Combretaceae FAMILY

Combretum cacoucia

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

The seeds are said to be poisonous[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. Numerous reports state that the flowers of this species are toxic. There is apparently no chemical evidence to sustain this assertion, yet the number of reports is such that the problem bears serious study[ 630 Title Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28 Publication Author Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass. Year 1981 ISBN Description An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].

Botanical Description

Combretum cacoucia is a shrub, usually with a climbing habit. The branches can be up to 18 metres long and 7cm in diameter. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for its seed, which is used locally to repel and poison small mammals, It is an exceptionally showy plant because of its large, spire-like, gorgeously coloured flower spikes[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeS. America - Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Guatemala; Caribbean - Trinidad.

HabitatSecondary vegetation and along rivers at lower elevations[ 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. ]. Wet thickets, usually in swamps, often in Manicaria swamps, at or near sea level[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].