Sorva, Milk Tree
Couma utilis

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

Sorva, Couma utilis, is a medium-sized tropical tree in South America that reaches up to 17 m in height with trunk diameter of up to 20 cm upon maturity. The leaves are simple and opposite or alternate in arrangement. The latex from the tree is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, worms, parasites, and skin irritations. It is also used to flavour drinks, caulking boats, and for varnishes, ceramics, glues, etc. The fruit is eaten raw. It is small, round, and has a fleshy sweet pulp. The wood is used in making cabinets, in carpentry and general construction. It is also grown as an ornamental. Also known as: Sorvinha, Sorva-miuda, Sorva-pequena, Cuma, Sowa, Sorva, Couba.

Couma utilis is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 12

Where it is found

Dense forest of virgin bushes, on flooded or dry land. Often grows in dry non-flood zones, in or near fields and grasslands.

S. America - lowland Amazonia in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, South America, Venezuela.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - raw. Small and round, looking somewhat like a guava, with an edible sweet, fleshy pulp. The flavour is like a mangaba (Hancornia speciosa) with a hint of sapodilla (Manilkara zapota). The brown, globose fruit is about 4cm in diameter. The latex obtained from the tree has a sweet flavour. It is used as a chewing gum and also to flavour drinks.

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

Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.

Gum: can be chewed as a chewing gum or can often be used as a sweetener or thickening agent in foods.

Sweetener: includes sugar substitutes.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The latex obtained from the tree is anthelmintic and antiseptic. It is eaten to treat diarrhoea, worms and parasites. The latex is applied externally to treat skin irritations.

Anthelmintic: Expels parasites from the gut.

Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea. Also see Astringent.

Antiseptic: Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.

Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

Other

Rating: 2

Other Uses: A latex is obtained from tapping the tree. Used traditionally for caulking boats. It is used for a variety of industrial purposes, including varnishes, for ceramics, glues etc. The wood is fine-textured, straight-grained, moderately heavy, with moderate mechanical properties and of very low durability. It is used in cabinet-making, carpentry and general construction.

Adhesive: Glues.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Gum: Gums have a wide range of uses, especially as stabilizers, emulsifiers, thickening agents, adhesives etc.

Latex: A source of rubber.

Straw: For drinking with.

Varnish: Plants that can be used as a varnish without any special treatment. Does not include varnishes made from oils etc.

Waterproofing: Does what it says. See also Pitch and Oil.

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

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: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

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.

Management: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

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

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

How it is grown

A tree of the moist, tropical lowlands where it is found at elevations up to 500 metres. It grows best in areas where the temperature ranges from 20 - 30°c, but is able to tolerate a range from 15 - 35°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 2,000 - 4,000mm, but tolerates from 1,500 - 5,000mm, and is found in areas with a distinct dry season as well as areas of all year round rainfall. Succeeds in full sun or dappled shade. Grows wild on white sand soils. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 6, tolerating from 4 - 6.5. Established plants are drought tolerant. Trees have a moderate rate of growth.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a lightly shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seeds sprouting within 20 - 40 days. Transplant the seedlings into individual containers when 4 - 6cm tall, and plant out 5 - 6 months later.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Other common names are milk tree and couma. Also known as: Sorvinha, Sorva-miuda, Sorva-pequena, Cuma, Sowa, Sorva, Couba.

Synonyms

Collophora utilis Mart. Couma dulcis Spruce ex M?ll.Arg. Couma multinervis Monach.

Sorva, Milk Tree Couma utilis