocca/Christine Facella
Sources:
“Siparuna Guianensis Aubl. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.” n.d. Plants of the World Online. Accessed November 18, 2023. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:582285-1/general-information.
“Siparuna Guianensis - Useful Tropical Plants.” n.d. Tropical.theferns.info. Accessed November 18, 2023. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Siparuna+guianensis.
Gonçalves et al, ‘Frugivory and potential of birds as dispersers of Siparuna guianensis’, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia – UFU, Campus Umuarama, Bloco 2D, sala 28, CEP 38400 902, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil, 2013
Image source Alex Popovkin.