Majaguillo
Heliocarpus americanus

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. The trunk is straight and cylinder shaped. It often has branches near the base. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaves are heart shaped and sometimes have 3 pointed lobes. There are teeth along the edge. The leaf stalks are hairy. The flowers are yellow or pink and in dense groups at the ends of branches. The seeds are in pink, feathery tufts.

These have also been in the Tiliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in low mountain forest. It is often in cloud forest. In Panama it grows between 1,300-1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hawaii, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South America, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

How it is used for food

Edible parts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Afata, Afata blanca, Algodoeiro, Algodoncillo, Amor seco, Amores, Apeiva, Balsa macho, Balso, Burio, Cadillo, Cajeton, Dama, Damajao colorado, Guasca dulce, Huampo, Huampo blanco, Majagua, Majao, Majahua, Mecate de agua, Moho, Palo bobo, Pestano de mula, Sapan, Yaosa, Yarisa, Yausaquiro, Zapan

Synonyms

Heliocarpus americanus subsp. popayanensis (Kunth) Meijer; Heliocarpus americanus var. schumannii Baker f.; Heliocarpus boliviensis Hochr.; Heliocarpus cuspidatus Lundell; Heliocarpus diclinus Hochr.; Heliocarpus excelsior C.V.Morton; Heliocarpus floribundus Lundell; Heliocarpus gentlei Lundell; Heliocarpus nodiflorus (Donn.Sm.) Donn.Sm. & Rose; Heliocarpus polyandrus var. nodiflorus Donn.Sm.; Heliocarpus popayanensis var. grandifolius Hochr.; Heliocarpus popayanensis var. purdiei Baker f.; Heliocarpus popayanensis var. trichopoda (Turcz.) Baker f.; Heliocarpus rosei Hochr.; Heliocarpus rudis E.Watson; Heliocarpus stipulatus Hochr.; Heliocarpus subtrilobus Sprague; Heliocarpus tomentosus Turcz.; Heliocarpus trichopodus Turcz.;