Virola surinamensis

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Virola surinamensis
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Myristicaceae
Genus: Virola
Species: V. surinamensis
Binomial name
Virola surinamensis
(Rol. ex Rottb.) Warb.[1]
Synonyms
  • Myristica surinamensis[2] Rol. ex Rottb.
  • Myristica fatua[2]
  • Palala surinamensis[2]
  • Virola glaziovii fatua[2]
  • Palala surinamensis[2]
  • Virola glaziovii[2]

Virola surinamensis (also called Baboonwood) is a species of plant in the Myristicaceae family. It is found in Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It has also been naturalized in the Caribbean.[2] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Virola surinamensis grows 25-40 m tall.[2] The leaves are 10-22 cm long and 2-5 cm wide.[2] The fruits are ellipsoidal to subglobular, measuring about 13-21 mm long and 11-18 mm in diameter.[2]

The tree has good wood and it is used industrially because of this.[2] Medicinally the tree is used to treat worms of the intestine.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Virola surinamensis information from NPGS/GRIN. www.ars-grin.gov. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Translated version of http://www.plantes-botanique.be/e2-Myristicaceae-Virola-peruviana. translate.google.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
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