Carapa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| iCarapa guianensis | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
See text. |
Carapa is a genus in the mahogany family Meliaceae. The two to four species become medium-sized to large trees to 30 m tall, occurring in tropical South America and Africa; common names for include Andiroba and Crabwood.
[edit] Species
- Carapa guianensis
- Carapa nicaraguensis (not accepted as distinct by all authors)
- Carapa procera
- Carapa touloucouna (not accepted as distinct by all authors)
[edit] Uses
The timber is important, and oil is produced from the seeds. The name andiroba is from Nheengatu nhandi rob, meaning "bitter oil". Carapa guianensis produces seeds whose oil is similar in properties to neem oil.
