Virola Nut. Red Ucuba. Pintri,
Virola sebifera

Family: Myristicaceae

What it is like

Virola sebifera is a deciduous Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). . The plant is not self-fertile. 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): 25

Where it is found

Found mainly in savannah and semideciduous forests at higher elevations, almost always on well-drained soils. It is not frequent in dense, primary forests. Grows principally in secondary forests. Found from sea level to 1,500 metres.

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, the Guyanas; Central America - Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Costa Rica, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 2

The sap is used for treating ulcers and skin eruptions The bark is astringent, emetic and stimulant.An infusion is used in the treatment of dyspepsia, intestinal colic, erysipelas and inflammations. The bark is boiled with water and used to induce vomiting. The macerated bark is soaked in water and drunk as an anti-diarrhoeal. Juice from the bark is applied externally as an analgesic for cracked heels. An infusion of the bark is used as a wash for cleaning contusions and ulcers. A decoction of the bitter red sap from the bark is gargled or drunk to treat thrush and sores of the mouth. The sap becomes resinous on exposure to air and is then used to relieve the pain of toothache and to cauterize aphthae. An exudate from the bark is worked into preparations with psychotropic properties by the native peoples of S. America.

Other

Rating: 3

The seed yields an oil formerly used as illuminating oil. The oil is used for making candles and soap. The seeds burn readily with a clear light. Native people stick them on a thin piece of hard wood and use them as torches when they have to go out in the dark. Cut or damaged trees exude a blood-red, watery latex that is similar to the kino of commerce. The heartwood is a uniform light reddish, greyish or brown; merging gradually into the pale golden to pale rose-brown sapwood. The wood is straight-grained; medium-textured; with a medium to high lustre; odour and taste indistinct. It is moderately heavy; of low durability; very susceptible to termite and pinhole borer attack. It works easily with ordinary tools and finishes well; nails and screws easily without splitting; it can be stained, varnished and polished with good results; turns satisfactorily; glues readily. It is used for construction, internal finishing in buildings, toys, light boxes etc, and is suitable for making toothpicks.

Industrial Crop: Oil: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, biomass, glycerin, soaps, lubricants, paints, biodiesel. Oilseed crop types.

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.

Industrial Crop: Oil: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, biomass, glycerin, soaps, lubricants, paints, biodiesel. Oilseed crop types.

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.

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

Grows best in a sunny position. Newly planted young trees are fairly slow to grow away, rarely surpassing 2 metres in height in the second year. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.

Propagating it: Seed - it has a limited viability and should be sown as soon as it is ripe. Sow in individual containers in a lightly shaded position. Germination rates are generally less than 30%, the seed sprouting within 30 - 50 days. The seedlings grow away quite slowly.

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

Moulomba (Guyana); Sangre; Cumala Blanca (Peru); Camaticaro (Venezuela); Palo De Sangre; Colorado; Ucuuba (Brazil); Sebo (Colombia); Nuanamo (Colombia); Birma; Shempo (Ecuador); Cumala Colorada (Peru); Cumala (Peru); Pintri (Surinam); Cajuea (Trinidad & Tobago); Otivo (Venezuela); Virola (Venezuela); Cuajo (Venezuela); Sangrino (Venezuela); Chaliviande (Ecuador); Dalli (Guyana); Banak; Bicuiba Branca (Brazil); Tapsava; Virola (Brazil); Ucuhuba (Brazil); Yayamadou (Guyana); Baboen (Surinam); Chalviande (Ecuador); Tzimbo (Ecuador); Gabón (Bolivia); Sangrino (Venezuela); Cuajo (Venezuela); Virola (Venezuela); Cumala (Peru); Banak; Veuhuba; Venhuba; Babun; Sangre De Toro (Colombia); Bagabani; Sangre; Camaticaro; Baboen (Surinam); Dalli (Guyana). Man-dalli, Egron-baboen, Virola Nut. Red Ucuba. Pintri,

Synonyms

Myristica cordifolia Mart. ex A.DC. Myristica fulva King Myristica mocoa A.DC. Myristica panamensis Hemsl. Myristica sebifera (Aubl.) Sw. Myristica virola Raeusch. Palala mocoa (A.DC.) Kuntze Palala panamensis (Hemsl.) Kuntze Virola boliviensis Warb. Virola mocoa (A.DC.) Warb. Virola mycetis Pulle Virola panamensis (Hemsl.) Warb. Virola peruviana tomentosa Warb. Virola venezuelensis Warb. Virola warburgii Pittier