Licania apetala

(E. Mey.) Fritsch

ChrysobalanaceaeFruit
Licania apetala
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Mauricio Mercadante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
Licania apetala
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Mauricio Mercadante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
Licania apetala
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Mauricio Mercadante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit

The fruit is eaten.

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant.

Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela,

Countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

How to Identify

A tropical tree in the Chrysobalanaceae family with edible fruit.

How to Grow

Often found on sandy soils in the wild.

Other Uses

The bark is burned, and the ashes are mixed with clay for making pots. The wood is strong. It is used for general construction and carpentry. We have no more specific information on the qualities of this wood, the following is the general description for the genus:- The wood is a pale or pinkish brown with a greyish tinge, sometimes darkening on exposure, and with long, broad, prominent, dark reddish brown gum streaks. Straight-grained; medium or coarse-textured; when seasoned it is odourless and tasteless. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, and durable. It is easy to split and takes a smooth, fairly lustrous polish. It should be suitable for heavy construction

Names & Synonyms

Ajuru, Apacharama, Caraipe, Caripe

Hirtella apetala Fritsch.Licania apetala var. pendula (Benth.) FritschLicania dahlgrenii Standl.Licania floribunda Benth.Licania hylaea Cuatrec.Licania pendula Benth.Moquila floribunda (Benth.) Hook.f.Moquila orinocensis RusbyMoquila pendula (Benth.) Hook. f.
References (3)
  • Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 485
  • Martin, F. W., et al, 1987, Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics. USDA Handbook 642 p 92
  • Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.

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