Couma utilis
Couma utilis
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A tree of the moist, tropical lowlands where it is found at elevations up to 500 metres[[1]. It grows best in areas where the temperature ranges from 20 - 30°c, but is able to tolerate a range from 15 - 35°c[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 2,000 - 4,000mm, but tolerates from 1,500 - 5,000mm, and is found in areas with a distinct dry season as well as areas of all year round rainfall[1]. Succeeds in full sun or dappled shade[2]. Grows wild on white sand soils[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 6, tolerating from 4 - 6.5[1]. Established plants are drought tolerant[2]. Trees have a moderate rate of growth[2].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a lightly shaded position in a nursery seedbed[[2]. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seeds sprouting within 20 - 40 days[2]. Transplant the seedlings into individual containers when 4 - 6cm tall, and plant out 5 - 6 months later[2]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Couma+utilis>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
- [2]Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition. — Lorenzi. H. · Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. · 2002 · ISBN 85-86714-15-1 ↩︎Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
- [3]Trade Winds Fruit — http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/index.htm ↩︎The on-line catalogue of a company selling seeds. Gives descriptions, photos and uses of a very wide range of fruit and other food-producing plants plus ornamentals.
- [4]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
- [5]Medicinal Plants of Brazil — Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A. · Reference Publications; Michigan. · 2000 · ISBN 0-917256-42-5 ↩︎An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.