Calycophyllum spruceanum
- For the South American tree with the scientific name Capirona, see Capirona
| Capirona | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Calycophyllum spruceanum in the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cinchonoideae |
| Tribe: | Calycophylleae |
| Genus: | Calycophyllum |
| Species: | C. spruceanum |
| Binomial name | |
| Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) K.Schum. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Calycophyllum spruceanum,[2] common name capirona, is a canopy tree that grows up to 30m high. It sheds its bark periodically. It has smooth light green bark when it´s new, dark brown when it´s old. The dried bark is used to treat fungus on the skin. Used also as an antidiabetic and for eye infections. This tree avoids lichens, fungi, epiphytes and lianas, by getting rid of its bark. Once or twice a year it sheds off its bark entirely. The smooth green bark underneath is somewhat like a sunburnt human. The older the tree, the more of its bark will be unpeeled, creeping up its trunk. It grows white or green flowers between March and April. It fruits between July and November, seeds are dispersed by the wind and water.[3] Its wood is used for parquet.[4]
Calycophyllum spruceanum grows in the South American countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru.[5]
References
- ↑ The Plant List
- ↑ Schumann, Karl Moritz in Martius, Carl (Karl) Friedrich Philipp von. 1889. Flora Brasiliensis 6(6): 191
- ↑ Ugarte, Leoncio. "Índice de Sitio (IS) de Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth. en relación con la altura dominante del rodal en ensayos de plantación en la Cuenca del Aguaytía, Ucayali, Perú". Ecologia Aplicada Volumen 9, N os 1 y 2 / Enero - Diciembre 2010. UNALM. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ↑
- "Capirona, naked tree". Rainforest Expeditions. Retrieved July 2013.
- ↑ Calycophyllum spruceanum at the Encyclopedia of Life
Further reading
- Polesna, L.; Polesny, Z.; Clavo, M. Z.; Hansson, A.; Kokoska, L. (2011). "Ethnopharmacological inventory of plants used in Coronel Portillo Province of Ucayali Department, Peru". Pharmaceutical Biology 49 (2): 125–136. doi:10.3109/13880209.2010.504927. PMID 20942601.