| Mimosa ophthalmocentra | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Mimosoideae |
| Genus: | Mimosa |
| Species: | M. ophthalmocentra |
| Binomial name | |
| Mimosa ophthalmocentra Mart. ex Benth., 1875[1] |
|
Mimosa ophthalmocentra, Jurema-embira ("Red Jurema") is a tree in the Fabaceae family. It is native to Brazil.[1] It is shrub or small tree about 3 to 5 m tall.[2][3] Its blossoms come in long, narrow cylindrical spikes having yellowish white petals and a white stamen.[3] The blossoms are sometimes found to have a pink tinge.[4] The fruit is green, sometimes with red or purple, flat, about 8 cm long and about 1 cm wide.[4]
The trunk grows to about 20 cm in diameter.[2]
Its wood has a density of about 1.12 g/cm³[5] and it makes good firewood.[6]
Traditionally in northeast Brazil, for cases of cough and bronchitis, a water extract (decoction) of Mimosa ophthalmocentra is made into a drink.[7] A handful of bark in one liter of water is used by itself or in a syrup.[7] The solution is taken until the symptoms subside.[7][8]