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Lecythis corrugata - Poit.

Common Name Mahot rouge, Guacharaco
Family Lecythidaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats A common plant of rain forests and marsh forests, especially along the sides of water courses[422 ].
Range S. America - northern Brazil, Venezuela, the Guyanas.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full sun
Lecythis corrugata Mahot rouge, Guacharaco


edibleplants.org
Lecythis corrugata Mahot rouge, Guacharaco
Lecythis fruit, a "pot" fruit.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Lecythis corrugata is an evergreen Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Bertholletia minor Choisy ex R.Knuth Chytroma basilaris Miers Chytroma corrugata (Poit.) R.Knuth Chytroma rosea (Spruce ex O.Berg) Miers Chytroma rubiflora Miers Chytroma salebrosa (O.Berg) Miers Eschweilera conduplicata A.C.Sm. Eschweilera corrugata (Poit.) Miers Eschweilera jenmanii R.Knuth Eschweilera patrisii R.Knuth Eschweilera salebrosa (O.Berg) Nied. Lecythis cognata Miers Lecythis martini O.Berg Lecythis rosea Spruce ex O.Berg Lecythis rubicunda Miers Lecythis salebrosa O.Berg Lecythis venusta Miers

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Oil
Edible Uses: Oil

Staple Crop Protein-Oil

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


An infusion of the bark is used to treat diarrhoea[348 ]. A decoction of the bark is poured onto cuts in order to accelerate the healing process[348 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Oil

The inner bark is long and stiingy like that of the Lime-tree (Tilia spp.)[492 ]. The inner bark of the lime is a source of fibre - is this bark used similarly?[K ]. The heartwood is a reddish or greyish-brown; it is not clearly demarcated from the 4cm wide band of light brown sapwood. The grain is fine and dense, the wood cold and smooth to the touch with a peculiar smell when worked, but no discernible taste when seasoned. It is heavy; hard, becoming harder with age; exceedingly strong and hard to break transversely; durable to very durable. There are differing reports on its ability to resist the attacks of toredo and barnacles[492 ]. It is widely recognized for its high resistance to marine borers[960 ]. The wood is very hard to saw and plane; it is fissile, taking nails badly; it turns and polishes indifferently, except in the best qualities; it cleaves straight. The wood is not very ornamental, but can be used for house-framing, wharves and sluices[492 ].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Management: Standard  Regional Crop  Staple Crop: Protein-oil

Tropical and humid

Carbon Farming

  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
  • Staple Crop: Protein-oil  (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Mahot rouge, Guacharaco

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela (Amazonas, Apure, Bolívar, Delta Amacuro, Mérida, Táchira, Zulia), Brazil (Pará, Amapá, Roraima)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Lecythis minorCoco de monoTree15.0 10-12 MLMHNM402
Lecythis ollariaMonkey Pot. Sapucaia nut, Pot nutTree35.0 11-12 SLMHNM303
Lecythis pisonisParadise Nut. Brazilian Monkey PotTree40.0 10-12 MMHNMWe323
Lecythis zabucajoSapucaia. Sapucaia nut, Paradise nut, Monkey nutTree30.0 11-12 MLMHNM313

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Poit.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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