Lecythidaceae FAMILY Vulnerable

Couratari guianensis

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Couratari guianensis is a deciduous tree with a rounded crown, that can grow up to 60 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 75cm or more in diameter, with heavy buttresses up to 8 metres high[341,363, 422]. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. A widespread timber species which has suffered serious population declines, most particularly in Central America and Brazil. It is over-exploited for its timber and also suffers from habitat loss. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[ 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeS. America - northern Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica.

HabitatA canopy or emergent tree in dense, lowland rainforests and marsh forests[ 341 Title South American Timbers: the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 190 Species. Publication Author Bolza. E. & Christensen. F.J. Publisher Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Year 1979 ISBN 0 643 02582 0 Description A very useful guide. , 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. ].