Andira coriacea
Andira coriacea
Safety & Hazards
Many members of this genus are used medicinally, particularly to treat parasitic and other skin conditions, and to act as a drastic purgative. The powdered wood, bark and seeds are the parts most commonly used. However the medicinal use of these plants needs to be tempered with caution since the active compounds (the alkaloid andirine is most commonly mentioned) are toxic and, in all but small doses, can cause fever, delerium, vomiting and, in extreme cases, death[ 461 Title Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil Publication Author Correa M.P. Publisher Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro Year 1926 ISBN Description A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants. , 528 Title Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil. Publication Author Fonseca E. T. De Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro Year 1922 ISBN Description Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. Both caster oil (from Ricinus communis) and lemon juice are said to be effective antidotes[ 461 Title Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil Publication Author Correa M.P. Publisher Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro Year 1926 ISBN Description A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants. ]. The smoke from the wood is said to be toxic and to cause blindness if it gets in the eyes[ 307 Title Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide. Publication Author Barwick. M. Publisher Thames & Hudson, London Year 2004 ISBN 0-500-51181-0 Description A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life. , 528 Title Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil. Publication Author Fonseca E. T. De Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro Year 1922 ISBN Description Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].
Botanical Description
Andira coriacea is an evergreen tree with a flat, rounded crown; it usually grows up to 25 metres tall, occasionally reaching 40 metres. The trunk has small buttresses and can be 60 - 90cm in diameter[ 378 Title Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean Publication USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207 Author Longwood.F.R. Publisher USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC. Year 1962 ISBN Description Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet. , 422 Title Fruits of the Guianan Flora Publication Author van Roosmalen. M.G.M. Publisher Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands. Year 1985 ISBN 90-9000988-4 Description Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat. , 848 Title Tropix 7 Publication Author Website http://tropix.cirad.fr/en Publisher CIRAD Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line guide to the timbers of 245 species of trees. , 2122 Title Monograph of Andira (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) Publication Systematic Botany Monographs, Vol. 64 pp 1-143 Author Pennington R.T. Publisher Year 2003 ISBN Description ]. The tree is commonly harvested from the wild for commercial use of its good quality, very durable wood.