Euphorbiaceae FAMILY

Sapium haematospermum

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

A latex contained in the plant is irritant to the skin and eyes^[1]. The seeds are used as a rat poison^[1].

Cultivation Details

HabitSemi-deciduous Tree

GrowthFast

Prefers a sunny position^[1]. Found in the wild on heavier soils that are rich in organic matter^[1]. Plants are tolerant of seasonal inundation of the soil^[1]. Young plants establish well and grow away quickly^[1]. The flowers are attractive to bees^[1]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate of less than 50% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 30 days^[1]. Cuttings. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Sapium+haematospermum>

Pollinators

Bees

References

[1]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.
[2]Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607. — Chudnoff. Martin. · USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin. · 1984 ↩︎Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.