Hevea benthamiana

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A medium sized evergreen tree. It grows 20 m tall.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in low alluvial flood sites.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brazil, Colombia, South America, Sri Lanka, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The seeds are cooked and eaten. They are cooked for 24 hours then the liquid strained off. Caution: They can contain cyanide so need to be well cooked.

In some places the seeds are an important food and in others only a famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Siringa

Synonyms

Hevea discolor Spruce ex Pax.; Hevea duckei Huber;