Cow Tree, Massaranduba. Black balata
Manilkara huberi

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

Manilkara huberi is an evergreen Tree growing to 40 m (131ft) by 30 m (98ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 40

Where it is found

Rainforests, in areas that do not become inundated.

Northern S. America - Brazil, Venezuela, French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil*, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Fruit - raw. A juicy, aromatic pulp with a sweet flavour. A drinkable milk exudes from the cut bark.

Sap: usually of trees and usually but not always used as a drink.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

The latex is a source of an inferior balata in Guyana. Balata is a gum, resembling rubber, used to make gaskets, chewing gum etc. The heartwood is dark red brown with purplish shade; it is clearly demarcated from the 4 - 6cm wide band of whitish to pale brown sapwood. It is finely and uniformly textured; usually straight-grained. The wood is very hard, very heavy, tough, strong, elastic; very durable, even in contact with the soil, being very resistant to fungi, dry wood borers and termites, but susceptible to marine borers. It seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is poorly stable in service. The wood has a fairly high blunting effect, stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring; gluing is correct for internal purposes only, and needs to be done with care because of the density of the wood. The wood is used for several purposes, both internal and external. It is used for purposes such as sculpture, tool handles, industrial or heavy flooring, sliced veneer, stairs, furniture, ship building, wood frame house, bridges, posts, stakes, sleepers, heavy carpentry.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Protein: (16+ percent protein, 0-15 percent oil). Annuals include beans, chickpeas, lentils, cowpeas, and pigeon peas. Perennials include perennial beans, nuts, leaf protein concentrates, and edible milks.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Protein: (16+ percent protein, 0-15 percent oil). Annuals include beans, chickpeas, lentils, cowpeas, and pigeon peas. Perennials include perennial beans, nuts, leaf protein concentrates, and edible milks.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Humid Tropics. Grows best in a sunny position.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Sow in a well-drained seedbed in semi-shade. Germination usually takes place in 4 - 8 weeks, though germination rates are usually low.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Chupon, Maparajuba, Massarunduba, Massarunduba balata, Pulgo negro, Purguo, Macaranduba, Macaranduba-balata, Macaranduba-mansa,

Synonyms

Mimusops huberi Ducke