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Summary
Other common names are Milk Tree, Couba, Sorva, Sorva Grande, Leche Caspi, Leche Huayo, Aso, Fransoco, and Wansoka.
Native to Central and South America, Barca or Couma macrocarpa is a large tropical tree up to 40 m tall with oval leaves in groups of three. The flowers are small. The bark is thick and dark-coloured. The stem yields edible and sweet latex which can also be used in the treatment of amoebiasis and in making chewing gum. The globose, yellow-green fruit is eaten raw. It has sweet and succulent pulp. Infusion of leaves is used as a beverage. The latex is known as glutta-percha and has a wide range of uses like as insulating material for electricity wiring, or moulded into ornate furniture, pistol grips, etc. Further, it is used as the core of golf ball and in modern dentistry. The wood is used for interior millwork, general construction, furniture components, fibreboard, boxes, and crates.
Amazon, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela. Also known as: Leche caspi, Leche huayo, Aso, Fransoco, Wansoka, sorva, cow tree.
Physical Characteristics
Couma macrocarpa is an evergreen Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 25 m (82ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
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 can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Couma capiron Pittier Couma caurensis Pittier Couma guatemalensis Standl. Couma sapida Pittier
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Sap
Edible Uses: Drink Gum Milk Tea
When the bark is cut or broken, there issues from it a rich creamy latex that is sweet and palatable[ 331 , 625 ]. It is not very sticky and may be drunk like cow's milk[ 331 ]. A latex obtained from the trunk can be used to make chewing gum[ 46 ]. Fruit - raw[ 625 ]. The succulent pulp is sweet and extremely glutinous[ 625 ]. It contains latex[ 625 ]. The globose, yellow-green fruit is about 6cm in diameter, containing a few seeds[ 625 ]. An infusion of the leaves is used as a beverage[ 331 ].
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.
Dysentery
A latex in the stems can be used in the treatment of amoebiasis, including amoebic dysentery[ 739 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Containers Furniture Gum Insulation Latex Teeth Waterproofing Wood
Other Uses: A latex exudes from the cut or broken bark. When boiled in water it gives a product similar to gutta-percha that can be used for caulking canoes[ 331 ]. Gutta-percha is a natural latex obtained from the sap of the tree. Allowing this fluid to evaporate and coagulate in the sun produces a hard and durable latex that can be made flexible again with hot water, but which does not become brittle. Prior to the advent of synthetic materials, gutta-percha had a wide range of uses - most particularly as an insulating material for electricity wiring and for underwater telegraph wires, a purpose for which it is very well suited since it is bio-inert and so is not attacked by marine plants or animals. Gutta-percha can be moulded into any shape and has been used to make items such as ornate furniture, pistol grips, acid-resistant receptacles and 'mourning' jewellery, where its dark colour was an advantage. It has been widely used as the core of golf balls and is still used in modern dentistry where its bio-inertness makes it ideal as a temporary filling for teeth and as a filling material inside tooth fillings[ 46 , 418 ]. The heartwood is cream-coloured or pale brown, often with a pinkish tinge; there is no sharp demarcation from the sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain fairly straight to inter- locked; lustre rather low to medium; odour and taste not distinctive. The wood is light in weight; moderately hard; natural durability is low and the wood is prone to attacks by blue-stain fungi. It is easy to both air dry and kiln dry, with little or no degradation due to warping or checking. The wood is easy to work with all tools, however, there is some difficulty to generate smooth surfaces on quarter-sawn stock due to the interlocked grain; it is easy to nail and screw, and generally finishes well. The wood is used for interior millwork, general construction, furniture components, veneer for plywood, particleboard and fiberboard, boxes and crates[ 316 , 331 , 625 ].
Special Uses
Carbon Farming Coppice Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Experimental Crop Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon Management: Coppice
A tree of the lowland humid tropics. Prefers a shady position. A popular fruit.
Carbon Farming
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Experimental Crop
Plant breeders are testing these plants to see if they could be domesticated for cultivation, but they are still in an experimental phase. Examples include milkweed and leafy spurge.
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Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon
Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.
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Management: Coppice
Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
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 - of short viability, it should be sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers[ 625 ]. A germination rate in excess of 70% can be expected, with the seeds sprouting within 25 - 35 days[ 625 ].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Other common names are Milk Tree, Couba, Sorva, Sorva Grande, Leche Caspi, Leche Huayo, Aso, Fransoco, and Wansoka. Also known as: cow tree.
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Amazon, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela.
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
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
Barb.Rodr.
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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Subject : Couma macrocarpa
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