Andira surinamensis
Andira surinamensis
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 surinamensis is an evergreen tree with a dense, low, spreading crown; it can grow 10 - 20 metres tall with reports of up to 40 metres. The short, cylindrical bole can be 30 - 50cm in diameter and is buttressed in larger trees[ 625 Title Brazilian Trees. Volume 3. Publication Author Lorenzi. H. Publisher Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. Year 2009 ISBN 85-86714-34-4 Description 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. , 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 plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and as the source of a high quality wood. The wood is also traded. Andira surinamensis has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].