Moela de mutum
Lacunaria jenmanii

Family: Ochnaceae

What it is like

Moela de Mutum, Lacunaria jenmanii, is an evergreen tree with an elongated crown. It grows about 4 -18 m in height and 20 - 30 cm in trunk diameter. It is commonly found in South America specifically in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guyanas. It is slow-growing and a dioecious species. The bark is thick, rough, and dark gray. The branches and flowers have rusty red hairs. The leaves are sword-shaped and in rings. The sub-globose fruit is edible, with a succulent and sweet pulp. The wood is used for small items such as tool handles. The plant is grown from seeds.

Lacunaria jenmanii is an evergreen Tree growing to 10 m (32ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a slow 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 can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 10

Where it is found

Humid upland rainforests in primary and secondary formations.

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil, Ecuador, Guiana, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - raw. The thick-skinned fruit has a succulent, sweet pulp with a delicious flavour. The subglobose fruit is about 7cm in diameter.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 2

Other Uses The wood is coarse-textured, irregular-grained, heavy, slightly susceptible to wood eating organisms, easy to cut. It is only used for small items such as tool handles. The wood is used for fuel.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

Succeeds in sunny positions and in shade. A slow-growing tree. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagating it: Seed - it has a short viability and should be sown as fresh as possible in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. Germination rates are generally low, with the seed sprouting in 40 - 60 days.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Slow

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

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Moela de mutum

Synonyms

Lacunaria grandiflora Ducke Lacunaria silvatica (Pulle) A.C. Sm. Quiina silvatica Pulle Touroulia je