Qualea grandiflora
Mart.
(c) Mauricio Mercadante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
(c) Ricardo Dislich, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Thomaz Ricardo Favreto Sinani, some rights reserved (CC BY)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds
The seeds are eaten.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant.
Bolivia, South America,
How to Identify
A tropical tree in the Vochysiaceae family, the seeds of which are edible.
How to Grow
Prefers a sunny position. Tolerates poor soils. Established plants are drought tolerant. A slow-growing tree. Plants resent root disturbance, transplanting poorly.
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in individual containers. A germination rate of below 20% can normally be expected, with the seed sprouting within 25 - 50 days. Seedlings grow very slowly, but should be ready to plant out 10 - 11 months later.
Other Uses
Sapwood and heartwood are not clearly differentiated. The wood is medium-textured, moderately heavy, with poor mechanical properties, susceptible to rot when exposed. Easy to cut and work with, it can be used for low value items such as boards, toys, furniture structures, boxes etc.
Names & Synonyms
Almendro
References (1)
- Zambrana, P, et al, 2017, Traditional knowledge hiding in plain sight – twenty-first century ethnobotany of the Chácobo in Beni, Bolivia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2017) 13:57
